Lipotropic or pituitary lipotropic hormone. A pituitary hormone mobilizing fat from adipose tissue. Beta-lipotropin is a single-chain peptide of about 90 residues that contains the sequences of endorphins and metenkephalin, and may be a precursor of beta-melanotropin and beta-endorphin. Gamma-lipotropin is shorter and is identical in sequence to the first 58 residues of beta-lipotropin. Both contain sequences common to ACTH and beta-melanotropin. (Stedman, 25th ed)
