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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

An In Ovo Model for Testing Insulin-mimetic Compounds
Published on: April 23, 2018
Investigation of a Cu(II)-poly(gamma-glutamic acid) complex in aqueous solution and its insulin-mimetic activity
Subarna Karmaker1, Tapan K Saha, Hiromu Sakurai
1Department of Analytical and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 5 Nakauchi-cho, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
Abstract:
The complexation between cupric ions (Cu(II)) and poly(gamma-glutamic acid) (gamma-PGA) in aqueous solutions (pH 3-11) has been studied by UV-visible absorption and electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques. Formation of the Cu(II)-gamma-PGA complex is confirmed by the observation of the blue shift of the absorption band in the visible region, anisotropic line shapes in the ESR spectrum at room temperature, and a computer simulation of the visible absorption spectrum of the complex. The structure of the Cu(II)-gamma-PGA complex, depending on the pH, has been determined. The in vitro insulin-mimetic activity of the Cu(II)-gamma-PGA complex is examined by determining both inhibition of free fatty acid release and glucose uptake in isolated rat adipocytes treated with epinephrine, in which the concentration of the Cu(II)-gamma-PGA complex for 50% inhibition of free fatty acid release is very similar to that of CuSO4. However, it is significantly lower than that of a previously reported insulin-mimetic bis(3-hydroxypicolinato)copper(II), [Cu(3hpic)2], complex.
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