Ghrelin: Structural and Functional Properties

Abstract

Ghrelin is a gastro‐intestinal peptide hormone acting on important brain including the hypothalamus where it modulates appetite, metabolism and the autonomous nervous system. In the pariphery ghrelin has been described as a modulator of the cardiovascular system and various endocrine tissues involved in metabolism. Importantly, ghrelin is the only peptide hormone modified by a fatty acid chain, being essential for its activity. The receptor for ghrelin is a member of the 7TM/G‐protein coupled receptor super family and signal mainly through Gq coupling. Interestingly, the ghrelin receptor is constitutively active providing increased signaling by increased receptor expression independent of thc endogenous ligand.