Biological Chemistry - Berezov, T. T., Korovkin, B. F. 1998

Hormones
Pituitary Hormones
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH, thyrotropin)

В отличие от рассмотренных пептидных гормонов гипофиза, представленных в основном одной полипептидной цепью, тиротропин является сложным гликопротеином и содержит, кроме того, по две а- и ß-субъединицы, которые в отдельности биологической активностью не обладают: мол. масса его около 30000.

Thyrotropin controls the development and function of The Thyroid Gland, and regulates the Biosynthesis and secretion of THYROID Hormones into the bloodstream. The primary structures of the α- and β-subunits of thyrotropin from bovine, ovine, and human sources have been fully elucidated: the α-subunit, consisting of 96 amino acid residues, features an identical Amino Acid Sequence across all studied TSH variants and all pituitary luteinizing hormones; the β-subunit of human thyrotropin, containing 112 amino acid residues,

differs from the corresponding polypeptide in bovine TSH by specific amino acid residues and the absence of a C-terminal Methionine. Consequently, many authors attribute the specific biological and immunological Properties of the hormone to the presence of the TSH β-subunit complexed with the α-subunit. It is hypothesized that the action of thyrotropin, akin to that of other protein hormones, is mediated through binding to specific Plasma Membrane Receptors and the activation of the adenylate cyclase system (see below).



Last update: 06/08/2026

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