Oxytocin/neurophysin i prepropeptide explained

Oxytocin/neurophysin I prepropeptide is a protein that in humans is encoded by the OXT gene.^[1]

Function

This gene encodes a precursor protein that is processed to produce oxytocin and neurophysin I. Oxytocin is a posterior pituitary hormone that is synthesized as an inactive precursor in the hypothalamus along with its carrier protein neurophysin I. Together with neurophysin, it is packaged into neurosecretory vesicles and transported axonally to the nerve endings in the neurohypophysis, where it is either stored or secreted into the bloodstream. The precursor seems to be activated while it is being transported along the axon to the posterior pituitary. This hormone contracts smooth muscle during parturition and lactation. It is also involved in cognition, tolerance, adaptation, and complex sexual and maternal behavior, as well as in the regulation of water excretion and cardiovascular functions. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2013].

Further reading

• Comings DE, Gade-Andavolu R, Gonzalez N, Wu S, Muhleman D, Blake H, Mann MB, Dietz G, Saucier G, MacMurray JP . A multivariate analysis of 59 candidate genes in personality traits: the temperament and character inventory . Clin. Genet. . 58 . 5 . 375–85 . November 2000 . 11140838 . 10.1034/j.1399-0004.2000.580508.x. 14733771 .
• Petersson M, Lagumdzija A, Stark A, Bucht E . Oxytocin stimulates proliferation of human osteoblast-like cells . Peptides . 23 . 6 . 1121–6 . June 2002 . 12126740 . 10.1016/s0196-9781(02)00041-4. 29063450 .
• Turner RA, Altemus M, Yip DN, Kupferman E, Fletcher D, Bostrom A, Lyons DM, Amico JA . Effects of emotion on oxytocin, prolactin, and ACTH in women . Stress . 5 . 4 . 269–76 . December 2002 . 12475731 . 10.1080/1025389021000037586 . 35993338 . free .
• Evans JJ, Reid RA, Wakeman SA, Croft LB, Benny PS . Evidence that oxytocin is a physiological component of LH regulation in non-pregnant women . Hum. Reprod. . 18 . 7 . 1428–31 . July 2003 . 12832367 . 10.1093/humrep/deg291. free .
• Filippi S, Vignozzi L, Vannelli GB, Ledda F, Forti G, Maggi M . Role of oxytocin in the ejaculatory process . J. Endocrinol. Invest. . 26 . 3 Suppl . 82–6 . 2003 . 12834028 .
• Blanks AM, Vatish M, Allen MJ, Ladds G, de Wit NC, Slater DM, Thornton S . Paracrine oxytocin and estradiol demonstrate a spatial increase in human intrauterine tissues with labor . J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. . 88 . 7 . 3392–400 . July 2003 . 12843193 . 10.1210/jc.2002-021212 . free .
• Cassoni P, Sapino A, Marrocco T, Chini B, Bussolati G . Oxytocin and oxytocin receptors in cancer cells and proliferation . J. Neuroendocrinol. . 16 . 4 . 362–4 . April 2004 . 15089975 . 10.1111/j.0953-8194.2004.01165.x . 41886485 .
• Monstein HJ, Grahn N, Truedsson M, Ohlsson B . Oxytocin and oxytocin-receptor mRNA expression in the human gastrointestinal tract: a polymerase chain reaction study . Regul. Pept. . 119 . 1–2 . 39–44 . June 2004 . 15093695 . 10.1016/j.regpep.2003.12.017 . 12491899 .
• Ohlsson B, Truedsson M, Djerf P, Sundler F . Oxytocin is expressed throughout the human gastrointestinal tract . Regul. Pept. . 135 . 1–2 . 7–11 . July 2006 . 16678285 . 10.1016/j.regpep.2006.03.008 . 18895645 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Entrez Gene: Oxytocin/neurophysin I prepropeptide. 2018-02-28.