Abstract
IT has recently been reported that the Ostern reaction, the formation of hexosemonophosphate from glycogen and phosphate in muscle extract, is inhibited by glucose1. It was suggested it might be possible to correlate this phenomenon with known facts of carbohydrate metabolism in vivo. It can now be stated that an inhibition of glycogen breakdown jn muscle extract can also be produced by adding minute amounts of insulin, the hormone which removes glucose in vivo. The same effect can be demonstrated using extract of dried yeast as enzyme. The esterification of phosphate in the Ostern reaction takes place in two steps ; a non-reducing easily hydrolysable ester appears first, which is then followed by the irreversible formation of Embden ester. The second step is inhibited by insulin. The hormone, even if added at intervals, considerably retards the formation of Embden ester, but unlike glucose does not interfere with the eventual end point. It is known that in vivo the symptoms of hypoglycsemia, after vigorous insulin treatment, do not follow the fall of the blood sugar immediately.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
NATURE, 141, 470 (1938).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LEHMANN, H. Action of Insulin in Cell-free Extracts. Nature 141, 690 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/141690b0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/141690b0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.