Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone 2 (GnRH2)

GnRH2, is a preproprotein that is cleaved to form a secreted 10 aa peptide hormone. The secreted decapeptide regulates reproduction in females by stimulating the secretion of both luteinizing- and follicle-stimulating hormones. Three transcript variants that encode unique proproteins but the same peptide hormone have been found for this gene.

GNRH2 is expressed at significantly higher levels outside the brain (up to 30-fold), particularly in the kidney, bone marrow, and prostate. The widespread expression of GNRH2 suggests it may have multiple functions. Molecular phylogenetic analysis shows that GNRH2 is likely the result of a duplication before the appearance of vertebrates, and predicts the existence of a third GNRH form in humans and other vertebrates.