This gene is specifically expressed in a subpopulation of neuroendocrine cells, and is upregulated by nerve growth factor. The structural organization of this gene is similar to that of the rat gene, and both the translated and the untranslated regions show a high degree of sequence similarity to the rat gene. The encoded secretory protein also shares similarities with the secretogranin/chromogranin family, however, its exact function is not known. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a peptide that plays a key role in the differentiation and survival of neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system (CNS). VGF is a peptide synthesized and secreted by neurons and is upregulated by NGF in the PC12 cell line. VGF is widely expressed in both the PNS and CNS, but is especially abundant in the adult hypothalamus. VGF plays an essential role in how the brain regulates energy expenditure and body weight. Its expression is rapidly induced by injury, the circadian clock, and neuronal activity.
