Post-translational modification of tertiary structure of Insulin

    Preproinsulin is transcribed as a 110 amino acid chain.  Removal of the signal peptide produces Proinsulin.  Formation of disulfide bonds between the A- & B-chain components, and removal of the intervening C-chain, produces a biologically active Insulin molecule comprising 51 amino acids, less than half of the original translation product. 


Figure © 1997 by Snustad et al. ; text © 2006 by Steven M. Carr