What is the Origin of POMC Gene?

The gene's discovery and the subsequent identification of its multiple functional peptide products established a foundational principle of peptide hormone synthesis in endocrinology. The name itself is a portmanteau reflecting the major active components it encodes: Opiate-like, Melanocyte-stimulating, and Corticotropin-related peptides.

What is the Mechanism of POMC Gene?

The POMC precursor is synthesized primarily in the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, where tissue-specific prohormone convertase enzymes process it into its various active forms. ACTH, for instance, stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol, directly linking the gene to the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and the body's stress response. Defects or mutations in the POMC gene or its processing enzymes can lead to severe endocrine and metabolic disorders, including early-onset obesity and adrenal insufficiency.

POMC Gene

Meaning

The POMC Gene, or Pro-Opiomelanocortin gene, is a highly critical gene that encodes a large precursor polypeptide, also known as pro-opiomelanocortin, which is central to the neuroendocrine system. This precursor is subsequently cleaved by specific enzymes into multiple distinct, biologically active peptide hormones, including Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (alpha-MSH), and beta-Endorphin. The POMC gene plays a vital role in regulating stress response, appetite, energy balance, and pigmentation.