Obestatin

Obestatin is a peptide hormone that is produced in the gastrointestinal tract. It was discovered in 2005 and is encoded by the same gene that produces ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite. Obestatin, in contrast, is believed to suppress appetite, although its exact role in the body is still under investigation.

Structure and Function

Obestatin is a 23-amino acid peptide that is derived from the preproghrelin molecule, which also gives rise to ghrelin. The obestatin peptide is encoded by the ghrelin gene, but it is produced by a different set of post-translational modifications.

Obestatin is believed to function as an anorexigenic hormone, meaning that it suppresses appetite. This is in contrast to ghrelin, which is an orexigenic hormone that stimulates appetite. However, the exact role of obestatin in the body is still not fully understood, and some studies have questioned whether it truly has an anorexigenic effect.

Research and Clinical Significance

Since its discovery in 2005, obestatin has been the subject of extensive research. Some studies have suggested that it may play a role in the regulation of body weight and energy homeostasis, as well as in the regulation of insulin secretion and glucose metabolism.

In addition, there is some evidence that obestatin levels may be altered in certain diseases. For example, some studies have found that obestatin levels are decreased in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes, suggesting that it may play a role in these conditions. However, more research is needed to fully understand the clinical significance of obestatin.

See Also

• Ghrelin
• Peptide hormones
• Appetite