INHA cDNA Clone – Inhibin, Alpha (Human)

This gene encodes a member of the TGF-beta (transforming growth factor-beta) superfamily of proteins. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate multiple peptide products, including the alpha subunit of the inhibin A and B protein complexes. These complexes negatively regulate follicle stimulating hormone secretion from the pituitary gland. Inhibins have also been implicated in regulating numerous cellular processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, immune response and hormone secretion. Mutations in this gene may be associated with male infertility and premature ovarian failure in female human patients. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2016]

INHA: Inhibins and activins inhibit and activate, respectively, the secretion of follitropin by the pituitary gland. Inhibins/activins are involved in regulating a number of diverse functions such as hypothalamic and pituitary hormone secretion, gonadal hormone secretion, germ cell development and maturation, erythroid differentiation, insulin secretion, nerve cell survival, embryonic axial development or bone growth, depending on their subunit composition. Inhibins appear to oppose the functions of activins. Belongs to the TGF-beta family.

Protein type: Secreted; Secreted, signal peptide

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 2q35

Cellular Component: extracellular region

Molecular Function: cytokine activity; growth factor activity; hormone activity; protein binding; receptor binding; transforming growth factor beta receptor binding

Biological Process: cell cycle arrest; cell development; cell differentiation; cell surface receptor linked signal transduction; cell-cell signaling; hemoglobin biosynthetic process; negative regulation of B cell differentiation; negative regulation of cell cycle; negative regulation of interferon-gamma biosynthetic process; negative regulation of macrophage differentiation; negative regulation of phosphorylation; positive regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion; regulation of apoptosis; regulation of cell cycle; regulation of cell proliferation; regulation of MAPKKK cascade; response to external stimulus; signal transduction; skeletal development