Background of the antigen
QRFP is a 136 amino acid secreted protein that is widely expressed in the brain with highest expression levels in the cerebellum, medulla, pituitary, retina, vestibular nucleus and white matter. Also expressed in the bladder, colon, coronary artery, parathyroid gland, prostate, testis and thyroid, QRFP is a member of the RFamide neuropeptide family. QRFP may be involved in aldosterone secretion by the adrenal gland and is also implicated in stimulating metabolic rate, locomotor activity and increasing blood pressure. Considered a ligand for the G-protein coupled receptor GPR103, QRFP may have orexigenic activity, thereby acting as an appetite stimulant. The gene encoding QFRP is located on human chromosome 9, which consists of about 145 million bases, comprises roughly 4% of the human genome and encodes nearly 900 genes.
