Human IGF-II (Media Grade)

Human insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) is a single chain 67 amino acid polypeptide that shares structural homology with insulin and human IGF-I. IGF-II plays a critical role in embryonic and foetal development via autocrine, paracrine and endocrine mechanisms. It is a mitogen and also has effects on cell migration and differentiation. IGF-II binds to the type I IGF receptor and the IGF-II/cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor. Its actions are probably mediated through inducing signal transduction via one or both of these receptors. IGF-II also binds to each of the six IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). This binding also regulates the biological function of IGF-II. IGF-II is highly conserved across species which suggests an important role for the peptide. Human IGF-II is present in high concentrations in normal adult human serum, although the function of this is unknown. IGF-II is also implicated in the pathophysiology of cancer, diabetes and obesity.