Insulins

Question 1

What are the human insulins?

Answer 1

NPH, regular

Question 2

What are rapid-acting insulin analogs?

Answer 2

Lispro, aspart, glulisine

Question 3

What are longer-acting insulin analogs?

Answer 3

Glargine

Question 4

What is the form of regular insulin in solution?

Answer 4

Hexamers in Zn buffer.

Short-acting.

Question 5

NPH is in what form in solution?

Answer 5

Medium-sized crystals in protamine-Zn buffer.

Intermediate-acting.

Question 6

Aspart, glulisine, lispro: Chemical properties that make them rapid acting?

Answer 6

Limited self-aggregation.
They form monomers in solution. Amino acid substitutions in these analogues.

They are NOT hexamers.

Question 7

Glargine is soluble at which pH? Precipitates at which pH?

Answer 7

Glargine is soluble at low pH.

It precipitates at neutral (subcutaneous) pH.

Question 8

What makes glargine a slow acting analogue?

Answer 8

Slow dissolution of free glargine hexamers from precipitated glargine (stabilized aggregates).

Question 9

Which insulin analogue lasts 24 hrs and does not peak?

Answer 9

Glargine.