Kisspeptin-10 is a decapeptide derived from the KISS1 gene, corresponding to residues 45 to 54 of the larger Metastin (kisspeptin-54) protein.
 It is the minimal sequence required to fully activate the GPR54 receptor (also known as KISS1R), which is essential for its biological activity.
 This peptide functions as a potent endogenous ligand for the kisspeptin receptor, binding with high affinity to both rat and human KISS1 receptors (Ki values of 1.59 and 2.33 nM, respectively).
Kisspeptin-10 plays a crucial role in regulating reproductive function by stimulating the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus, which subsequently triggers the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary gland.
 This central role is fundamental for the onset of puberty, as inactivating mutations in the KISS1 or KISS1R genes lead to pubertal failure, while activating mutations can cause precocious puberty.
 In humans, intravenous administration of kisspeptin-10 induces a rapid, dose-dependent increase in serum LH concentration, with maximal stimulation observed at 1 μg/kg.
 Continuous infusion further increases mean LH levels, LH pulse frequency, and pulse size, as well as testosterone secretion, confirming its role as a key regulator of pulsatile GnRH secretion.
Beyond its reproductive functions, kisspeptin-10 exhibits significant anti-cancer properties. It acts as a metastasis suppressor by inhibiting tumor cell migration and invasion, particularly in melanoma and breast cancer.
 It achieves this by negatively regulating CXCR4 signaling and SDF-1-induced chemotaxis.
 Furthermore, kisspeptin-10 inhibits tumor angiogenesis by suppressing Sp1-mediated VEGF expression and blocking the activation of c-Src/FAK and Rac/Cdc42 GTPase pathways in endothelial cells, thereby reducing tumor growth in xenograft models.
Kisspeptin-10 is highly conserved between species, with only one amino acid difference between human and mouse/rat versions.
 Its sequence is represented as YNWNSFGLRF-NH2, with a molecular weight of 1302.5 Da and a molecular formula of C63H83N17O14.
 It is widely used in biomedical research due to its potency and well-characterized effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and cancer biology.