relaxin

Function

• ovarian hormone that acts with estrogen to produce dilatation of the birth canal in many mammals
• may be involved in remodeling of connective tissues during pregnancy, promoting growth of pubic ligaments & ripening of the cervix
• vasodilator involved in hemodynamic changes during pregnancy.

Structure

• heterodimer of a B chain & an A chain linked by two disulfide bonds
• belongs to the insulin family

Compartment

secreted

More general terms

• secreted peptide
• peptide precursor
• multisubunit protein

More specific terms

• relaxin H1 (RLN1)
• relaxin H2 (RLN2)
• relaxin-3; prorelaxin H3; insulin-like peptide INSL7; insulin-like peptide 7 [Contains: relaxin-3 B chain; relaxin-3 A chain] (RLN3, INSL7, RXN3, ZINS4, UNQ6188/PRO20213)