Corticotropin cleavage from POMC Authored: Jassal, B, 2008-10-01 13:18:42 Corticotropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH) is a 39-amino acid polypeptide hormone produced and secreted by the pituitary gland. It is often produced in response to biological stress (along with corticotropin-releasing hormone). Its principal effects are increased production of androgens and cortisol. Corticotropin is processed from the precursor pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). The enzyme that performs the cleavage of POMC to corticotropin is prohormone convertase 1 (PC1). In addition to corticotropin, POMC is processed into other small, biologically active fragments. These include lipotropins, melanocyte-stimulating hormone and endorphins. Edited: Jassal, B, 2008-11-17 10:09:58 Pubmed14463577 Pubmed9207799 Reactome Database ID Release 43265301 Reactome, http://www.reactome.org ReactomeREACT_15476 Reviewed: D'Eustachio, P, 2008-11-29 15:53:45