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Apparent Molecular Weight of Insulin in Dilute Acid Solution

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Abstract

THE molecular weight of the smallest unit of the insulin molecule occurring in dilute acid solution has been in doubt for some time. Most data from experimental methods, such as ultracentrifugation1, light scattering2 and osmometry3, indicate a minimum value of about 12.000. Some evidence, however, has accumulated for the existence of an insulin molecule of molecular weight of about 6,000 under acidic conditions4. This corresponds to the insulin unit the molecular weight of which obtained from the amino-acid sequence is 5,750 (ref. 5). A number of investigators have indeed observed such a value in non-aqueous solvent/water mixtures6, in media favourable to dissociation7 and in aqueous solution at alkaline pH. values8.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide,

    P. D. JEFFREY

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison

    J. H. COATES

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  1. P. D. JEFFREY
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  2. J. H. COATES
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JEFFREY, P., COATES, J. Apparent Molecular Weight of Insulin in Dilute Acid Solution. Nature 197, 1104–1105 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/1971104b0

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