This gene encodes a mature peptide that is an active cyclic heptapeptide absolutely conserved from lamprey to human. The active peptide acts as a vasoconstrictor and is expressed only in brain tissue. Despite the gene family name similarity, this gene is not homologous to urocortin, a member of the sauvagine/corticotropin-releasing factor/urotensin I family. Most of the proprotein is cleaved to make the mature peptide. Transcript variants encoding different preproprotein isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].
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Nothacker, Clark: "From heart to mind. The urotensin II system and its evolving neurophysiological role." in: The FEBS journal, Vol. 272, Issue 22, pp. 5694-702, (2005) (PubMed).