Involved in reducing blood volume and pressure by promoting salt and water excretion in the kidneys, ANP helps to alleviate the strain on the heart.

Common Name:
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)

Compound Name:
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

Chemical Formula:
C126H192N50O35S4

Molecular Weight:
3464.9 g/mol

Sequence and Amino Acid Composition:

• Sequence: Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-Cys-Phe-Gly-Gly-Arg-Ile-Asp-Arg-Ile-Gly-Ala-Gln-Ser-Gly-Leu-Gly-Cys-Asn-Ser-Phe-Arg-Tyr
• Amino Acid Profile:
  • Cysteine (C):
    • Frequency: 2
    • Properties: Contains thiol groups that form an intramolecular disulfide bridge, essential for maintaining structural integrity and biological activity.
    • Role in the Peptide: Critical for stabilizing the ring structure of the peptide, which is necessary for receptor binding.
  • Arginine (R), Serine (S), and Glycine (G):
    • Roles in the Peptide: Arginine enhances the peptide’s natriuretic and diuretic properties; Serine and Glycine contribute to the overall flexibility and bioactivity of the peptide.

Structure:
ANP is a 28-amino acid peptide with a ring structure formed by a disulfide bridge between two cysteine residues. This structure is crucial for its interaction with natriuretic peptide receptors.

Synthesis Method:
ANP is typically synthesized through solid-phase peptide synthesis, allowing for high purity and consistency essential for research and therapeutic use.

Solubility:
Soluble in water and aqueous buffers, making it suitable for physiological studies and therapeutic formulations.

Stability:
Sensitive to oxidative conditions due to the disulfide bridge; should be stored at low temperatures, preferably in a lyophilized form, to maintain stability.

Function:
ANP is primarily known for its role in reducing blood volume, blood pressure, and sodium concentration, counteracting the effects of the renin-angiotensin system. It is released by cardiac atrial myocytes in response to high blood pressure and stretches the atria of the heart.

Benefits and Uses:

• Clinically used in the diagnosis of heart failure as its levels correlate with heart function.
• Investigated for its therapeutic potential in treating hypertension and potentially as a diuretic agent in conditions like congestive heart failure.
• Studied for its protective roles against cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy.

Side Effects:
Generally well tolerated; however, excessive use or high levels can lead to hypotension and electrolyte imbalances, requiring careful monitoring when used therapeutically.

Regulatory Status:
Widely recognized and studied in clinical settings for its diagnostic importance in heart function; therapeutic uses are still under investigation.

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