Explore the 3D Structure of Insulin

rcsb.org • rcsb.org/pdb-101

1. Preparation:
The Insulin hormone controls blood glucose levels. To learn more about the function of
Cut out the five strips on the dotted line.
insulin, visit rcsb.org/pdb-101 and read the Molecule of the Month on Insulin.
Make sure to separate the conjoined strips.
To learn more about the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary levels of protein The green, orange, and yellow tabs have to
structure, watch the What is a Protein? video at bit.ly/1JkBKgZ. remain attached to their respective strips.
Primary Structure

2. Protein Chains: 2.1. Chain A: Tape together the two pieces of the A
chain (green) so that residue 11 is back-to-back in
Proteins are polymer chains of amino
the two pieces, as shown in the picture.
acid residues. Each number on the model
represents one amino acid residue.
2.2. Chain B: Tape together the three pieces of the B chain (blue) by overlapping the
Insulin has 2 chains. Chain A is green;
gray tabs at the ends, so that all the numbers are visible on one side and all
chain B is blue.
the numbers are in order.
Secondary Structure

3. Alpha Helices:
3.2. Keep creating 3.3. Create another
the hydrogen bonds alpha helix starting
N-H and 3.1. Chain A: until you reach the with residues 17 and
C-O Starting with end of the darker 21. Keep creating
groups residues 1 and 5 colored area. When hydrogen bonds
forming form a hydrogen you reach residue 6, until you reach the
hydrogen bond between make sure the green end of the darker
Hydrogen bond C-O and N-H, and tab is on the outside colored area.
bonds tape together. of the helix.

Turn
4. Turns:
Alpha Helix 3.4. Chain B:
Some amino acids give
Starting with
Some sections of amino acid chains a turn to the chain.
residues 7 and 11,
curl and form alpha helices due
form a hydrogen The turns are marked 4.1. Fold outwards
to hydrogen bonds between N-H
bond. Keep creating on chain B of the on the white dashed
and C-O groups.
the alpha helix until paper model lines to create the
The helix regions on the model are you reach the end with the white turns. You can
marked on the chains with darker shades of the darker dashed lines. secure the folds
of green and blue. colored area. Turn with tape.

Note: Chain B also includes a beta strand marked with a blue arrow.
Tertiary and Quaternary Structure

5. Disulfide Bridges: 5.1. The first disulfide bridge connects 2 5.2. Connect the yellow tabs, matching Complete model:
cysteines in chain A. To form the bridge, their shape while making sure the colored
The structure of insulin is stabilized by connect the green tabs as seen on the photo. sides are facing the same way.
3 disulfide bridges. A disulfide
PDB ID 1trz
bridge is formed when a sulfur atom
from the residue cysteine forms a
single covalent bond with a sulfur
atom from a second cysteine.

sulfur
atom 5.3. Connect the orange tabs matching
their shape while making sure the colored
sides are facing the same way.
The second and third disulfide bridges
(represented by orange and yellow tabs)
are formed between chains A and B.

Disulfide Bridge
 Explore the #

O
C

rcsb.org
20

30
rcsb.org • rcsb.org/pdb-101
3D Structure

N
H

N
H
of Insulin #

O
C

C
19

29
N
H

N
H
O

O
C

C
18

28
#

N
H

N
H
O
C
11

11

O
C

C
17

27
N
H

N
H

N
H
O

H
C

N
10

12

O
C

C
16

26
C
O
N
H

N
H

N
H
O

H
C

N
13

O
C

C
9

15

25
C
O
N
H

N
H

N
H
O

H
C

N
14

O
C

C
8

14

24
C
O
N
H

N
H

N
H
O

H
C

N
15

O
C

C
7

13

23
C
O
N
H

N
H

N
H
O

#
C

N
16

O
C

C
6

C
12

22
6
C
O
N
H

N
H

N
H

N
H
O

H
C

N
17

O
C

C
5

21
11
5
C
O
N
H

N
H

N
H

N
H
O

H
C

N
18

O
C

C
4

10
4
C
O
N
H

N
H

N
H
O

H
C

N
19

O
C

C
3

9
C
O
N
H

N
H

N
H
O

H
C

N
20

O
C

C
2

The template for this paper model is based

on the human insulin structure (PDB entry
2

8
C
O
N
H

1trz, chains A and B).

N
H

N
H
O

H
C

PDB ID 1trz: E. Ciszak, G. D. Smith (1994)

21

O
C

C
1
Chain A

Crystallographic evidence for dual coordina-

tion around zinc in the T3R3 human insulin
1

7
Chain B
C
O
N
H

hexamer. Biochemistry 33: 1512-1517

N
H

N
H