Background
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the parathyroid hormone family. This hormone regulates endochondral;bone development and epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during the formation of the mammary glands and teeth. This;hormone is involved in lactation possibly by regulating the mobilization and transfer of calcium to the milk. The;receptor of this hormone, PTHR1, is responsible for most cases of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. Four;alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding two distinct isoforms have been observed. There is also evidence;for alternative translation initiation from non-AUG (CUG and GUG) start sites, in-frame and downstream of the;initiator AUG codon, to give rise to nuclear forms of this hormone.