Skip to main content
Back

Insulin definitions

Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/15
  • Insulin
    Small peptide hormone with 51 amino acids, secreted in response to food intake, signals the well-fed state and regulates metabolism.
  • Proinsulin
    Inactive precursor of insulin, secreted by pancreatic beta cells, activated by proteolysis to form functional hormone.
  • Pancreatic Beta Cells
    Specialized cells in the pancreas responsible for secreting proinsulin and insulin into the bloodstream after meals.
  • Zymogen
    Inactive protein precursor that requires proteolytic cleavage to become biologically active, such as proinsulin.
  • Proteolysis
    Process involving cleavage of peptide bonds, converting inactive precursors like proinsulin into active forms.
  • Disulfide Bond
    Covalent linkage between sulfur atoms in cysteine residues, stabilizing insulin's two-chain structure.
  • Polypeptide Chain
    Linear sequence of amino acids forming part of insulin's structure, linked by disulfide bonds in the active hormone.
  • Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
    Cell surface protein that binds insulin, triggering biosignaling pathways for metabolic regulation and cell growth.
  • GLUT4
    Glucose transporter whose expression is increased by insulin, facilitating glucose uptake into cells.
  • Glycogen Synthesis
    Cellular process promoted by insulin, converting free glucose into glycogen to lower intracellular glucose levels.
  • Blood Glucose Concentration
    Amount of glucose present in the bloodstream, regulated by insulin through uptake and storage mechanisms.
  • Growth Factor
    Biological substance, such as insulin, that stimulates cell growth, healing, or differentiation via signaling pathways.
  • Signal Transduction
    Series of molecular events initiated by insulin binding to its receptor, resulting in cellular responses.
  • Lipid Synthesis
    Metabolic process enhanced by insulin, leading to increased production of cellular lipids.
  • Gene Expression
    Regulation of nuclear DNA activity, influenced by insulin to stimulate cell growth through biosignaling pathways.