An insulin with the native sequence but virtually no activity.

The B24-B25 peptide bond of insulin was replaced by an ester bond. To our knowledge this is the first replacement of a main chain atom reported for the hormone. It is meant to eliminate a structurally important H-bond between the imino group of B25 and the carbonyl oxygen of A19, and consequently to enhance detachment of the C-terminal B chain from the underlying A chain.

Cooperativity and intermediate states in the T----R-structural transformation of insulin.

With respect to T----R-structural transformation, cobalt insulin hexamers appear as dimers of two positively cooperative trimers which are related by negative cooperativity. Transformation of the first trimer causes polarization of the hexamer which is insurmountable by inorganic anions (SCN theta) used as transforming agents, and in the case of phenolic agents (m-cresol), which can achieve complete transformation of the hexamer, allows the identification of the T3R3 intermediate. Zinc insulin hexamers are also transformed in a stepwise manner, but for the first step the sigmoidal shape of the titration curve cannot be detected.