Definition: 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).
/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
Other names Regular Insulin; Insulin, Soluble; Insulin, Sodium; Chain, Insulin B; Soluble Insulin; Sodium Insulin; Novolin; Insulin, Regular; Insulin B Chain; Insulin A Chain; Iletin
