Calcitonin gene-related peptide

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a member of the calcitonin family of peptides. Other members are calcitonin, a 32-amino acid residue peptide that reduces bone resorption; amylin, a 37-amino acid residue peptide that reduces food intake; and adrenomedullin, a potent vasodilator, 52-amino acid residues long. As its name implies, CGRP is produced by tissue-specific alternate splicing of the calcitonin gene. In human and rat, this form is designated alpha- and a second form exists called beta-CGRP, which is derived from a different, noncalcitonin gene. Both forms of CGRP contain 37-amino acid residues with a disulphide bridge between positions 2 and 7, and a C-terminal phenylalanylamide residue. Alpha-CGRP differs from the beta-form by one amino acid residue in rat and three amino residues acids in human ....