Proteins—the Hormone Insulin

Hormones are molecules that pass along chemical signals between organs and cells. Insulin is protein hormone that is responsible for controlling the levels of glucose in the blood.  Too much glucose in the blood causes diabetes and a variety of physiological problems in the body.

Watch this short animation of the role of insulin in our body. Insulin is released from the pancreas when blood sugar levels are high (usually after eating a meal), and it attaches to receptors on fat and muscle cell membranes, causing a cascade of chemical interactions inside the cell. The result is the opening of protein channels that transport glucose into the cell. Glucose is then converted into carbohydrate storage molecules (glycogen) or fats (triglycerides) to burn for energy in the future.

Insulin Signaling Animation