peptide hormone processing
Post-translational modification of prohormones into bioactive peptide hormones through enzymatic cleavage and chemical modifications.
Full Definition
Peptide hormone processing encompasses the series of post-translational modifications that convert inactive prohormone precursors into mature, bioactive hormones. This process typically occurs within neurosecretory granules and involves several enzymatic steps including endoproteolytic cleavage by prohormone convertases, removal of basic residues by carboxypeptidase E, and C-terminal amidation by peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase. Additional modifications may include acetylation, phosphorylation, or glycosylation. Proper hormone processing is essential for biological activity, and defects in this pathway can result in neuroendocrine disorders with reduced or altered hormone function.
In Context
- "Deficient peptide hormone processing resulted in the accumulation of incompletely processed proinsulin in the patient's serum." — clinical case report
- "The research focused on characterizing the enzymes involved in oxytocin peptide hormone processing within hypothalamic neurons." — research paper