Structure and Function of Prolactin Releasing Factor

催乳素是一种脑下垂体激素，参与多种功能，包括生殖、免疫调节以及幼体的生长发育。催乳素的合成和分泌受释放和抑制因子与性腺类固醇激素之间复杂的相互作用的调节。这些研究人员发现，包括人类在内的所有物种的脑垂体后叶中都存在催乳素释放因子(PRF)。PRF增加催乳素基因的表达，在哺乳期、排卵周期和对雌二醇的反应中，对刺激催乳素的释放至关重要。为了进一步评价PRF的生理意义、组织分布和作用机制，确定其化学结构和合成合成肽是至关重要的。本研究拟从转基因小鼠脑垂体瘤中分离纯化PRF，并确定其一级结构。之后，将合成PrF，并将使用培养细胞和体内测试来确定其生物活性。这项研究的结果将扩大我们对控制一种主要的垂体激素的合成和释放的机制的理解，这种激素参与了广泛的重要功能。

Prolactin is a pituitary hormone that is involved in multiple functions, including reproduction, immune regulation, and growth and the development of the young. The synthesis and secretion of prolactin are regulated by a complex interaction between releasing and inhibiting factors and gonadal steroid hormones. These investigators have discovered the presence of prolactin releasing factors (PRFs) in the posterior pituitaries of all species that they have examined, including humans. PRF increases the expression of the prolactin gene and is critical for stimulating prolactin release during lactation, the ovulatory cycle and in response to estradiol. To further evaluate the physiological importance, tissue distribution and mechanisms of action of PRFs, it is critical to determine its chemical structure and generate a synthetic peptide. The research to be done is to purify PRF from pituitary tumors of transgenic mice and to determine its primary structure. Following that PRF will be synthesized and its biological activity will be determined using both cultured cells and in vivo assays. The results of this investigation will extend our understanding of the mechanisms which govern the synthesis and release of a major pituitary hormone that participates in a broad range of important functions.