This gene encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed to generate multiple protein products. These products include melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), neuropeptide-glutamic acid-isoleucine (NEI), and neuropeptide-glycine-glutamic acid (NGE). Melanin-concentrating hormone is a 19-amino acid neuropeptide that stimulates hunger and may additionally regulate energy homeostasis, reproductive function, and sleep. Pseudogenes of this gene have been identified on chromosome 5.