Gonacin: A germ cell-derived hormone with glucogenic, orexigenic, and gonadal activities
Yixuan Hu,
Shengyou Zhao,
Zhiquan Liu,
Tao Kang,
Aaron J.W. Hsueh,
Jianzhen Li
Affiliations
Yixuan Hu
College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Shengyou Zhao
College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Zhiquan Liu
College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Tao Kang
College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Aaron J.W. Hsueh
College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Corresponding author
Jianzhen Li
College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Corresponding author
Summary: Fish require abundant nutrients to generate a large number of eggs for spawning. Based on the evolutionary conservation of human FBN2 and its C-terminal placensin-like sequences in fish, we identified a peptide hormone gonacin (GONAdal Cell placensIN) and found its high expression in early-stage germ cells in the ovary and testis of zebrafish. We demonstrated that gonacin is essential for food intake, glucose release, and ovarian development in zebrafish. Similar expression patterns and functions of gonacin were also demonstrated in rainbow trout. Gonacin represents the first hormone secreted by germ cells with endocrine functions in vertebrates, bridging the energy homeostasis and reproduction.
