Natriuretic peptide precursor C, also known as NPPC, is a

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respon ...

that in humans is encoded by the ''NPPC''

gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...

. The precursor NPPC protein is cleaved to the 22

amino acid Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although hundreds of amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the alpha-amino acids, which comprise proteins. Only 22 alpha ...

peptide Peptides (, ) are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Long chains of amino acids are called proteins. Chains of fewer than twenty amino acids are called oligopeptides, and include dipeptides, tripeptides, and tetrapeptides. ...

C-type natriuretic peptide (''CNP'').

Function

Natriuretic peptide A natriuretic peptide is a peptide that induces natriuresis, which is the excretion of sodium by the kidneys. Known natriuretic peptides include the following: * atrial natriuretic peptide, also known as ANP * brain natriuretic peptide, also ...

s comprise a family of 3 structurally related molecules: atrial natriuretic peptide (

ANP ANP may refer to: In politics and government *Afghan National Police *''Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis'' or National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (Brazil), a regulatory agency in Brazil *American N ...

), brain natriuretic peptide ( BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), encoded by a gene symbolized ''NPPC''. These peptides possess potent

natriuretic