Researchers Discover How Insulin Binds to Its Receptor

Researchers at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne have finally managed to solve a problem that has vexed scientists for more than two decades after they discovered how insulin hormone binds to the insulin receptor. Researchers led by Associate Professor Mike Lawrence hoped that their findings could now lead to development of new medications that do away with the need of using insulin injections by diabetic patients.

“Understanding how insulin interacts with the insulin receptor is fundamental to the development of novel insulins for the treatment of diabetes. Until now we have not been able to see how these molecules interact with cells. We can now exploit this knowledge to design new insulin medications with improved properties, which is very exciting”, Professor Lawrence said.



Source-Medindia