Misplaced Pages

Relaxin 1
Identifiers
Symbol	RLN1
Alt. symbols	H1
NCBI gene	6013
HGNC	10026
OMIM	179730
RefSeq	NM_006911
UniProt	P04808
Other data
Locus	Chr. 9 qter-q12
Search for Structures Swiss-model Domains InterPro

Relaxin family peptide hormones in humans are represented by seven members: three relaxin-like (RLN) and four insulin-like (INSL) peptides: RLN1, RLN2, RNL3, INSL3, INSL4, INSL5, INSL6. This subdivision into two classes (RLN and INSL) is based primarily on early findings, and does not reflect the evolutionary origins or physiological differences between peptides. For example, it is known that the genes coding for RLN3 and INSL5 arose from one ancestral gene, and INSL3 shares origin with RLN2 and its multiple duplicates: RLN1, INSL4, INSL6.

Genetics

In humans and many other tetrapods, the RLN/INSL-encoding genes exist in four distinct clusters. The largest cluster contains four loci: RLN1, RLN2, INSL4 and INSL6, situated in tandem on human chromosome 9. This cluster arose from multiple local gene duplications that took place in the ancestor of placental mammals. The other three RLN/INSL genes exist as single loci in two linkage groups: RLN3 (chromosome 19), INSL3 (chromosome 19, 3.8 Mb apart from RLN3) and INSL5 (chromosome 1).

Synthesis and Structure

All seven relaxin family peptide hormones are synthesized as pre-prohormones, and subsequently cleaved to form two chains stabilized by an intra-α-chain and two disulfide bonds. Members of the human relaxin peptide family share a similar tertiary structure, composed of a β-chain, c-chain, and α-chain at their carboxyl-terminal. All members of the relaxin family peptide hormones bind to their cognate receptors via residues present in their α- and β-chains.

Functions

The physiological action of RLN and its tandem duplicates (RLN1, INSL4, INSL6) and INSL3 has been quite well studied in humans and mouse models. They are primarily associated with reproductive functions, such as the relaxation of uterine musculature and of the pubic symphysis during labor (RLN1 & RLN2), the progression of spermatogenesis (INSL6) and possibly trophoblast development (INSL4) and testicular descent and germ cell survival (INSL3).

INSL5 is produced by L-cells in the colon, plays a physiological role in food intake, and may regulate metabolism and energy balance. RLN3 is thought to function in neuroendocrine regulation, and is predominantly expressed in the nucleus incertus (NI) of the hindbrain and locally affects regions of the central nervous system (CNS) including those responsible for appetite and stress regulation. RLN3 has also been found to stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and hence affects levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the blood.

Receptors

The receptors for the RLN/INSL peptides are collectively called “Relaxin family peptide receptors (RXFPs)”. In humans there are four RXFP receptors (RXFP1-4) all of which are cell membrane-associated and coupled to G-proteins (known as G protein-coupled receptors or GPCRs). There are two distinct families of RXFPs: RXFP1 and RXFP2 are evolutionarily related to the receptors of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and LH, and are the cognate receptors for RLN and INSL3 respectively in humans. On the other hand, RXFP3 and RXFP4 are related to somatostatin and, in humans, are the cognate receptors for RLN3 and INSL5. There is evidence that some relaxin hormones may also be able to interact with glucocorticoid-type nuclear receptors, which float freely between the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm.

Receptor Genetics

Four RXFPs in humans are located in different linkage groups. Additionally there are two RXFP pseudogenes ("RXFP3-3" and "RXFP2-like") which have functional counterparts in other species.

Evolution

In early deuterostomes

The evolution of the gene family in primitive vertebrates is not well understood. For example, it has been shown that the gene coding for the ancestral relaxin peptide existed independently from the other genes of the insulin superfamily, i.e. INS and IGF genes, in the early chordate ancestor.

It is known that the genes coding for RLN3 and INSL5 arose from one ancestral gene, and INSL3 shares origin with RLN2 and its multiple duplicates. However the exact origins of the family still remain to be elucidated. Other studies attempted to show the existence of relaxin family peptide genes in the tunicate Ciona, but it has not been shown that any of these are in the same linkage group as modern relaxin genes. Multiple relaxin genes have also been identified in Amphioxus, but again syntenic relationship of these genes to modern relaxin genes is unclear and experimental work is lacking. A relaxin-like peptide, previously referred to as “Gonad Stimulating Substance” was also characterized in the echinoderm Patiria pectinifera (starfish). There is evidence that the starfish peptide is involved in reproductive processes and functions via a GPCR, which supports its relatedness to vertebrate relaxins.

