Figure 2.

Products of the Kiss1 gene. Kiss1 mRNA is transcribed from the Kiss1 gene and translated to form a 145-amino-acid propeptide called kisspeptin-145. Shown are cleavage sites on the propeptide that lead to the production of the RF-amidated kisspeptin-54. Shorter peptides (such as kisspeptin-10, -13, and -14) share a common C terminus and RF-amidated motif with kisspeptin-54. Because no putative cleavage sites have been identified on the propeptide that would lead to synthesis of the shorter peptides, such peptides may be degradation products of kisspeptin-54. [Adapted with permission from Popa et al., 2008 (202) © Annual Reviews].