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Evolution of the Relaxin‐Like Peptide Family: From Neuropeptide to Reproduction
Author(s) -
WILKINSON TRACEY N.,
SPEED TERRY P.,
TREGEAR GEOFFREY W.,
BATHGATE ROSS A.D.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1282.079
Subject(s) - relaxin , phylogenetics , neuropeptide , biology , reproduction , phylogenetic tree , function (biology) , divergence (linguistics) , evolutionary biology , peptide , medicine , endocrinology , hormone , zoology , gene , genetics , biochemistry , receptor , linguistics , philosophy
A bstract : The relaxin‐like peptide family consists of relaxin‐1, relaxin‐2, and relaxin‐3 and the insulin‐like peptides (INSL)‐3, INSL4, INSL5, and INSL6 (human relaxin‐2 is equivalent to relaxin‐1 in other species). Evolution of this family has been contentious. We therefore sought to clarify the issue by performing phylogenetic analysis of all relaxin‐like peptides from the genomic databases available. Surprisingly, the phylogeny, combined with previous biologic characterizations, suggest that although relaxin's original function was likely in the brain, its reproductive role was acquired just prior to the divergence of amphibians. This phylogeny also illuminates inconsistencies in relaxin evolution in invertebrates, chickens, and cows.