INSULIN RECEPTOR Meaning and
Definition
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The insulin receptor is a transmembrane protein found on the surface of cells that plays a crucial role in regulating glucose metabolism in the body. It is primarily located on the surface of target cells, such as those in the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue.
The insulin receptor consists of two alpha subunits and two beta subunits, linked together by disulfide bonds. The alpha subunits are located on the extracellular side and are responsible for insulin binding, while the beta subunits span the cell membrane and possess intracellular kinase activity.
When insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, binds to the alpha subunits of the insulin receptor, it triggers a series of signaling events inside the cell. This causes the activation of the kinase activity in the beta subunits, leading to the phosphorylation of downstream signaling molecules.
These signaling events ultimately promote the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream into cells, increase glycogen synthesis in the liver, and inhibit glucose production. Furthermore, insulin receptor activation also influences protein synthesis, lipid metabolism, and cell growth.
Dysfunction or impairment of the insulin receptor can lead to conditions such as insulin resistance, where cells become less responsive to insulin's effects, or development of diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels. Various diseases and genetic mutations can affect the structure and function of insulin receptors, impacting insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis in the body.
Common Misspellings for INSULIN RECEPTOR
- unsulin receptor
- jnsulin receptor
- knsulin receptor
- onsulin receptor
- 9nsulin receptor
- 8nsulin receptor
- ibsulin receptor
- imsulin receptor
- ijsulin receptor
- ihsulin receptor
- inaulin receptor
- inzulin receptor
- inxulin receptor
- indulin receptor
- ineulin receptor
- inwulin receptor
- insylin receptor
- inshlin receptor
- insjlin receptor
- insilin receptor
Etymology of INSULIN RECEPTOR
The word "insulin receptor" consists of two parts: "insulin" and "receptor".
1. Insulin: The term "insulin" is derived from the Latin word "insula", meaning "island". This name was chosen because insulin is produced and secreted by specialized cells known as beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans, which are scattered throughout the pancreas. The term "insulin" was coined by the scientists Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer and George Henry Banting.
2. Receptor: The word "receptor" comes from the Latin word "recipere", which means "to receive". In biology and medicine, a receptor is a structure or molecule that receives and binds to a specific substance (such as a hormone, neurotransmitter, or drug) in order to initiate a biological response.
