PROCESS FOR THE PHOSPHORYLATION OF INSULIN AND PRODUCT PRODUCED THEREBY

摘要

A process for phosphorylating a peptide comprises reacting an aqueous solution of the peptide with an effective amount of phosphorous oxychloride under conditions favoring phosphorylation of the peptide. In a specific embodiment, the peptide is insulin. A phosphorylated insulin is used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus wherein the phosphorylated insulin is produced or purified with an effective amount of phosphorus oxychloride to have substantially reduced iso-electric points and to have the property of reducing hyperglycemia without substantially inducing hypoglycemia. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the method comprises administering to a human being an effective therapeutic amount of a phosphorylated insulin essentially free of unmodified insulin and having substantially reduced iso-electric points whereby hyperglycemia is reduced substantially without inducing hypoglycemia. A phosphorylated insulin having either at least one phosphate group substituted on serine residues in the insulin or at least one phosphate group substituted on threonine residues in the insulin is for use in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.