Calca - calcitonin/calcitonin-related polypeptide, alpha

This gene encodes the peptide hormones calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and katacalcin. Alternative splicing of the mRNA results in multiple variants that encode either calcitonin or CGRP preproproteins. Post-translational processing of the calcitonin and CGRP propeptides results in either calcitonin and katacalcin, or CGRP, respectively. Calcitonin and katacalcin modulate calcium levels in the blood stream. CGRP can function as a vasodilator and play a role in the transmission of pain. The human homolog of CGRP was found to have antimicrobial activity. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2015]