This entry represents a domain found in the corticotropin-releasing factor family members.
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), urotensin-I, urocortin and sauvagine form a family of related neuropeptides in vertebrates. The family can be grouped into 2 separate paralogous lineages, with urotensin-I, urocortin and sauvagine in one group and CRF forming the other group. Urocortin and sauvagine appear to represent orthologues of fish urotensin-I in mammals and amphibians, respectively. The peptides have a variety of physiological effects on stress and anxiety, vasoregulation, thermoregulation, growth and metabolism, metamorphosis and reproduction in various species, and are all released as preprohormones [ (PUBMED:10375459) ].
CRF [ (PUBMED:2200028) ] is a hormone found mainly in the paraventricular nucleus of the mammalian hypothalamus that regulates the release of corticotropin (ACTH) from the pituitary gland. From here, CRF is transported to the anterior pituitary, stimulating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release via CRF type 1 receptors, thereby activating the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA) and thus glucocorticoid release.
CRF is evolutionary related to a number of other active peptides. Urocortin acts in vitro to stimulate the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Urotensin is found in the teleost caudal neurosecretory system and may play a role in osmoregulation and as a corticotropin-releasing factor. Urotensin-I is released from the urophysis of fish, and produces ACTH and subsequent cortisol release in vivo. The nonhormonal portion of the prohormone is thought to be the urotensin binding protein (urophysin). Sauvagine ( P01144 ), isolated from frog skin, has a potent hypotensive and diuretic effect.
Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA for rat corticotropin-releasing factor precursor.
FEBS Lett. 1985; 191: 63-6
Display abstract
DNA complementary to the rat hypothalamic mRNA coding for the corticotropin-releasing factor precursor (prepro-CRF) has been cloned by screening a cDNA library with a human genomic DNA probe. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cloned cDNA has revealed that rat prepro-CRF consists of 187 amino acid residues including a putative signal peptide. The CRF and putative signal peptide regions are more highly conserved among rat, human and ovine prepro-CRF than is the cryptic portion.
Isolation, analysis of structure, synthesis, and biological actions of urotensin I neuropeptides.
Can J Biochem Cell Biol. 1983; 61: 602-14
Display abstract
The 41-residue neuropeptide urotensin I (UI), from the urophyses of two teleost fish species (Cyprinus carpio and Catostomus commersoni), was isolated and purified, and its amino acid sequence was determined and confirmed by synthesis of a fully active peptide. The UI peptide was found to be a close structural and biological homologue of the ovine hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and the frog skin peptide sauvagine; UI is, therefore, a phylogenetic prototype of this group of peptides. Extraction of urophyses in hot acetic or hydrochloric acid cleaves an amino terminal tripeptide yielding a fully active UI(4-41). The UI peptides are equipotent with the other two naturally occurring peptides (CRF and sauvagine) in the release of mammalian pituitary corticotropin (ACTH), but UI is several times more potent than the mammalian homologue in the stimulation of release of fish pituitary ACTH. The UI peptide and its mammalian or amphibian homologues have a long-lasting hypotensive action in mammals, via a uniquely selective vasodilatation in the superior (anterior) mesenteric vascular bed only. The significantly lower hypotensive vasodilatory action of the mammalian homologue (CRF) suggests a change in the unknown physiological role of the haemodynamic actions of the UI peptides in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract during phylogenetic progression from fishes to mammals.
Metabolism (metabolic pathways involving proteins which contain this domain)
This information is based on mapping of SMART genomic protein database to KEGG orthologous groups. Percentage points are related to the number of proteins with CRF domain which could be assigned to a KEGG orthologous group, and not all proteins containing CRF domain. Please note that proteins can be included in multiple pathways, ie. the numbers above will not always add up to 100%.
Monitoring the structural Consequences of Phe12-->D-Phe12 and Leu15-->Aib15 substitution in h/r Corticotropin Releasing Hormone: Implications for Design of CRH antagonists.
Monitoring the structural Consequences of Phe12-->D-Phe12 and Leu15-->Aib15 substitution in h/r Corticotropin Releasing Hormone: Implications for Design of CRH antagonists.
