The Mode of Action of Insulin

Abstract

IN a consideration of the mode of action of insulin it is of some importance to know the equivalent relationship between the amounts of hormone and dextrose, that is, the number of molecules of dextrose equivalent to one molecule of insulin. Up to a recent date this ratio was not known, on account of lack of knowledge of the molecular weight of insulin. A recent communication to NATURE¹ from Prof. The Svedberg has, however, provided the necessary information on this point. The molecular weight of 35,100 deduced by Prof. Svedberg is in agreement with the physicochemical behaviour of insulin, and is of the same order as those of ovalbumin and Bence Jones protein.