IHPK1 is a inositol hexaphosphate kinase (IHPK) protein which belongs to the inositol phosphokinase (IPK) family. IHPK proteins are likely responsible for the conversion of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) to diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate (InsP7/PP-InsP5). IHPK1 may also convert 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (InsP5) to PP-InsP4 and affect the growth suppressive and apoptotic activities of interferon-beta in some ovarian cancers. During cell death, IHPK1 activity is enhanced, and intracellular InsP7 level is augmented. The distribution of IHPK1 or another predisposing gene affected by position effect of translocation may explain the T2DM phenotype at least in this family.