Scientists found a new human brain receptor called AXOR12 that is very similar to a mouse receptor known to bind kisspeptin. They showed that kisspeptin‑10 (a piece of the KiSS‑1 protein) can strongly activate this receptor, and that both the receptor and the KiSS‑1 gene are most abundant in brain, pituitary and placenta.

A novel human G protein-coupled receptor named AXOR12, exhibiting 81% homology to the rat orphan receptor GPR54, was cloned from a human brain cDNA library. Heterologous expression of AXOR12 in mammalian cells permitted the identification of three surrogate agonist peptides, all with a common C-terminal amidated motif. High potency agonism, indicative of a cognate ligand, was evident from peptides derived from the gene KiSS-1, the expression of which prevents metastasis in melanoma cells. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to study the expression of AXOR12 and KiSS-1 in a variety of tissues. The highest levels of expression of AXOR12 mRNA were observed in brain, pituitary gland, and placenta. The highest levels of KiSS-1 gene expression were observed in placenta and brain. A polyclonal antibody raised to the C terminus of AXOR12 was generated and used to show localization of the receptor to neurons in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and brainstem. The biological significance of these expression patterns and the nature of the putative cognate ligand for AXOR12 are discussed.