Biochemistry and physiology of the endothelin family

The endothelin family consists of 321-amino acid peptides which are the mos t potent of known endogenous vascular constricting factors. Their synthesis is identical to formation of other peptide hormones. Minor differences in chemical structure of endothelins are responsible for unequal affinity to v arious types of receptors and thus for diversity of effects. Circulating in blood plasma endothelins affect numerous processes in many organs and tiss ues while increased concentration of an endothelin might be a marker of som e pathological phenomena in human body.