Abstract
A new member of the insulin gene superfamily was identified by screening a subtracted cDNA library of first-trimester human placenta and, hence, was tentatively named early placenta insulin-like peptide (EPIL). In this paper, we report the cloning and sequencing of the EPIL cDNA and the EPIL gene (INSL4). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the early placenta insulin-like peptide revealed significant overall and structural homologies with members of the insulin-like hormone superfamily. Moreover, the organization of the early placenta insulin-like gene, which is composed of two exons and one intron, is similar to that of insulin and relaxin. By in situ hybridization, the INSL4 gene was assigned to band p24 of the short arm of chromosome 9. RT-PCR analysis of EPIL tissue distribution revealed that its transcripts are expressed in the placenta and uterus.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Amino Acid Sequence
-
Animals
-
Base Sequence
-
Chromosome Mapping
-
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9*
-
Cloning, Molecular
-
DNA, Complementary
-
Female
-
Gene Expression
-
Gene Library
-
Growth Substances*
-
Humans
-
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
-
Insulin / chemistry
-
Insulin / genetics*
-
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / chemistry
-
Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / chemistry
-
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
Placenta / metabolism*
-
Pregnancy
-
Pregnancy Proteins / biosynthesis
-
Pregnancy Proteins / chemistry
-
Pregnancy Proteins / genetics*
-
Relaxin / chemistry
-
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
-
Transcription, Genetic
Substances
-
DNA, Complementary
-
Growth Substances
-
INSL4 protein, human
-
Insulin
-
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
-
Pregnancy Proteins
-
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
-
Insulin-Like Growth Factor II
-
Relaxin