Introduction to Insulin / Chemical Structure / Methods of Production and Administering / Diabetes / Insulin Affects History / History Affects Insulin
Space filling model of the insulin monomer
- insulin molecule contains 51 amino acids
- made up of two peptide chains linked by disulphide bonds
- the insulin hormone has a complex 3D structure consisting of three short helices and 3 disulphide bridges
- the basic fold is present in all members of the insulin peptide family
- the positions of the disulphide bonds are invariant in mammalian forms of insulin
- insulin as medication was extracted in the past from cows, horses and pigs – only slight differences in the amino acid structure
- differences in suitability of beef or pork derived insulin for individual patients have been due to lower preparation purity resulting in allergic reactions to the presence of non-insulin substances/”impurities”
- synthetic “human” insulin is now manufactured for widespread clinical use through genetic engineering techniques using recombinant DNA technology, which reduces the presence of many impurities