RLN2 polyclonal antibody

Relaxin 1 (also referred to as Relaxin or RLXH1) is a peptide hormone produced by the corpora lutea of the ovary during pregnancy in many mammalian species, including human. The secretion of the hormone into the blood stream just before parturition results in a marked softening and lengthening of the pubic symphysis and a softening of the cervix, which facilitates the birth process. By inhibiting uterine contractions, Relaxin 1 may influence the timing of parturition. Like insulin, Relaxin 1 consists of two peptide chains, A and B, covalently linked by disulfide bonds. By further analogy to insulin, the two peptides are synthesized as a single-chain precursor polypeptide with the B chain at the amino-terminus. The gene that encodes the human Relaxin 1 protein maps to chromosome 9. Relaxin 2, a related protein, is selectively expressed in the ovary during pregnancy. The gene that encodes the human Relaxin 2 protein also maps to chromosome 9.