This gene encodes a member of the G-protein coupledreceptor family. The encoded protein may play a role in energyhomeostasis and regulation of body weight. Two identifiedtranscript variants are expressed in several tissues and areevolutionary conserved in fish and swine. One transcript, 1a,excises an intron and encodes the functional protein; this proteinis the receptor for the Ghrelin ligand and defines a neuroendocrinepathway for growth hormone release. The second transcript (1b)retains the intron and does not function as a receptor for Ghrelin;however, it may function to attenuate activity of isoform 1a.Mutations in this gene are associated with autosomal idiopathicshort stature.[provided by RefSeq, Apr 2010].