Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)

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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