The first image depicts CA-insulin synthesis. It is a process which starts at the DNA. The DNA code consists of three letters, and serves as initial condition for CA-insulin. Any change in the code will initiate a different CA-protein. Each line is a differentiation state of CA-insulin. Initially amino acids are added to the molecule. As it grows it changes its conformation, and matures. Then it ages and finally disintegrates, which is known as catabolism. The CA depicts the history of one molecule.
.
The insulin pool is a mixture of all these states.
In other words the insulin pool consists of
molecules with different ages. . All CA-states are represented in the CA-insulin pool, yet only
mature molecules control glucose metabolism. Insulin molecules obey
the FI-FO rule (First In, First Out). The first entering the pool
will also be the first to disappear. Insulin turnover is an ordered process.
The following image depicts insulin control of glucose
metabolism. In normal conditions,
CA-glucose is a process which starts when a glucose molecule is formed.
Glucose is represented by the
gray color. Each state represents
the context or compartment within which the molecule exists. Transition from state to state is known
as gluco-neogenesis. CA-insulin
controls glucose only in its final state, since only then insulin matures.
Under this control the CA produces
384 glucose units.
Insulin resistance
Insulin is a hormone
which lowers glucose
in body fluids. In diabetes
mellitus the hormone becomes less efficient in lowering glucose, which
is called insulin resistance.
The next CA couple illustrates how insulin resistance might operate.. CA- insulin starts at the DNA molecule and its code is {ATAGGGATA}. Yet it differentiates (ages) slower. It becomes pro-insulin but does not mature further. Insulin control of the glucose process is weaker, which can be judged from its glucose content . The latter generates 536 glucose units, a state which is known as hyper-glycemia.