Insulin is responsible for the regulation of glucose levels in the body. It stimulates the storage of energy and inhibits the breakdown of high energy metabolites. Glycogen and lipid biosynthesis are upregulated, and conversely, glycogen and fatty acid metabolism are down-regulated. Insulin also modulates transcription and translation. Binding of insulin to the insulin receptor (IR) results in the activation of its tyrosine kinase activity leading to IR autophosphorylation. IR then phosphorylates several substrates that lead to the activation of an intracellular signalling cascade. IR activation leads to the activation of H-Ras, MAPK1-3, and PI3-kinase pathways. The activation of these pathways leads to modulation of key proteins in glycogen metabolism/lipid metabolism and transcription/translation.

Insulin Signalling References