Peptide hormone
Peptide hormones are those made up from polypeptide chains. Peptide hormones can either have short polypeptide chains, such as in oxytocin, or longer protein chains such as those in growth factors[1]. Peptides that are to be secreted are stored with in vesicles inside the cell. Their release is initiated in response to stimuli. An example of one of these proteins is insulin, it is released in response to rising blood glucose levels .
One feature of petide hormones is that they are souble in water. This allows them to dissolve in blood plasma for transportation around the body. Another feature is that they can't travel through the plasma membrane of cells. Therefore their receptors are found on the surface of cells[2].
References
- ↑ The medical biochemistry page, http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/peptide-hormones.php#basics. [3/11/16]
- ↑ Boundless. “Lipid-Derived, Amino Acid-Derived, and Peptide Hormones.” Boundless Biology. Boundless, 26/05/16 https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology-textbook/the-endocrine-system-37/types-of-hormones-210/lipid-derived-amino-acid-derived-and-peptide-hormones-793-12028/ [4/11/16]