STRUCTURE-FUNCTION STUDIES OF HUMAN TSH - NEW ADVANCES IN DESIGN OF GLYCOPROTEIN HORMONE ANALOGS

Recent progress in structure-function studies of glycoprotein hormones has provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of action of these hormones and has further supported the concept that physiologica l modulation of assembly, bioactivity, and clearance of these hormones is dependent on specific structural components. This review emphasize s current advances in the structure-function relationships of human TS H, which have contributed to further elucidation of common and hormone specific features within the glycoprotein hormones family. Novel stra tegies are now being applied to investigate the role of individual str uctural elements. The principles discovered in such studies are essent ial to understand the physiological regulation of hormone bioactivity and allow for the rational design of novel analogs with potential ther apeutic applications. (C) 1996, Elsevier Science Inc.