Meta-Biol

• Pathways

PCSK1 cleaves C-terminal to arginine-56 in proinsulin to yield the B chain (plus two C-terminal arginine residues) and a peptide containing the C-peptide and the A chain ( Jackson et al. 2003, Jackson et al. 1997 and inferred from rat Pcsk1). The reaction occurs in immature secretory granules (Orci et al. 1985).
Overall, proinsulin in proinsulin-zinc-calcium complexes is cleaved by endopeptidases PCSK1 (Prohormone Convertase 1/3) and PCSK2 (Prohormone Convertase 2). The exopeptidase CPE (Carboxypeptidase E, also called Carboxypeptidase H) removes 2 amino acids from the carboxyl termini of the resulting B chain (INS 25-56) and C-peptide (INS 57-87). In the major pathway of processing PCSK1 cleaves between the B chain and the C-peptide, CPE removes two arginine residues from the C-terminus of the B chain, PCSK2 cleaves between the C-peptide and the A chain (INS 90-110), and CPE removes an arginine residue and a lysine residue from the C-terminus of the C-peptide. Unlike the proinsulin-zinc calcium complex, the insulin-zinc-calcium complex is not soluble and forms crystals inside the secretory granules.