Receptor deorphanization in starfish reveals the evolution of relaxin signaling as a regulator of reproduction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Relaxins are a family of peptides that regulate reproductive physiology in vertebrates. Evidence that this is an evolutionarily ancient role of relaxins has been provided by the discovery of two relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptides (RGP1 and RGP2) that trigger spawning in starfish. The main aim of this study was to identify the receptor(s) that mediate(s) the effects of RGP1 and RGP2 in starfish.

Results

Here we show that RGP1 and RGP2 belong to a family of peptides that include vertebrate relaxins, Drosophila insulin-like peptide 8 (Dilp8), and other relaxin-like peptides in several protostome taxa. An ortholog of the human relaxin receptors RXFP1 and RXFP2 and the Drosophila receptor LGR3 was identified in starfish (RXFP/LGR3). In Drosophila, but not in human

SUBMITTER: Feng Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11863921 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature