Interaction between the A2 and A19 amino acid residues is of critical importance for high biological activity in insulin: [19-leucine-A]insulin

The replacement of tyrosine at position A19 by leucine in the insulin molecule led to an analogue, [19-leucine-A]insulin [( Leu19-A]insulin), displaying insignificant receptor binding affinity and in vitro biological activity less than 0.1 and 0.05%, respectively, compared to the natural hormone. This analogue along with the previously reported [2-glycine-A]-, [2-alanine-A]-, and [2-norleucine-A]insulins is the least potent insulin analogue we have examined. Circular dichroic studies showed that all these analogues are monomeric at concentrations at which insulin is primarily dimeric. We conclude that an aromatic ring at position A19 and the presence of the side chain of isoleucine at position A2 are each of critical importance for high biological activity in insulin. It appears that the van der Waals interaction between the side chain of isoleucine A2 and tyrosine A19, present in crystalline insulin, is among the most important determinants for high biological activity in insulin.