The effects of conformation and metal cation on insulin’s aggregation into hexamers were studied at the air-water interface using the Langmuir monolayer technique. In the presence of divalent metal cations, typically zinc, insulin tends to aggregate into hexamers. The effects of other metal cations were tested on insulin at physiological pH and temperature. Each of the metal cations was also studied with each insulin’s three conformations, T6, T3R3, and R3, to see how insulin’s conformation affects its aggregation and interactions among hexamers. Compression-relaxation hysteresis was performed under each condition to determine the stability of each insulin conformation - metal cation combination’s monolayer. Additionally, the hysteresis also allowed for the study of insulin’s dissociation in the presence of a chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Insulin’s interactions with common constituents of the cell membrane (DPPC, DPPS, and Cholesterol) were also studied. A student-built Brewster angle microscope was used to visualize the insulin monolayers and identify any discernible features present among the various monolayers.

Investigation of insulin conformations and interactions with cell membrane lipids with Langmuir monolayers and Brewster angle microscopy

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.