What it is
Pro-opiomelanocortin, or POMC, is a precursor protein of 267 amino acids. The UniProt record for the human protein (P01189) maps the pieces that the body cuts from it. The precursor itself does little; the fragments carry the signals.
The fragments
The UniProt processing map gives the boundaries used here:
- ACTH, residues 138–176, a 39-residue peptide. ACTH is the signal that tells the adrenal glands to release cortisol.
- Beta-endorphin, residues 237–267, a 31-residue peptide with opioid-like activity in the body, in the same family as the enkephalins.
Other fragments are annotated in the same record. This entry does not list them, because the reference for each has not been re-opened in this run.
What the evidence shows
- The chain map: from the UniProt record. Well established.
- Fragment biology: ACTH and beta-endorphin act on the stress and reward systems. This is standard physiology; the primary papers were not re-opened for this entry.
- POMC as a therapy: no licensed POMC product was found. The record is basic biology.
A count of the human literature on POMC was not completed on 2026-11-09, so this entry does not give one.
Where it stands
| Question | Answer as of 2026-11-09 |
|---|---|
| Precursor length | 267 amino acids (UniProt P01189) |
| Named fragments | ACTH (39), beta-endorphin (31) |
| Licensed product for POMC itself | None found |
| Advice | None given here |
Related reading
For the fragments, see the library entries on ACTH and the endorphins. Anyone with a question about adrenal or pituitary symptoms should see a clinician, not a reference page.