Human γ-melanotropin precursor potentiates corticotropin-induced adrenal steroidogenesis by stimulating mRNA synthesis

Circulating human gamma-melanotropin precursor (76 amino acids) [N-POC(1-76) enhances the corticosterone and aldosterone response to corticotropin by isolated perfused rat adrenal cells [Al-Dujaili, Hope, Estivariz, Lowry & Edwards (1981) Nature (London) 291, 156-159]. Actinomycin D (4 × 10(-6) mol/litre) did not significantly affect corticotropin-induced corticosterone or aldosterone outputs, but completely inhibited the potentiating action of gamma-melanotropin precursor on rat adrenal cells. This suggests that the precursor enhances corticotropin-induced steroidogenesis via an increase in available mRNA produced from DNA transcription.