Growth hormone controls somatic growth, tissue anabolism, and metabolic homeostasis.
These polypeptide hormones act through specific cell surface receptors. GHBP acts as a modulator of GH action and is found in the circulation. We are interested in genetic and acquired abnormalities in the growth hormone system. We have investigated molecular variants of growth hormone, growth hormone receptor knockouts and dysregulation, aberrations in GHBP generation and metabolism, and mutations in the GHRH receptor. Several basic and clinical insights have been gained from these studies, including the identification of a new from of dwarfism.