Insulin-Degrading Enzyme

Numerous studies have reported that a relatively specific insulin-degrading protease can be found in most tissues. Several different laboratories have examined this enzyme and many of its characteristics have been established, but many contradictory findings have been reported and much confusion and controversy continues to exist. Recent work from Dr. Richard Roth’s laboratory has clarified some issues and established a reference preparation with which to compare other studies, but a number of issues remain unsettled. Some of the current confusion is due to experimental variations among different studies, but other literature discrepancies are not easily reconciled. Some possible explanations will be discussed below, but complete clarification will require additional investigation.