Insulin Like Protein 5 (INSL5)

Insulin gene superfamily hormones regulate cell growth, metabolism, and tissue-specific functions. Members of this family are characterized by a signal peptide, a B chain, a connecting C chain, and an A chain.

By EST database searching for sequences related to relaxin (RLN1), Conklin et al. (1999) identified a cDNA encoding INSL5, also designated ZINS3. The deduced 135-amino acid protein, which shares 59% and 40% sequence identity with mouse Insl5 and human RLN1, respectively, has a dibasic cleavage site between the B and C chains. Northern blot analysis revealed expression of an approximately 1.0-kb transcript in uterus, rectum, and colon. By radiation hybrid analysis and the use of surrounding markers, Conklin et al. (1999) mapped the INSL5 gene to chromosome 1p31.1-p22.3.