Insulinomimetic homology of concanavalin A

A striking peptide sequence and three dimensional conformational homology between a portion of insulin and the plant lectin concanavalin A is described. This amino acid sequence has been demonstrated to be essential to the bioactivity of the hormone insulin. The insulinomimetic activity of the plant lectin on hormone target cells coupled with the presence of an insulin-homologous sequence and conformation offers insight into the mechanism of insulin action.