A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).
Synonyms: Regular Insulin, Insulin, Sodium, Iletin, Insulin B Chain, Sodium Insulin, Insulin, Soluble, Insulin, Regular, Insulin, Insulin A Chain, 0, Chain, Insulin B, Novolin, Soluble Insulin
Instance information
/blood: consider also HYPERINSULINEMIA (excessively high blood insulin levels) but do not confuse with HYPERINSULINISM (excessive secretion of insulin by pancreas); /immunology: consider also INSULIN ANTIBODIES; precursor = PROINSULIN; INSULIN INFUSION SYSTEMS is available
D007328