Insulin binding, biologic activity, and metabolism of biosynthetic human insulin.

Insulin binding to receptors, insulin action, and cellular insulin metabolism were studied using biosynthetic human insulin (BHI). The results demonstrated that this insulin preparation binds to receptors with full binding potency and also exerts normal biologic activity to stimulate adipocyte glucose oxidation and glucose transport. Furthermore, following initial binding to adipocyte receptors, BHI is internalized and degraded in a manner indistinguishable from purified pork insulin (PPI). Thus, these results demonstrate that BHI has full biologic activity, is metabolized normally, and should produce the full insulin effect when administered to diabetic patients.