ANTIDIABETIC AGENTS I: Insulin (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering insulin types, their categories (rapid, short, intermediate, long-acting) and structural modifications as described in the notes.

Insulin

Hormone produced by β-cells of the pancreas (Islets of Langerhans) that promotes glucose uptake; stored as hexamers and absorbed as monomers; acts via the insulin receptor.

β-cells

Insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas located in the Islets of Langerhans.

Islets of Langerhans

Clusters of pancreatic cells containing insulin-producing β-cells.

Hexamer

Storage form of insulin comprising six units; stabilized by zinc and other factors; dissociates to monomers for absorption.

Monomer

Absorbed, active form of insulin after dissociation from hexamers.

Insulin receptor

Cell-surface receptor through which insulin mediates its metabolic effects.

Rapid-acting insulin

Class of fast-acting insulin analogs (e.g., lispro, aspart, glulisine) with rapid onset.

Lispro

Insulin analog with Lysine and Proline swapped at B28 and B29; stabilized in hexamers by cresol; rapid action.

Aspart

Insulin analog with Proline at B28 replaced by Aspartic acid; rapid-acting.

Glulisine

Insulin analog with Glutamic acid replacing Lysine at B29 and Lysine replacing Asparagine at B3; rapid-acting.

Regular insulin

Short-acting insulin; soluble crystalline Zn insulin; typically administered by IV.

Intermediate-acting insulin (NPH/Isophane)

Insulin suspended with Zn and protamine in buffer to slow absorption (neutral protamine Hagedorn).

Insulin Zn suspension

Mixture of crystallized and amorphous insulin in acetate buffer; provides extended duration.

Long-acting insulin

Insulin analogs with prolonged action for basal control (e.g., glargine, detemir, degludec).

Glargine

Long-acting insulin: Asparagine at A21 replaced with Glycine; provides stable, slow-release action.

Insulin Detemir

Long-acting analog: Terminal threonine removed and a myristic acid moiety attached to B29 lysine; extended action.

Insulin Degludec

Ultra-long-acting analog: Threonine at B30 removed; lysine at B29 conjugated to hexadecenoic acid; very long duration.