Editing Insulin (section)

=== Degradation ===
Once an insulin molecule has docked onto the receptor and effected its action, it may be released back into the extracellular environment, or it may be degraded by the cell. The two primary sites for insulin clearance are the liver and the kidney.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Koh HE, Cao C, Mittendorfer B | title = Insulin Clearance in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes | journal = International Journal of Molecular Sciences | volume = 23 | issue = 2 | pages = 596 | date = January 2022 | pmid = 35054781 | pmc = 8776220 | doi = 10.3390/ijms23020596 | doi-access = free }}</ref> It is broken down by the enzyme, [[protein-disulfide reductase (glutathione)]],<ref name="EC">{{cite web |title=EC 1.8.4.2 |url=https://iubmb.qmul.ac.uk/enzyme/EC1/8/4/2.html |website=iubmb.qmul.ac.uk |access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref> which breaks the disulphide bonds between the A and B chains. The liver clears most insulin during first-pass transit, whereas the kidney clears most of the insulin in systemic circulation. Degradation normally involves [[endocytosis]] of the insulin-receptor complex, followed by the action of [[insulin-degrading enzyme]]. An insulin molecule produced endogenously by the beta cells is estimated to be degraded within about one hour after its initial release into circulation (insulin [[biological half-life|half-life]] ~ 4–6&nbsp;minutes).<ref name="pmid">{{cite journal | vauthors = Duckworth WC, Bennett RG, Hamel FG | title = Insulin degradation: progress and potential | journal = Endocrine Reviews | volume = 19 | issue = 5 | pages = 608–24 | date = October 1998 | pmid = 9793760 | doi = 10.1210/edrv.19.5.0349 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="urlCarbohydrate and insulin metabolism in chronic kidney disease">{{cite web | url = http://www.uptodate.com/contents/carbohydrate-and-insulin-metabolism-in-chronic-kidney-disease | title = Carbohydrate and insulin metabolism in chronic kidney disease |vauthors=Palmer BF, Henrich WL | work = UpToDate, Inc }}</ref>