Glycoprotein Hormones: Structure, Function, and Clinical Implications

Advances in the field of glycoprotein hormones necessitated a second international symposium on this topic, held March 11 to 14, 1993, in Santa Barbara, California, and again sponsored by Serono Symposia, USA. The meeting was twofold in its concept: (1) the dissemination of the current research in the field and (2) honoring three scientists who have greatly contributed to this field, Drs. Harold Papkoff, Robert Ryan, and Darrell Ward, upon their retirements. We were honored to have Dr. John Pierre present as a participant at the meeting and also serving as master of ceremonies at the banquet. Certainly one of the highlights at the first meeting, held in 1989, was the cloning of the CG/LH receptor. This second meeting was also filled with insightful and innovative scientific presentations. Significant advances in the regulation of gene transcription of the gonadotropins were presented by Pamela Mellon, James Hoeffler, John Nilson, Bruce Weintraub, and Joel Habener. These presentations reflected major advances from the in the understanding concepts offered at the last meeting. Other advances of hormone structure/function included the continuing work by Joyce Lustbader on the determination of the three-dimensional structure of hCG, including a new approach using nonisotopic labels for 3-D and 4-D NMR imaging. New insights into biosynthesis of hCG were proposed by Irving Boime. Studies directed at identifying receptor contact regions were presented by Henry Keutmann and David Puett.