In vertebrates

Relaxin peptides and their receptors are an example of vigorously diversified ligand-receptor systems in vertebrates. The number of peptides and their receptors is varied among vertebrates due to lineage specific gene loss and duplications For example, teleost fish have almost twice as many RXFP compared to humans, which is attributable to the Fish-Specific Whole Genome Duplication and teleost-specific gene duplication.

See also

• Relaxin
• Relaxin receptor
• Relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1

References

1. Sherwood OD (April 2004). "Relaxin's physiological roles and other diverse actions". Endocrine Reviews. 25 (2): 205–234. doi:10.1210/er.2003-0013. PMID 15082520.
2. ^ Yegorov S, Good S (2012). "Using paleogenomics to study the evolution of gene families: origin and duplication history of the relaxin family hormones and their receptors". PLOS ONE. 7 (3): e32923. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...732923Y. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032923. PMC 3310001. PMID 22470432.
3. Wilkinson TN, Speed TP, Tregear GW, Bathgate RA (February 2005). "Evolution of the relaxin-like peptide family". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 5 (14): 14. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-5-14. PMC 551602. PMID 15707501.
4. Arroyo JI, Hoffmann FG, Good S, Opazo JC (August 2012). "INSL4 pseudogenes help define the relaxin family repertoire in the common ancestor of placental mammals". Journal of Molecular Evolution. 75 (1–2): 73–78. Bibcode:2012JMolE..75...73A. doi:10.1007/s00239-012-9517-0. hdl:10533/127600. PMID 22961112. S2CID 9243065.
5. ^ Roby KF (January 2019). "Relaxin". Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-12-801238-3.
6. ^ Penn AA (January 2017). "Relaxin". In Polin RA, Abman SH, Rowitch DH, Benitz WE (eds.). Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences (Fifth ed.). Elsevier. pp. 134–144.e4. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.97212-X. ISBN 978-0-323-35214-7. S2CID 239355053.
7. ^ Patil NA, Rosengren KJ, Separovic F, Wade JD, Bathgate RA, Hossain MA (May 2017). "Relaxin family peptides: structure-activity relationship studies". British Journal of Pharmacology. 174 (10): 950–961. doi:10.1111/bph.13684. PMC 5406294. PMID 27922185.
8. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice (8th ed.). www.elsevier.com. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
9. McGowan BM, Stanley SA, Donovan J, Thompson EL, Patterson M, Semjonous NM, et al. (August 2008). "Relaxin-3 stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis". American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. 295 (2): E278–E286. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00028.2008. PMC 2519759. PMID 18492777.
10. ^ Bathgate RA, Kocan M, Scott DJ, Hossain MA, Good SV, Yegorov S, et al. (July 2018). "The relaxin receptor as a therapeutic target - perspectives from evolution and drug targeting". Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 187: 114–132. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.02.008. hdl:1874/377562. PMID 29458108. S2CID 3708498.
11. Dschietzig T, Bartsch C, Greinwald M, Baumann G, Stangl K (May 2005). "The pregnancy hormone relaxin binds to and activates the human glucocorticoid receptor". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1041 (1): 256–271. Bibcode:2005NYASA1041..256D. doi:10.1196/annals.1282.039. PMID 15956716. S2CID 24814642.
12. Yegorov S, Bogerd J, Good SV (December 2014). "The relaxin family peptide receptors and their ligands: new developments and paradigms in the evolution from jawless fish to mammals". General and Comparative Endocrinology. 209: 93–105. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.07.014. PMID 25079565. S2CID 34136070.
13. Olinski RP, Dahlberg C, Thorndyke M, Hallböök F (November 2006). "Three insulin-relaxin-like genes in Ciona intestinalis". Peptides. 27 (11): 2535–2546. doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2006.06.008. PMID 16920224. S2CID 6844537.
14. Mita M (January 2013). "Relaxin-like gonad-stimulating substance in an echinoderm, the starfish: a novel relaxin system in reproduction of invertebrates". General and Comparative Endocrinology. 181: 241–245. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.07.015. PMID 22841765.
15. Good S, Yegorov S, Martijn J, Franck J, Bogerd J (15 June 2012). "New insights into ligand-receptor pairing and coevolution of relaxin family peptides and their receptors in teleosts". International Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 2012 (310278): 310278. doi:10.1155/2012/310278. PMC 3449138. PMID 23008798.

• Genes on human chromosome 9
• Genes on human chromosome 19
• Genes on human chromosome 1
• Peptide hormones
• Hormones of the ovary
• Hormones of the placenta
• Hormones of the pregnant female
• Human female endocrine system