Thymosin

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Structure of the bovine β9-thymosin polypeptide based on the PDB 1HJ0 coordinates.

Thymosins are small proteins present in many animal tissues. They are named thymosins because they were originally isolated from the

biological response modifiers.[2] Thymosins are important for proper T-cell development and differentiation.[3]

Discovery

The discovery of thymosins in the mid 1960s emerged from investigations of the role of the

peptides (molecular weights ranging from 1000 to 15,000 Da.),[4] which were named "thymosins" and classified as α, β and γ thymosins on the basis of their behaviour in an electric field. Although found together in Fraction 5, they are now known to be structurally and genetically unrelated. Thymosin β1 was found to be ubiquitin (truncated by two C-terminal glycine residues).[5]

When individual thymosins were isolated from Fraction 5 and characterized, they were found to have extremely varied and important biological properties. However they are not truly thymic hormones in that they are not restricted in occurrence to thymus and several are widely distributed throughout many different tissues.[4][5][6]

Doping in sports

Thymosin beta-4 was allegedly used by some players in various Australian football codes and is under investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority for anti-doping violations.[7][8]

Thymosin as a hair loss treatment

The process of hair growth utilizes many cellular and molecular mechanisms common to angiogenesis and wound healing. While studying the influence of thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) on wound healing, Philp et al. accidentally found that hair grew more rapidly around the edges of wounds. In due course, they showed that Tβ4 induced rapid hair growth on the dorsal skin of healthy mice.[9]

See also

References

Notes
  1. PMID 12852257
    .
  2. PMID 6087503
    .
  3. ^ "Thymus". EndocrineWeb. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  4. ^
    S2CID 3177237
    .
  5. ^
    S2CID 222082792
    .
  6. S2CID 222082988
    .
  7. PMID 23084823
    .
  8. ^ https://theconversation.edu.au/cronulla-sharks-and-thymosin-beta-4-is-it-doping-12694 (Feb/Mar 2013)
  9. ^ "Triggering Hair Growth at a Cellular Level". 2017-04-16. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
Sources

External links

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