| Type: | Family | Name: | Insulin-like growth factor |
| Description: | The insulin family of proteins groups together several evolutionarily related active peptides []: these include insulin [, ], relaxin [, ], insect prothoracicotropic hormone (bombyxin) [], insulin-like growth factors (IGF1 and IGF2) [, ], mammalian Leydig cell-specific insulin-like peptide (gene INSL3), early placenta insulin-like peptide (ELIP) (gene INSL4), locust insulin-related peptide (LIRP), molluscan insulin-related peptides (MIP) and Caenorhabditis elegans insulin-like peptides. The 3D structures of a number of family members have been determined [, , ]. The fold comprises two polypeptide chains (A and B) linked by two disulphide bonds: all share a conserved arrangement of 4 cysteines in their A chain, the first of which is linked by a disulphide bond to the third, while the second and fourth are linked by interchain disulphide bonds to cysteines in the B chain. The IGFs, or somatomedins, play a key role in pre-adolescent mammalian growth. IGFI expression is regulated by growth hormone and mediates post-natal growth []. Defects in IGF1 are the cause of insulin-like growth factor I deficiency (IGF1 deficiency), an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by growth retardation, sensorineural deafness and mental retardation []. IGF2 appears to be induced by placental lactogen and is thought to play a role in foetal development []. | Short Name: | Insulin-like_growth_factor |
