Kisspeptin

Kisspeptin Overview

Kisspeptin refers to a group of peptide fragments encoded by the KISS1 gene that act as endogenous ligands for the kisspeptin receptor, also known as KISS1R. In research settings, it is studied for its role in neuroendocrine signaling and for how receptor activation influences downstream reproductive hormone pathways.

Mechanism of Action & Applications

Kisspeptin is studied for agonist activity at KISS1R, a G protein-coupled receptor. Published research describes KISS1R signaling primarily through Gq/11-linked pathways, with more recent work also identifying Gi/o coupling in some systems. In laboratory research, this makes kisspeptin useful for examining GnRH-related signaling, reproductive axis regulation, receptor trafficking, intracellular calcium responses, and broader neuroendocrine pathway activity.

Research History

Research on kisspeptin grew from the discovery of KISS1 as a metastasis suppressor gene and the later identification of kisspeptin peptides as ligands for KISS1R. Over time, investigation expanded into reproductive biology, where kisspeptin signaling became widely studied as a key upstream regulator of GnRH pathway activity and pubertal neuroendocrine signaling.

Chemical Information

CAS Number: 374675-21-5
Molecular Formula: C₆₃H₈₃N₁₇O₁₄
Molecular Weight: 1302.4 g/mol
PubChem ID: 25240297
Purity: ≥99%