1. Bioinformatic Investigation of Insulin Signalling System

2. Blood glucose α cell β cell Glucagon Insulin Blood glucose to normal Blood glucose α cell β cell GlucagonInsulin Blood glucose to normal

3. Background on Insulin Peptide hormone that regulates blood sugar levels Synthesized as larger precursor (preproinsulin) Proinsulin contains A, B, and C peptide portions Insulin consists of A, B chains (C is degraded)

5. Project Goals Use of insulin and insulin receptor as a model system Compare sequence data for both Compare structures of each Use as an example to the more complex cellular signaling mechanism Use comparison of insulin & receptor sequences as a model for interspecific rates of change (co- evolution)

6. Audience General Biology (majors and non-majors) Physiology

7. Connections for Students 1 st protein sequenced 1 st human gene cloned Dominant role in major biological system Significant system to understand with population changes (obesity)

8. Project materials Biology Workbench PubMed Molecular models

9. What we have: –Sequences that code for insulin and the insulin receptor –Background articles –Schematic model of insulin receptor What we can get: –Molecular model of insulin & the insulin receptor –More background articles