Main description:

Advances in the field of glycoprotein hormones necessitated a second international symposium on this topic, held March 11 to 14, 1993, in Santa Barbara, California, and again sponsored by Serono Symposia, USA. The meeting was twofold in its concept: (1) the dissemination of the current research in the field and (2) honoring three scientists who have greatly contributed to this field, Drs. Harold Papkoff, Robert Ryan, and Darrell Ward, upon their retirements. We were honored to have Dr. John Pierre present as a participant at the meeting and also serving as master of ceremonies at the banquet. Certainly one of the highlights at the first meeting, held in 1989, was the cloning of the CG/LH receptor. This second meeting was also filled with insightful and innovative scientific presentations. Significant advances in the regulation of gene transcription of the gonadotropins were presented by Pamela Mellon, James Hoeffler, John Nilson, Bruce Weintraub, and Joel Habener. These presentations reflected major advances from the in the understanding concepts offered at the last meeting. Other advances of hormone structure/function included the continuing work by Joyce Lustbader on the determination of the three-dimensional structure of hCG, including a new approach using nonisotopic labels for 3-D and 4-D NMR imaging. New insights into biosynthesis of hCG were proposed by Irving Boime. Studies directed at identifying receptor contact regions were presented by Henry Keutmann and David Puett.

Contents:

I. Reflections Past and Present.- 1. Reflections on Purifying Gonadotropins in the 1960s.- 2. Where to from Here?.- 3. Remembrance of Things Foregone.- II. Regulation of Gene Expression.- 4. Endocrine Regulation of Glycoprotein Hormone Alpha Subunit Gene Expression in Transgenic Mice.- 5. Coordinate Regulation of the Gonadotropin Subunit Genes in Pituitary and Placenta.- 6. Role of Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins in Gonadotropin Gene Expression.- 7. Cyclic AMP-Mediated Hormonal Regulation of Gene Transcription.- 8. Regulation and Expression of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone.- III. Hormonal Protein Structure/Function.- 9. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin: Progress in Determining Its Tertiary Structure.- 10. Receptor Binding Regions of hLH and hCG?-Subunit: Structural and Functional Properties.- 11. Evidence for Altered Splicing in Two Members of the Chorionic Gonadotropin ? Gene Cluster.- 12. Delineation of Subunit and Receptor Contact Sites by Site-Directed Mutagenesis of hCG?.- IV. Protein Processing and Posttranslational Events.- 13. Folding of the ?-Subunit of hCG and Its Role in Assembly of the ?-? Heterodimer.- 14. Structure and Function of the Gonadotropin Free ? Molecule of Pregnancy.- 15. Glycosylation and Glycoprotein Hormone Function.- V. Receptor Structure/Function.- 16. Structure and Regulated Expression of the TSH Receptor Gene: Differences and Similarities to Gonadotropin Receptors.- 17. Studies on the Structure and Function of Gonadotropins.- 18. Hormone Binding and Activation of the LH/CG Receptor.- VI. Clinical Implications.- 19. Use of the Free Alpha Subunit (FAS) of Glycoprotein Secreting Hormones as a Surrogate Marker of GnRH Secretion in the Human.- 20. Free hCG? and Nongonadal Neoplasms.- 21. New Clinical Applications of hCG Assays.- 22. ?-Core Fragment: Structure, Production, Metabolism, and Clinical Utility.- 23. Human Pituitary Chorionic Gonadotropin Is Produced, Circulated, and Excreted in Multiple Isoforms.- 24. Thyrotropin Abnormalities in Central Hypothyroidism.- Appendix: Poster Presentations.- Author Index.