<br/>Ghrelin is a peptide hormone involved in appetite stimulation, regulation of glucose homeostasis, and a range of other physiological and neurological pathways. The peptide hormone ghrelin presents a promising and largely unexploited target for development of small-molecule therapeutics to treat diabetes, obesity, cancer and other disorders. Ghrelin is activated for biological activity by ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT), an integral membrane enzyme identified in 2008. The purpose of this research is to understand how ghrelin is recognized and modified by human GOAT (hGOAT) and determine the location of functionally essential domains within hGOAT. This study aims to characterize which amino acids are necessary for GOAT function using mutagenesis and ghrelin acylation activity assays. Through this research, we will increase our understanding of the ghrelin-GOAT system and aid in developing inhibitors targeting ghrelin signaling as a route towards the development of drugs for treating diabetes, obesity, and other diseases.

Mutational analysis of human ghrelin <i>O</i>-acyltransferase

254th National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Mutational analysis of human ghrelin O-acyltransferase