背景
This gene encodes a zinc metallopeptidase that degrades intracellular insulin, and thereby
terminates insulins activity, as well as participating in intercellular peptide signalling by
degrading diverse peptides such as glucagon, amylin, bradykinin, and kallidin. The
preferential affinity of this enzyme for insulin results in insulin-mediated inhibition of the
degradation of other peptides such as beta-amyloid. Deficiencies in this protein's function
are associated with Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus but mutations in this
gene have not been shown to be causitive for these diseases. This protein localizes primarily
to the cytoplasm but in some cell types localizes to the extracellular space, cell membrane,
peroxisome, and mitochondrion. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants
encoding distinct isoforms. Additional transcript variants have been described but have not
been experimentally verified.
