Hormone that acts as a ligand for natriuretic peptide receptor NPR3/NPR-C and promotes bone growth and physical endurance in muscle. Acts as a regulator of osteoblast differentiation and bone growth by binding to natriuretic peptide receptor NPR3/NPR-C, thereby preventing binding between NPR3/NPR-C and natriuretic peptides, leading to increase cGMP production (PubMed:14523025, PubMed:17951249). Required to enhance physical endurance: induced following physical exercise in muscle and promotes cGMP production, probably by interacting with NPR3/NPR-C (PubMed:26668395). May act as an autocrine and paracrine factor linked to glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle (PubMed:15044443). Interacts with NPR3. Expressed in skeletal muscle and to a much lesser extent in bone, brown adipose tissue, spleen and testis (PubMed:14523025, PubMed:15044443, PubMed:26668395). Not expressed in neurons (PubMed:27830782). Expressed during matrix production and maturation. Also expressed during myocyte differentiation. Is regulated by nutritional changes (PubMed:15044443). Is up-regulated dose-dependently by insulin (PubMed:15044443). Is down-regulated dose-dependently by forskolin (PubMed:15044443). Induced in muscle following physical exercise (PubMed:26668395). Mice grow normally and do not display any visible phenotype but show reduced physical endurance (PubMed:26668395). Mice do not show skeletal deformities, differences in bone density, growth abnormalities, blood pressure nor body composition changes (PubMed:26668395). Belongs to the Osteocrin family. This protein-coding gene has been repurposed in primates, with the presence of a new enhancer sequence that drives expression in brain in response to sensory experience (PubMed:27830782). Something else - Issue 189 of March 2017