Conserved Site

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (IPR002012)

Short name: GnRH


The gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH) (gonadoliberin) are a family of peptides that play a pivotal role in reproduction. The main function of GnRH is to act on the pituitary to stimulate the synthesis and secretion of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones, but GnRH also acts on the brain, retina, sympathetic nervous system, gonads and placenta in certain species. There seems to be at least three forms of GnRH. The second form is expressed in midbrain and seems to be widespread. The third form has only been found so far in fish. GnRH is a C-terminal amidated decapeptide processed from a larger precursor protein. Four of the ten residues are perfectly conserved in all species where GnRH has been sequenced.

GO terms

Biological Process

GO:0007275 multicellular organism development

Molecular Function

GO:0005179 hormone activity

Cellular Component

GO:0005576 extracellular region

Contributing signatures

Signatures from InterPro member databases are used to construct an entry.
PROSITE patterns