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FLASH GENE
Symbol PRL contributors: mct/pgu - updated : 03-01-2023
HGNC name prolactin
HGNC id 9445
Location 6p22.3      Physical location : 22.287.478 - 22.303.082
Synonym name
  • growth hormone A1
  • Synonym symbol(s) AT4G02060, MCM7, PROLIFERA, TIOM13.7, GHA1
    DNA
    TYPE functioning gene
    STRUCTURE 10.25 kb     5 Exon(s)
    10 Kb 5' upstream gene genomic sequence study
    regulatory sequence Binding site
    text structure B2 Pitx binding site in the promoter region
    MAPPING cloned Y linked   status confirmed
    RNA
    TRANSCRIPTS type messenger
    identificationnb exonstypebpproduct
    ProteinkDaAAspecific expressionYearPubmed
    5 - 1359 23 227 - 2003 12679477
    resistant to cathepsin D
    6 - 1013 23 227 - 2003 12679477
  • also called PRL16K
  • cathepsin D-cleaved
  • potentially a physiological inhibitor of tumor growth
  • antiangiogenic and proapoptotic
  • overexpressed in postpartum cardiomyopathy
  • EXPRESSION
    Type widely
       expressed in (based on citations)
    organ(s)
    SystemOrgan level 1Organ level 2Organ level 3Organ level 4LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
    Endocrineneuroendocrinepituitary    Homo sapiens
    Nervousbraindiencephalonamygdala   Homo sapiens
     braindiencephalonhypothalamus   Homo sapiens
     brainforebraincerebral cortex   Homo sapiens
     brainlimbic systemhippocampus   Homo sapiens
    Olfactory (smell)olfactory bulb     Homo sapiens
    Reproductivefemale systembreastmammary gland   Homo sapiens
     male systemprostate    Homo sapiens
    Skin/Tegumentskin     Homo sapiens
    cell lineage
    cell lines
    fluid/secretion
    at STAGE
    physiological period pregnancy
    Text placenta and early postpartum
    PROTEIN
    PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    STRUCTURE
    motifs/domains
    conjugated GlycoP
    HOMOLOGY
    interspecies homolog to murine Prl
    Homologene
    FAMILY
  • somatotropin/prolactin family
  • CATEGORY secretory , signaling hormone
    SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION extracellular
        intracellular
    intracellular,cytoplasm,organelle,lumen
    intracellular,cytoplasm,organelle,endosome
    text secreted
    basic FUNCTION
  • acting primarily on the mammary gland by promoting lactation
  • a role in regulating adipose tissue metabolism during lactation
  • induces estrogen receptor alpha and prolactin receptor expression
  • reduces the LPL activity in adipose tissues, via PRLR
  • responds to psychological stress
  • a role in bone/cartilage formation/repair processes
  • affects insulin binding and glucose uptake in adipocytes
  • involved in breast cancer through prolactin-induced receptor down-regulation mediated by proteasomes
  • plays a critical role in many steps of breast development
  • functions as a local regulator of various cell types in the mammalian retina
  • important role for PRL in ovarian and endometrial tumorigenesis
  • decreases lipogenesis in adipose tissue as a consequence of suppressed malonyl-CoA concentration in parallel with decreased SLC2A4 expression
  • PRL present in the follicular fluid stimulates the proliferation of endothelial cells
  • prosurvival factor for human spermatozoa that prevents these cells from defaulting to an intrinsic apoptotic pathway associated with cell senescence
  • may play a role in the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid syndrome, especially antiphospholipid syndrome-related reproductive failure
  • promotes pubertal ESR1-dependent mammary ductal elongation and gene expression in the absence of estrogen, which are abrogated by the antiestrogen
  • PRL may be involved in the manifestation of insulin resistance
  • has pleiotropic functions in the brain
  • has a bioactive function acting as a hormone and a cytokine
  • interferes with immune system modulation, mainly inhibiting the negative selection of autoreactive B lymphocytes
  • has an important role not only in tumorigenesis of the breast, but also in a number of hormonally responsive cancers such as prostate, ovarian and endometrial cancer, as well as pancreatic and lung cancer
  • also impacts metastatic cancer of the breast to modulate the bone microenvironment and promote bone damage
  • PRL could be a crucial regulator in oocyte preimplantation and maturation
  • CELLULAR PROCESS cell life, proliferation/growth
    PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS
    PATHWAY
    metabolism
    signaling hormonal
  • STAT5A/PRL/VEGFA signaling cascade in human brain endothelial cells (EC)
  • a component
    INTERACTION
    DNA
    RNA
    small molecule metal binding,
  • Zn2+
  • protein
  • inhibits BCL6 expression in breast cancer through a STAT5A-dependent mechanism
  • binding the prolactin receptor PRLR, and PRL signaling is mediated through its receptor (PRLR)
  • interaction with PKM2, and inhibition of PKM2 by PRL contributes potentially to the PRL-stimulated cell proliferation
  • PRL may modulate the reproductive axis by acting on specific populations of hypothalamic neurons that express the KISS1 gene
  • PRL is a lactogenic hormone that controls pregnancy as well as lactation and induces PBXIP1 expression in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 5a-dependent manner
  • cell & other
    REGULATION
    activated by PITX factors
    ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
    corresponding disease(s)
    Other morbid association(s)
    TypeGene ModificationChromosome rearrangementProtein expressionProtein Function
    constitutional     --over  
    has been described in relation to the pathogenesis and activity of several autoimmune disorders
    constitutional     --over  
    in decreased bone mineral density as well as in increased risk of fractures
    Susceptibility
  • to breast cancer
  • to increased adiposity in males
  • Variant & Polymorphism SNP
  • SNP rs4712652 near the PRL gene seems to affect body fat and adiposity in a sex-specific fashion
  • Candidate gene
    Marker
    Therapy target
    SystemTypeDisorderPubmed
    cardiovascularcardiomyopathy 
    inhibition of prolactin release by bromocriptine may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for postpartum cardiomyopathy
    neurologyneurodegenerativeParkinson/dementia Parkinsonism
    promising molecule for the treatment of PD
    neurologyneurodegenerativealzheimer
    promising molecule for the treatment of AD
    ANIMAL & CELL MODELS
  • Prl is required for maintaining retinal functionality in both female and male mice during aging and has potential therapeutic value against age-related retinal disorders