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  • Title: Multimeric alpha-MSH has increased efficacy to activate the melanocortin MC4 receptor.
    Author: Tiesjema B, Merkestein M, Garner KM, de Krom M, Adan RA.
    Journal: Eur J Pharmacol; 2008 May 06; 585(1):24-30. PubMed ID: 18378226.
    Abstract:
    alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) has a relatively low affinity for the melanocortin MC4 receptor. Constructs of multimeric alpha-MSH varying from one to eight subunits were synthesized to test whether they displayed an improved ability to bind to and activate the human melanocortin MC4 receptor. alpha-MSH subunits were coupled by a flexible linker and placed in front of an IRES-eGFP sequence. Efficacy for activation of the melanocortin MC4 receptor increased with every extra subunit, resulting in a 100 fold lower EC50 value of alpha-MSH8 when compared with alpha-MSH1. Furthermore, supernatant of cells transfected with alpha-MSH8 proved to have an increased affinity to the melanocortin MC4 receptor when compared to cells transfected with the other multimers. Together, these data show that multimeric alpha-MSH has improved ability to activate the human melanocortin MC4 receptor in vitro.
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