The mouse IRS-1 gene has been cloned and its structure determined. Mouse IRS-1 differs from rat by the absence of the potential C-terminal nucleotide binding site. Otherwise, the predicted IRS-1 protein is highly conserved between mouse, rat and humans, especially in the possible phosphorylation sites. The highly conserved nature of IRS-1 suggests the importance of these domains in the function of IRS-1 or its association with other proteins.