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

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.108065

Gonacin: A germ cell-derived hormone with glucogenic, orexigenic, and gonadal activities

iScience. 2023 Sep 28;26(10):108065. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108065. eCollection 2023 Oct 20.

Authors

Yixuan Hu¹, Shengyou Zhao¹, Zhiquan Liu¹, Tao Kang¹, Aaron J W Hsueh^{1

2}, Jianzhen Li¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Biological sciences; Endocrinology; Female reproductive endocrinology; Male reproductive endocrinology; Natural sciences.