INSRR/IRR

INSRR (insulin receptor-related receptor, IRR) is the third and most mysterious member of the insulin receptor family. It is an orphan receptor: despite extensive searches, no peptide ligand has been identified, and its extracellular domain has diverged greatly from INSR and IGF1R. Strikingly, IRR has been shown to function not as a ligand receptor but as an alkali sensor: modestly elevated extracellular pH directly triggers its kinase activity. IRR is expressed in renal intercalated cells, gastric mucosa and pancreatic beta cells, where it mediates alkali-stimulated hormonal responses and contributes to bicarbonate excretion and acid-base homeostasis. This sensor function, unique among receptor tyrosine kinases, was confirmed by knockout mice showing impaired alkali response.