structure

Last reviewed 01/2018

ADH is formed from nine amino acids with a functionally-important bridge between cysteine residues in positions 1 and 6. It is almost identical to the structure of the other key neurohypophysial hormone, oxytocin, with the exception of 2 amino acid substitutions.

A modified form of ADH is desmopressin: the loss of an amino group and isomerization of arginine results in a compound with a relatively greater than 10 fold antidiuretic function but only 1% vasoconstrictive function.