Identification, chromosomal mapping, and partial characterization of mouse InsI6: a new member of the insulin family.

A new member of the mouse insulin family, InsI6, was identified from mouse expressed sequence tags through the use of bioinformatics. A full length cDNA was sequenced and predicts a protein of 191 amino acids. The protein contains a signal peptide and has A and B peptides as well as a connecting peptide consistent with the contention that it is a member of the insulin family. Northern analysis demonstrates that the primary site of expression is the testis, but message is also found in the kidney, small bowel, heart, brain and thymus. The gene was mapped to mouse chromosome 19 by radiation hybrid mapping. The chromosomal location and primary structure of this protein suggest a functional relationship to relaxin and relaxin-related proteins.