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FLASH GENE
Symbol UCN2 contributors: mct - updated : 20-03-2014
HGNC name urocortin 2
HGNC id 18414
EXPRESSION
Type widely
   expressed in (based on citations)
organ(s)
SystemOrgan level 1Organ level 2Organ level 3Organ level 4LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
Cardiovascularheart   highly Homo sapiens
Nervousbrain    
Reproductivefemale systemplacenta  highly Homo sapiens
Respiratoryrespiratory tractlarynx  highly
Skin/Tegumentskin   highly
tissue
SystemTissueTissue level 1Tissue level 2LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
Muscularsmoothuterusmyometrium 
cells
SystemCellPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
reproductiveuterus
cell lineage
cell lines
fluid/secretion
at STAGE
physiological period fetal, pregnancy
Text maternal and fetal vessels, and in amniotic cells (Imperatore 2006)
PROTEIN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
STRUCTURE
motifs/domains
  • a signal peptide for secretion
  • the region containing the 43-amino acid mature peptide is flanked by potential proteolytic cleavage sites and an alpha-amidation donor residue
  • isoforms Precursor
    HOMOLOGY
    interspecies homolog to murine Urp
    Homologene
    FAMILY
  • sauvagine/corticotropin-releasing factor/urotensin I family
  • corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family
  • CATEGORY signaling hormone
    SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION extracellular
    text expressed in endometrium, highly in the early proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle (Florio 2006)
    basic FUNCTION
  • endogenous ligands for maintaining homeostasis after stress, and could allow the design of drugs to ameliorate stress-related diseases
  • involved in the control of myometrial contractility during pregnancy
  • in the brain it may be responsible for the effects of stress on appetite
  • might represent an endogenous ligand for maintaining homeostasis after stress
  • exert an anti-inflammatory effect via induction of macrophage apoptosis (through CRHR2 binding)
  • can suppress tumor growth predominantly by inhibition of tumor vascularization, but also potentially through direct effects on tumor cell proliferation
  • exerts potent beneficial effects in the cardiovascular system, including inhibition of apoptosis, improvement of cardiomyocyte contractility and decrease of oxidative stress (Bühler 2009)
  • hypoxia-mediated induction of UCN2 may help to preserve cardiac function and prevent apoptosis in ischaemic condition in the heart (Bühler 2009)
  • suppresses food intake, delays gastric emptying and decreases heat-induced edema
  • activates mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels and prevents the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore
  • possible involvement of UCN2 and UCN3 in the mechanisms of endometriosis
  • potently suppressed feeding via a CRF-dependent mechanism without eliciting malaise
  • implicated in the regulation of AMPK activation in the heart
  • CELLULAR PROCESS cell life, proliferation/growth
    PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS
    PATHWAY
    metabolism
    signaling
    a component
    INTERACTION
    DNA
    RNA
    small molecule
    protein
  • endogenous ligand for CRF type 2 receptors (CRHR2) (induced macrophage apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner via CRHR2)
  • although not amidated, UCN2 prohormone purified from overexpressing lines activated CRF receptor 2
  • binds with high affinity to type 2 CRF receptors (CRFR2) on cardiomyocytes and confers protection against ischemia/reperfusion
  • cell & other
    REGULATION
    ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
    corresponding disease(s)
    Other morbid association(s)
    TypeGene ModificationChromosome rearrangementProtein expressionProtein Function
    constitutional     --over  
    in preeclamptic (PE) placentae, the increased expression of UCN2, UCN3 may reflect a response to the oxidative stress
    Susceptibility to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
    Variant & Polymorphism other is significantly associated with AAA and inhibits VSMC proliferation by inducing a G1 cell cycle arrest suggesting a plausible regulatory role in AAA pathogenesis
    Candidate gene
    Marker
  • TAS1R3 and UCN2 in peripheral blood cells may be considered potential biomarkers of consumption of sugary and fatty food, respectively
  • Therapy target
    ANIMAL & CELL MODELS
  • male Ucn2 null mice showed more passive social interactions and reduced aggressiveness in comparison to wild-type animals