Cort - cortistatin

This gene encodes a member of the somatostatin family of multifunctional peptides attributed with neurohormone, neurotransmitter/modulator and autocrine/paracrine actions. The encoded preproprotein undergoes proteolytic processing to generate a mature functional peptide that can bind to somatostatin receptors. Mice lacking the encoded protein exhibit elevated levels of growth hormone in the plasma without major changes in somatic growth and have exacerbated nociceptive responses to neuropathic and inflammatory pain sensitization. Transgenic mice overexpressing the encoded protein in neurons do not express long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus and exhibit deficits in synaptic plasticity and learning. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2015]