| somatomedin | <protein> Peptide hormone (4 kD) that is produced in the liver and is released in response to somatotropin. Somatomedin stimulates the growth of bone and muscle and also influences calcium, phosphate, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. See: insulin like growth factor. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| somatomedins | Insulin-like polypeptides made by the liver and some fibroblasts and released into the blood when stimulated by somatotropin. They cause sulfate incorporation into collagen, RNA, and DNA synthesis, which are prerequisites to cell division and growth of the organism. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, somatomedin | Cell surface receptors that bind somatomedins and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behaviour of cells. Studies have disclosed two types of receptors for this family of peptide hormones. The type I receptor is homologous to the insulin receptor and has tyrosine kinase activity. The type II receptor is identical to the mannose-6-phosphate receptor which is important in trafficking of lysosomal enzymes. (12 Dec 1998) |
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