Diabetes, Vol 34, Issue 11 1174-1180, Copyright © 1985 by American Diabetes Association
Fingerprint analysis of insulin and proinsulins
U Grau
Proteolysis of insulin or (pre)proinsulin with S. aureus protease V8 in
Tris buffer at neutral pH yields a characteristic pattern of peptide
fragments that is resolved using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Identification of the fragments of interest was achieved by comparison of
insulins of different species, of modified insulins and of proinsulin and
N-extended proinsulin, and by amino acid analysis. The fingerprint method
allows, for example, the simultaneous analysis of porcine and human
insulin, the identification of a modified insulin generated in dosing
devices, as well as the individual analysis of the two disulfide linkages
between the A- and B-chain in refolded insulins.