Pro-Melanin Concentrating Hormone Like Protein 2 (PMCHL2)

Pedeutour et al. (1994) mapped the variant pro-melanin-concentrating hormone that they designated PMCHL2 to 5q12-q13 by fluorescence in situ hybridization on metaphase chromosomes. They pointed out that this is a candidate gene for neurologic disorders that map to this region.The melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a cyclic neuropeptide isolated initially from salmon pituitary gland and later from rat hypothalamus . In mammals, MCH perikarya are confined largely to the lateral hypothalamus and zona incerta area with extensive neuronal projections throughout the brain, including the neurohypophysis. The anatomic distribution suggests a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator role for MCH in a broad array of neuronal functions directed toward the regulation of goal-directed behavior, such as food intake, and general arousal.