INSM1 (A-8)

INSM1 (insulinoma-associated protein 1), also known as zinc-finger protein IA-1, is a developmentally regulated zinc-finger transcription factor. It localizes to the nucleus and is expressed in embryonic tissues undergoing neuroendocrine differentiation. INSM1 is not expressed in normal adult tissues but it can be found highly expressed in neuroendocrine tumors. INSM1 contains five Cys2-His2-type zinc-finger DNA binding domains and a prohormone domain. INSM1 acts as a transcriptional repressor of the Neuro D promoter and recruits cyclin D1 as a corepressor. It plays an importantrole in neuroendocrine development and isrequired for normal differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells. Inhibition of INSM1 results in decreased formation of glucagon and Insulin positive cells. The gene encoding INSM1 is directly regulated by Neurogenin 3 which binds chromatin in the INSM1 promoter region and induces transcription.