Rapid preparation of human insulin and insulin analogues in high yield by enzyme-assisted semi-synthesis

Abstract

conditions condition are described that permit the enzyme-assisted semi-synthetic replacement of residue B30 of pig insulin (or of an analogue) to proceed in very high yield in 2h or less. Immobilized trypsin may be used as catalyst, and excess amino acid ester may be recycled after a simple extraction. Alanine-B30 may be replaced by a variety of nucleophiles, including threonine O-t-butyl ether t-butyl ester, in which case the yield of crude product is about 99%. De-protection of the B30 threonyl ester analogue of insulin thus formed then affords human insulin in an overall yield of about 92%, based on pig starting material. The product has full biological potency, as determined by depression of blood glucose concentration in rats, and showed the expected behaviour on radioimmunoassay.