The GnRH Gene

Abstract

There are multiple GnRHs in the brains of many organisms (see Chapter 6). The GnRH-1 gene encoding the decapeptide synthesized in the preoptic area and hypothalamus, and responsible for hypophysiotropic function, is the focus of the current chapter. The proGnRH-1 gene has been cloned in a number of species including rats, mice, humans, teleost fish, amphibians, and birds (Adelman et al., 1986; Hayflick et al., 1989; Mason et al., 1986; Seeburg and Adelman, 1984; reviewed in Fernald and White, 1999; Lin et al., 1998; Wierman et al., 1995). The non-hypophysiotropic GnRHs (GnRH-2, found primarily in midbrain, and GnRH-3, in olfactory and terminal nerve regions) derive from different genes than GnRH-1, although the amino acid sequences of these three GnRH molecules are highly homologous.