Insulin

Insulin is the central anabolic hormone of glucose, lipid and protein metabolism, produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets as preproinsulin and processed through proinsulin to a two-chain disulfide-linked peptide of A and B chains. Glucose entry via GLUT2 triggers calcium-dependent exocytosis, and insulin receptor activation recruits IRS/PI3K/AKT signaling to promote GLUT4-mediated glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis and lipogenesis. Insulin deficiency or resistance underlies type 1 and type 2 diabetes, making insulin the first recombinant protein drug and today a portfolio of rapid, long-acting and premixed analogs. Its close structural relatives IGF-1 and IGF-II act mainly through homologous but distinct receptors.