Automated description from the Alliance of Genome Resources (Release 7.1.0)
Enables zinc ion binding activity. Involved in insulin processing. Acts upstream of with a positive effect on receptor internalization. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including insulin receptor signaling pathway; intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress; and positive regulation of intracellular signal transduction. Located in cytosol; nucleus; and secretory granule. Part of sno(s)RNA-containing ribonucleoprotein complex. Is active in extracellular space. Is expressed in several structures, including brain; extraembryonic component; gut; immune system; and testis. Used to study maturity-onset diabetes of the young; neonatal diabetes; permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus; type 1 diabetes mellitus; and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in diabetic retinopathy; glucose metabolism disease (multiple); insulinoma; and pancreatic cancer. Orthologous to human INS (insulin).