This gene encodes a receptor for the anterior pituitary hormone, prolactin, and belongs to the type I cytokine
receptor family. Prolactin-dependent signaling occurs as the result of ligand-induced dimerization of the
prolactin receptor. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different membrane-bound and
soluble isoforms have been described for this gene, which may function to modulate the endocrine and autocrine
effects of prolactin in normal tissue and cancer. (provided by RefSeq, Feb 2011)