Function
Neurophysins are carrier proteins which transport hormones from the hypothalamus to the posterior pituitary gland[1].
- Neurophysin-1 transports oxytocin.
- Neurophysin-2 transports vasopressin.
- Oxytocin is used to start labor and increase its speed.
- Vasopressin functions to retain water in the body and to constrict blood vessels.
Disease
Mutations in neurophysin-2 are associated with familial diabetes[2].
Structural highlights
Neurophysin-2/oxytocin interactions.
- ↑ Acher R, Chauvet J. Structure, processing and evolution of the neurohypophysial hormone-neurophysin precursors. Biochimie. 1988 Sep;70(9):1197-207. PMID:3147712
- ↑ Nagasaki H, Ito M, Yuasa H, Saito H, Fukase M, Hamada K, Ishikawa E, Katakami H, Oiso Y. Two novel mutations in the coding region for neurophysin-II associated with familial central diabetes insipidus. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1995 Apr;80(4):1352-6. PMID:7714110 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jcem.80.4.7714110
