diabetes
2 articles tagged with ‘diabetes’
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GLP-1 (7-36) Amide: Incretin Hormone Structure and Role
GLP-1 (7-36) amide serves as a key incretin hormone derived from proglucagon in the gut, stimulating insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. It circulates mainly post-meals at levels peaking at 30-60 pM, but degrades rapidly via DPP-4 with a half-life under 2 minutes. Research highlights its potential for type II diabetes treatment despite stability challenges.
Insulin: Discovery in 1921, Structure, and Key Properties
Insulin, discovered by Banting and Best in 1921, evolved from animal pancreas extracts to highly pure recombinant human versions exceeding 98% purity. This 51-amino acid hormone features two chains linked by disulfide bonds and forms hexamers with zinc for storage and stability. Modern formulations include phenolic preservatives that trigger a conformational shift, alongside agents for isotonicity and buffering, matching natural secretion patterns of 60-80 μU/mL post-meal peaks and 5-15 μU/mL basal levels.