INSULIN RECEPTORS Meaning and
Definition
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Insulin receptors are proteins found on the surface of certain target cells, such as fat, liver, and muscle cells, that bind to the hormone insulin. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to high blood sugar levels. Its primary role is to regulate glucose metabolism, ensuring that glucose in the bloodstream is efficiently taken up and used by cells for energy production.
Insulin receptors consist of two subunits, referred to as alpha and beta. The alpha subunits are primarily located on the outer side of the cell membrane, while the beta subunits are embedded within the cell membrane. When insulin is released into the bloodstream, it binds to the alpha subunits of the insulin receptor, causing a conformational change that activates the beta subunits. This activation initiates a complex signaling cascade inside the cell, leading to various cellular responses.
The binding of insulin to its receptors triggers multiple downstream events, including the recruitment of glucose transporter proteins to the cell membrane. These transporters facilitate the entry of glucose into the cell, allowing it to be metabolized for energy or stored as glycogen. Additionally, insulin receptor activation promotes the uptake of amino acids for protein synthesis, stimulates lipid synthesis, and inhibits the breakdown of stored glycogen into glucose.
Impairment of insulin receptor function or a decrease in the number of insulin receptors on target cells can lead to a condition known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is often associated with type 2 diabetes, where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin's signals, resulting in elevated blood sugar levels.
Common Misspellings for INSULIN RECEPTORS
- unsulin receptors
- jnsulin receptors
- knsulin receptors
- onsulin receptors
- 9nsulin receptors
- 8nsulin receptors
- ibsulin receptors
- imsulin receptors
- ijsulin receptors
- ihsulin receptors
- inaulin receptors
- inzulin receptors
- inxulin receptors
- indulin receptors
- ineulin receptors
- inwulin receptors
- insylin receptors
- inshlin receptors
- insjlin receptors
- insilin receptors
Etymology of INSULIN RECEPTORS
The word "insulin" originates from the Latin word "insula", meaning "island". This term was first coined by Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer, a British physiologist, in 1910 while referring to the substance secreted by the pancreas that regulates sugar metabolism. The word "insulin" was used to describe this substance because it was initially isolated from the Islets of Langerhans, clusters of cells within the pancreas.The term "receptor" comes from the Latin word "recipere", which means "to receive" or "accept". In biology, a receptor refers to a specialized cell or molecule that binds with a particular substance (ligand) and initiates a specific biological response. In the case of insulin receptors, these receptors are proteins located on the surface of target cells that bind and recognize insulin molecules, leading to various cellular responses related to glucose uptake and metabolism.
