Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) — A 39-amino acid polypeptide hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates cortisol release from the adrenal cortex.
What Is ACTH?
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is a 39-amino acid peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol and other glucocorticoids. ACTH is derived from the same POMC precursor as alpha-MSH and beta-endorphin, and contains the alpha-MSH sequence within its first 13 residues.
Research Significance
- Cosyntropin (ACTH 1-24): Synthetic N-terminal fragment retaining full adrenal-stimulating activity. Used diagnostically for adrenal insufficiency
- HPA axis: ACTH is the central mediator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress response
- Melanocortin receptors: ACTH activates MC2R (adrenal) with lower affinity for MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, MC5R
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)?
A 39-amino acid polypeptide hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates cortisol release from the adrenal cortex.
Why is Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) important in peptide research?
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) is a fundamental concept in compound as it relates to peptide science. It directly influences experimental design, compound characterization, and the reliability of research outcomes across biochemistry and molecular biology disciplines.
Authority Sources
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) on Wikipedia
- Search Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) on PubChem (NIH)
- Research articles on ScienceDirect