
**NCBI Gene Summary**: The protein encoded by this gene is similar to insulin in function and structure and is a member of a family of proteins involved in mediating growth and development. The encoded protein is processed from a precursor, bound by a specific receptor, and secreted. Defects in this gene are a cause of insulin-like growth factor I deficiency. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms that may undergo similar processing to generate mature protein. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2015]

**GeneCards Summary**: IGF1 (Insulin Like Growth Factor 1) is a Protein Coding gene. Diseases associated with IGF1 include Growth Delay Due To Insulin-Like Growth Factor Type 1 Deficiency and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I. Among its related pathways are Apoptotic Pathways in Synovial Fibroblasts and GPCR Pathway. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations related to this gene include growth factor activity and integrin binding. An important paralog of this gene is IGF2.

**UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot Summary**: The insulin-like growth factors, isolated from plasma, are structurally and functionally related to insulin but have a much higher growth-promoting activity. May be a physiological regulator of [1-14C]-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) transport and glycogen synthesis in osteoblasts. Stimulates glucose transport in bone-derived osteoblastic (PyMS) cells and is effective at much lower concentrations than insulin, not only regarding glycogen and DNA synthesis but also with regard to enhancing glucose uptake. May play a role in synapse maturation [PMID: 21076856, PMID: 24132240]. Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis of IGF1 is required for sensory perception of smell in the olfactory bulb. Acts as a ligand for IGF1R. Binds to the alpha subunit of IGF1R, leading to the activation of the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity which autophosphorylates tyrosine residues in the beta subunit thus initiatiating a cascade of down-stream signaling events leading to activation of the PI3K-AKT/PKB and the Ras-MAPK pathways. Binds to integrins ITGAV:ITGB3 and ITGA6:ITGB4. Its binding to integrins and subsequent ternary complex formation with integrins and IGFR1 are essential for IGF1 signaling. Induces the phosphorylation and activation of IGFR1, MAPK3/ERK1, MAPK1/ERK2 and AKT1 [PMID: 19578119, PMID: 22351760, PMID: 23696648, PMID: 23243309].
