proopiomelanocortin derivatives | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POMC | |||||||||
γ-MSH | ACTH | β-lipotropin | |||||||
α-MSH | CLIP | γ-lipotropin | β-endorphin | ||||||
β-MSH |
The melanocortins are a group of peptide hormones which include adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and the different forms of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), and are derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in the pituitary gland. The melanocortins exert their effects by binding to and activating the melanocortin receptors.