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Pro-Opiomelanocortin

Meaning

Pro-Opiomelanocortin, or POMC, is a large, precursor polypeptide synthesized primarily in the anterior pituitary gland and specific neurons in the hypothalamus. This prohormone is subject to extensive post-translational processing, where it is enzymatically cleaved into a variety of smaller, biologically active peptide hormones, including Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (MSH), and beta-endorphin. POMC’s cleavage products are central to the regulation of diverse physiological functions, including stress response, energy homeostasis, pigmentation, and pain perception. The regulation of POMC processing is a critical point of control in the neuroendocrine system.