Mechanisms of Polypeptide Hormone Synthesis
Authors: GARY B. WEISS
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1970)

Letters and Comments1 September 1970Mechanisms of Polypeptide Hormone SynthesisGARY B. WEISS, JOEL MOSSGARY B. WEISSSearch for more papers by this author, JOEL MOSSSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-73-3-492_3 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: An interesting biochemical possibility is suggested by Dr. Omenn's report (Ann Intern Med72:136-138, 1970) on the ectopic synthesis of polypeptide hormones by tumors. Dr. Omenn postulates that steroids and thyroxine are not synthesized by ectopic foci because of the complexity of the enzyme systems involved in their production. Similarly, proinsulin may be released by some of these tumors, rather than insulin, because of the absence of converting enzymes (1). In view of recent findings by Gevers, Kleinkauf, and Lipmann (2) and Bredesen, Zimmer, and Laland (3) that the cyclic decapeptide antibiotic, gramicidin S, is synthesized by...References1. TUNGYIP AC: Biosynthesis of insulin in bovine fetal pancreatic slices: the incorporation of tritiated leucine into a single-chain proinsulin, a double-chain intermediate, and insulin in subcellular fractions. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 63:442-449, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. GEVERSKLEINKAUFLIPMANN WHF: Peptidyl transfers in gramicidin S biosynthesis from enzyme-bound thioester intermediates. Ibid., pp. 1335-1342 Google Scholar3. BREDESENZIMMERLALAND JTS: Starting point and direction of biosynthesis of gramicidin S. FEBS Letters 3:169-172, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. GIVOLDE LORENZOGOLDBERGER DFR: Disulfide interchange and the three-dimensional structure of proteins. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 53:676-684, 1965 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. STEINEROYER DP: The biosynthesis of insulin and a probable precursor of insulin by a human islet cell adenoma. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 57:473-480, 1967 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. TAKASHIMADU VIGNEAUDMERRIFIELD HVR: The synthesis of deamino-oxytocin by the solid-phase method. J Amer Chem Soc 90:1323-1325, 1968 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. GEORGE J: Synthesis of 3H-arginine-vasopressin (AVP) by bronchogenic carcinoma from a patient with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) (abstract). Clin Res 18:361, 1970 Google Scholar5. TASHJIAN A: Animal cell structures as a source of hormones. Biotechn Bioengin 11:109-126, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. MARKSBERDEKLEIN LBL: Inappropriate vasopressin secretion and carcinoma of the pancreas. Amer J Med 45:967-974, 1968 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: New York University School of Medicine New York, N.Y. 10016 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 September 1970Volume 73, Issue 3Page: 492-493KeywordsAntibioticsEnzymesHormone synthesisInsulinPeptide hormonesSteroidsThyroxine Issue Published: 1 September 1970 PDF DownloadLoading ...