Structural highlights
Disease
[INSL3_HUMAN] Defects in INSL3 seems to be a cause of cryptorchidism (CRYPTO) [MIM:219050]; also known as impaired testicular descent. It is one of the most frequent congenital abnormalities in humans, involving 2-5% of male births. Cryptorchidism is associated with increased risk of infertility and testicular cancer. The frequency of INSL3 gene mutations as a cause of cryptorchidism is low.[1] [2] [3]
Function
[INSL3_HUMAN] Seems to play a role in testicular function. May be a trophic hormone with a role in testicular descent in fetal life. Is a ligand for LGR8 receptor.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Analogous to insulin, the relaxin-like factor (RLF) must undergo a structural transition to the active form prior to receptor binding. Thus, the C-terminus of the B chain of RLF folds toward the surface of the central B chain helix, causing partial obliteration of the two essential RLF receptor-binding site residues, valine B19 and tryptophan B27. Via comparison of the solution structure of a fully active C-terminally cross-linked RLF analogue with the native synthetic human RLF (hRLF), it became clear that the cross-linked analogue largely retains the essential folding of the native protein. Both proteins exist in a major and minor conformation, as revealed by multiple resonances from tryptophan B27 and adjacent residues on the B chain helix. Notably, the minor conformation is significantly more highly populated in the chemically cross-linked RLF than it is in the hRLF. In addition, compared to the unmodified molecule, subtle differences are observed within the B chain helix whereby the cross-linked derivative shows a reduced level of hydrogen bonding and significant peak broadening at the binding site residue ValB19. On the basis of these observations, we suggest that the solution structure of the native hormone represents an inactive conformer and that a dynamic equilibrium exists between the C-terminally unfolded binding conformation and the inactive conformation of the RLF.
Solution structure of a conformationally restricted fully active derivative of the human relaxin-like factor.,Bullesbach EE, Hass MA, Jensen MR, Hansen DF, Kristensen SM, Schwabe C, Led JJ Biochemistry. 2008 Dec 16;47(50):13308-17. PMID:19086273[4]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Tomboc M, Lee PA, Mitwally MF, Schneck FX, Bellinger M, Witchel SF. Insulin-like 3/relaxin-like factor gene mutations are associated with cryptorchidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000 Nov;85(11):4013-8. PMID:11095425
- ↑ Marin P, Ferlin A, Moro E, Rossi A, Bartoloni L, Rossato M, Foresta C. Novel insulin-like 3 (INSL3) gene mutation associated with human cryptorchidism. Am J Med Genet. 2001 Nov 1;103(4):348-9. PMID:11746019
- ↑ Canto P, Escudero I, Soderlund D, Nishimura E, Carranza-Lira S, Gutierrez J, Nava A, Mendez JP. A novel mutation of the insulin-like 3 gene in patients with cryptorchidism. J Hum Genet. 2003;48(2):86-90. PMID:12601553 doi:10.1007/s100380300012
- ↑ Bullesbach EE, Hass MA, Jensen MR, Hansen DF, Kristensen SM, Schwabe C, Led JJ. Solution structure of a conformationally restricted fully active derivative of the human relaxin-like factor. Biochemistry. 2008 Dec 16;47(50):13308-17. PMID:19086273
