User:Indigohippo/Salcatonin

Composition
Salcatonin is composed of 32 amino acids, of which 13 differ from human calcitonin. The structure of human calcitonin and salcatonin is as follows :

Human calcitonin:

H-Cys1-Gly-Asn-Leu-Ser-Thr-Cys7-Met-Leu-Gly-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Gln-Asp-Phe-Asn-Lys-Phe-His-Thr-Phe-Pro-Gln-Thr-Ala-lle-Gly-Val-Gly-Ala-Pro-NH2

Salcatonin:

H-Cys1-Ser-Asn-Leu-Ser-Thr-Cys7-Val-Leu-Gly-Lys-Leu-Ser-Gln-Glu-Leu-His-Lys-Leu-Gln-Thr-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Thr-Asn-Thr-Gly-Ser-Gly-Thr-Pro-NH2

The cysteine in the first and seventh positions form a disulfide bond.

Therapeutic usage
Salcatonin mainly targets the bone, kidney and gastrointestinal tract, which promotes reuptake of calcium by the bones and increases calcium and phosphate excretion. It is used as therapy for Paget's disease, severe hypercalcemia, and in some cases, gynecomastia. Studies have shown that treatment with salcatonin can reduce the rate of new fractures in the lumbar spine and the forearm in postmenopausal women. They may also have analgesic effects, relieving bone pain.