Insig1

INSIG1 is short for insulin-induced gene 1; it is located on chromosome 7 (7q36). This human gene encodes for a 277 AA long transmembrane protein with probably 6 transmembrane domains. It is localized in the ER and seems to be expressed in all tissues, especially in liver.

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Function

1. INSIG1 plays an important role in the SREBP-mediated regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis: by binding to the sterol-sensing domain of SCAP (SREBP cleavage activating protein) it makes the SCAP/SREBP complex stay longer in the ER, thus prohibiting SCAP from carrying activated SREBP to the golgi complex. This ultimately blocks SREBP from acting as a transcription factor for the SRE in the promotor region of the HMG-CoA-reductase gene and results in a decreased expression of HMG-CoA-reductase.
2. INSIG1 also binds to the sterol-sensing domain of HMG-Co-A-reductase, resulting in the enzyme's increased degradation.

Both functions require the binding of INSIG1 protein via the same site.

There are two other proteins whose sterol-binding sites show a great similarity to the ones of SCAP and HMG-CoA-reductase and who might thus be regulated by INSIG1 as well:

• Niemann-Pick disease C1 protein, which participates in the intracellular movement of cholesterol
• Patched, the receptor for Hedgehog, a protein that contains covalently bound cholesterol

Regulation

INSIG1 is regulated by insulin and highly expressed in liver.

Sequence (277 AA)

MPRLHDHFWS CSCAHSARRR GPPRASTAGL PPKVGEMINV SVSGPSLLAA HGAPDADPAP RGRSAAMSGP EPGSPYPNTW HHRLLQRSLV LFSVGVVLAL VLNLLQIQRN VTLFPEEVIA TIFSSAWWVP PCCGTAAAVV GLLYPCIDSH LGEPHKFKRE WASVMRCIAV FVGINHASAK LDFANNVQLS LTLAALSLGL WWTFDRSRSG LGLGITIAFL ATLITQFLVY NGVYQYTSPD FLYIRSWLPC IFFSGGVTVG NIGRQLAMGV PEKPHSD

Synonyms

CL-6, INSIG-1, Insulin-induced gene 1 protein, MGC1405 (source: iHOP)