IRS1 Research Reagents

IRS1 Background

Insulin receptor substrate 1 is a protein in humans that is encoded by the IRS1 gene. It is a 131 kDa protein with amino acid sequence of 1242 residues. It contains a single pleckstrin homology (PH) domain at the N-terminus and a PTB domain, followed by a poorly conserved C-terminal tail. Together with IRS2, IRS3 (pseudogene) and IRS4, it is homologous to the Drosophila protein chico, whose disruption extends the median lifespan of flies up to 48%. Similarly, IRS1 mutant mice experience moderate life extension and delayed age-related pathologies. IRS1 may mediate the control of various cellular processes by insulin. When phosphorylated by the insulin receptor, IRS1 binds specifically to various cellular proteins containing SH2 domains such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85 subunit or GRB2, and activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase when bound to the regulatory p85 subunit. IRS1 plays a key role in transmitting signals from the insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptors to intracellular pathways PI3K / Akt and Erk MAP kinase pathways.