This family consists of several eukaryotic pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH) proteins. The pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH) is produced in the eyestalks of Crustacea where it induces light-adapting movements of pigment in the compound eye and regulates the pigment dispersion in the chromatophores [1].

1: Structure and localization of mRNA encoding a pigment dispersing hormone (PDH) in the eyestalk of the crayfish Orconectes limosus. de Kleijn DP, Linck B, Klein JM, Weidemann WM, Keller R, van Herp F; FEBS Lett 1993;321:251-255. PMID:8477858