InsulinAlso known as: Human Insulin, Recombinant Insulin

Mechanism of Action

Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates glucose metabolism by promoting cellular glucose uptake, glycogenesis, and inhibiting gluconeogenesis. It binds to the insulin receptor, triggering a signaling cascade that activates glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) translocation to the cell membrane, primarily in muscle and adipose tissue, facilitating glucose entry into cells.

Reported Research Benefits

Used extensively in research related to diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and insulin resistance. It serves as a model hormone for studies on glucose homeostasis, peptide hormone signaling, and in drug development targeting insulin pathways.

Dosing Protocol & Reconstitution

In laboratory research, insulin dosing is carefully calibrated by concentration and volume to mimic physiological or supraphysiological blood insulin levels. Standard experimental doses vary depending on the model organism or cell line, usually ranging from nanomolar to micromolar concentrations in vitro, or mg/kg dosing in animal studies.

Research Notes

Insulin has a relatively short half-life in circulation (~4–6 minutes in humans). Research uses recombinant human insulin for consistency and reproducibility. Studies note its critical role in cellular metabolism regulation and its therapeutic potential beyond diabetes, including effects on cell growth and survival.

Research Summary

Insulin is a well-studied peptide hormone with extensive clinical evidence supporting its central role in glucose homeostasis. Numerous randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that exogenous insulin administration effectively lowers blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, improving metabolic control and reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications. Animal studies have elucidated its mechanism of action, revealing insulin's ability to promote glucose uptake primarily through GLUT4 translocation in muscle and adipose tissues. However, limitations include the need for precise dosing to avoid hypoglycemia and variability in individual response related to insulin resistance, especially in type 2 diabetes populations.

Side Effects & Safety

Common side effects of insulin therapy in humans include hypoglycemia, which can range from mild to severe and potentially life-threatening if not promptly treated. Other reported effects include weight gain and local injection site reactions such as erythema or lipodystrophy. Animal studies have generally supported the safety profile of insulin but have indicated potential risks of hypoglycemia with overdose. Drug interactions may occur with agents that influence glucose metabolism, including certain oral hypoglycemics and beta-blockers, which may mask hypoglycemia symptoms. Insulin is not considered performance-enhancing in a non-therapeutic context and is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list, though use must be medically justified.

Stability & Storage

Refer to research notes

Molecular Data

Sequence: A-chain: GIVEQCCTSICSLYQLENYCN; B-chain: FVNQHLCGSHLVEALYLVCGERGFFYTPKA
Molecular Formula: C257H383N65O77S6
Molecular Weight: 5807.6 g/mol
CAS Number: 11061-68-0
IUPAC Name: Protein insulin, recombinant human

Primary literature: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Insulin