Biologically Active Substance
proinsulin
pro·in·su·lin [ proh-in-suh-lin, -ins-yuh- ]
Subclass of:
Protein Precursors;
Insulins
Definitions related to proinsulin:
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A pancreatic polypeptide of about 110 amino acids, depending on the species, that is the precursor of insulin. Proinsulin, produced by the PANCREATIC BETA CELLS, is comprised sequentially of the N-terminal B-chain, the proteolytically removable connecting C-peptide, and the C-terminal A-chain. It also contains three disulfide bonds, two between A-chain and B-chain. After cleavage at two locations, insulin and C-peptide are the secreted products. Intact proinsulin with low bioactivity also is secreted in small amounts.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Precursor of insulin; it has minimum hormonal activity and is converted to insulin by removal of the connecting C peptide, leaving the two chain, active insulin molecule.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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