INSM1
INSM1 (INSM transcriptional repressor 1, also known as insulinoma-associated protein 1, IA-1 or IA1) is a nuclear, sequence-specific DNA-binding transcriptional regulator. It has a key role in neurogenesis and neuroendocrine cell differentiation during embryonic and foetal development. Browse Assay Genie's current range of INSM1 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
INSM1 binds DNA at a consensus sequence in target promoters and represses transcription. It acts as a repressor of NEUROD1 and INS expression through an interaction with cyclin CCND1 that is independent of the cell cycle. It also recruits chromatin-modifying factors, including the histone deacetylases HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC3, together with KDM1A and RCOR1. By competing with histone H3 for the same binding site on the KDM1A–RCOR1 demethylase complex, INSM1 inhibits demethylation of histone H3 at Lys-4. It also binds its own promoter, which suggests autoregulation through a feedback mechanism.
In development, the INSM1 protein promotes the generation and expansion of basal progenitor cells in the neocortex. It is involved in the differentiation of endocrine cells of the anterior pituitary, pancreas and intestine, and of sympatho-adrenal cells in the peripheral nervous system. In pituitary endocrine cells it negatively regulates skeletal muscle-specific gene expression by inhibiting Notch signalling. It also promotes cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cellular proliferation.
The INSM1 gene is intronless. It encodes a protein with a zinc finger DNA-binding domain and a putative prohormone domain. HGNC places it among the C2H2-type zinc fingers and the SNAG transcriptional repressors, and UniProt assigns it to the INSM1 family. Earlier names include insulinoma-associated 1. According to RefSeq, INSM1 is a sensitive marker for neuroendocrine differentiation of human lung tumours. The mouse ortholog is Insm1.
INSM1 is a key regulator of neurogenesis and promotes the generation and expansion of basal progenitor cells in the developing neocortex.
INSM1 is involved in differentiation of endocrine cells in the anterior pituitary, pancreas and intestine, and of sympatho-adrenal cells.
INSM1 is a sensitive marker for neuroendocrine differentiation of human lung tumours, making it relevant to tumour classification studies.
INSM1 represses target genes by recruiting HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, KDM1A and RCOR1, and by inhibiting histone H3 Lys-4 demethylation.
INSM1 is a nuclear transcriptional repressor. It binds a consensus DNA sequence, represses genes such as NEUROD1 and INS, and recruits histone deacetylases and the KDM1A–RCOR1 complex. It drives neuroendocrine and neuronal progenitor development and promotes cell cycle arrest.
INSM1 stands for INSM transcriptional repressor 1. UniProt names it insulinoma-associated protein 1, and aliases include IA-1 and IA1. Previous HGNC names were insulinoma-associated 1 and insulinoma associated 1. The gene is intronless.
RefSeq describes INSM1 as a sensitive marker for neuroendocrine differentiation of human lung tumours. The mouse ortholog is Insm1. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Transcriptional co-repressors, histone-modifying enzymes and neuroendocrine differentiation factors that act alongside INSM1.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q01101; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.