Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (8-37), human

Calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) is a member of the calcitonin family of peptides, which in humans exists in two forms, a-CGRP and ß-CGRP. a-CGRP is a 37-amino acid peptide and is formed from the alternative splicing of the calcitonin/CGRP gene located on chromosome 11. The less-studied ß-CGRP differs in three amino acids (in humans) and is encoded in a separate gene in the same vicinity.CGRP induces vasodilation. It dilates a variety of vessels including the coronary, cerebral and systemic vasculature. Its abundance in the CNS also points toward a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator role.