title: The puzzles of the prokineticin 2 pathway in human reproduction.
abstract: Prokineticin, 1 (PROK1) and prokineticin 2 (PROK2), are two closely related proteins that were identified as the mammalian homologs of their two amphibian homologs, mamba intestinal toxin (MIT-1) and Bv8. MIT-1 was initially identified as a non-toxic constituent in the venom of the black mamba snake (Dendroaspis polylepis) (Joubert and Strydom, 1980) while Bv8 was identified in the skin secretion of the toad, Bombina variegate (Mollay et al., 1999). All three homologs stimulate gastrointestinal motility thus accounting for their family name "prokineticins" (Schweitz et al., 1990, 1999). However, since its initial description, both PROK1 and PROK2 have been found to regulate a dazzling array of biological functions throughout the body. In particular, PROK1 acts as a potent angiogenic mitogen on endocrine vascular epithelium, thus earning its other name, Endocrine gland-vascular endothelial factor (EG-VEGF) (LeCouter et al., 2002). In contrast, the PROK2 signaling pathway is a critical regulator of olfactory bulb morphogenesis and sexual maturation in mammals and this function is the focus of this review.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Reproductive Endocrine Sciences Center of Excellence, The Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Ravikumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
authors.forename: Lacey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.forename: Yisrael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sidis
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pitteloud
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Qun-Yong
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Crowley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; C423608:PROK2 protein, human; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone