Evidence for a signal sequence at the N terminus of the common precursor to adrenocorticothrophin and beta-lipotropin in mouse pituitary cells

60 YEARS OF POMC: From the prohormone theory to pro-opiomelanocortin and to proprotein convertases (PCSK1 to PCSK9)

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), is a polyprotein expressed in the pituitary and the brain where it is proteolytically processed into peptide hormones and neuropeptides with distinct biological activities. It is the prototype of multipotent prohormones. The prohormone theory was first suggested in 1967 when Chrétien and Li discovered γ-lipotropin and observed that (i) it was part of β-lipotropin (β-LPH), a larger polypeptide characterized 2 years earlier and (ii) its C-terminus was β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH). This discovery led them to propose that the lipotropins might be related biosynthetically to the biologically active β-MSH in a precursor to end product relationship. The theory was widely confirmed in subsequent years. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the sequencing of β-LPH, we reflect over the lessons learned from the sequencing of those proteins; we explain their extension to the larger POMC precursor; we examine how the theory of precursor endoproteolysis they inspired became relevant for vast fields in biology; and how it led, after a long and arduous search, to the novel proteolytic enzymes called proprotein convertases. This family of nine enzymes plays multifaceted functions in growth, development, metabolism, endocrine, and brain functions. Their genetics has provided many insights into health and disease. Their therapeutic targeting is foreseeable in the near future. Thus, what started five decades ago as a theory based on POMC fragments, has opened up novel and productive avenues of biological and medical research, including, for our own current interest, a highly intriguing hypocholesterolemic Gln152His PCSK9 mutation in French-Canadian families.

Pro-opiocortin processing in the pituitary: a model for neuropeptide biosynthesis

The biosynthesis of alpha-MSH, beta-endorphin and ACTH in the pituitary is reviewed. These neuropeptides are synthesized from a common pro-protein, pro-opiomelanocortin. The pro-protein is cleaved intragranularly, at pairs of basic residues in the molecule to yield the respective peptide products. An unique, thiol protease (pro-opiocortin converting enzyme) and a carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme, both localized within pituitary secretory granules and having a pH optimum of 5-6, appear to be involved in the proteolytic processing of pro-opiomelanocortin.

The human pro-opiomelanocortin gene: organization, sequence, and interspersion with repetitive DNA

The human pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene has been characterized by molecular cloning and DNA sequence analysis. Although this gene codes for several different polypeptide hormones, only a single intron interrupts the protein coding region. The DNA in this intron, and in a second intron found in the region of the gene homologous to the mRNA 5'-untranslated sequence, contains repetitive DNA sequences. At least some of these sequences belong to the Alu family of transcribed middle repetitive DNA. The determination of the complete nucleotide sequence of the coding regions of the gene demonstrates that the pattern of homologous and variable regions seen in the POMC protein between different species is reflected at the DNA level. DNA sequences encoding the highly conserved regions of POMC are 90-95% homologous between species while the coding sequences for the variable regions of the protein are approximately 70% homologous. The very high degree of homology in the amino terminal portion of POMC is consistent with an important physiological role for this peptide.