Urocortin-2 is a
protein that in humans is encoded by the ''UCN2''
gene.
This gene is a member of the sauvagine/corticotropin-releasing factor/urotensin I family. It is structurally related to the
corticotropin-releasing factor
Corticotropin-releasing factor family, CRF family is a family of related neuropeptides in vertebrates. This family includes corticotropin-releasing hormone (also known as CRF), urotensin-I, urocortin, and sauvagine. The family can be grouped int ...
(CRF) gene and the encoded product is an endogenous
ligand for CRF type 2 receptors. In the
brain it may be responsible for the effects of
stress on
appetite
Appetite is the desire to eat food items, usually due to hunger. Appealing foods can stimulate appetite even when hunger is absent, although appetite can be greatly reduced by satiety. Appetite exists in all higher life-forms, and serves to regu ...
. In spite of the gene family name similarity, the product of this gene has no sequence similarity to urotensin II.
References
Further reading
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