Reproduction Abstracts

Organisms use protein hormones even when smaller molecules can trigger identical transduction paths. Why? Could residual peptides from hormone proteolysis extend the mechanisms of action of these hormones? Protein hormones are endocytosed by target cells and digested by cathepsins (A, B, C, D, F, H, L, O, X) acting sequentially as endosomes/lysosomes move centripetally. In silico prediction of multiple cathepsin action on each of 92 hormones usually leaves 3–24 r...