Question

17) Anton has to take insulin for his Type I diabetes but his sister Mariyam has another health issue and uses a steroid treatment in the form of a skin patch. Anton knows that insulin is a protein but wants to know why he can't have a patch instead of having all those nasty shots. Can you explain it to him? A) Proteins can not dissolve thru skin cell membranes B) Skin cells naturally destroy proteins C) Steroids are water-soluble and require c-AMP D) Insulin only affects the circulatory system

Answer 1

Insulin is a protein hormone and hence is water soluble. Hence, insulin cannot pass through the cell membrane due to the hydrophobic nature of cell membrane. Thus, it cannot pass through the cell membrane of skin.

Steroids are lipid soluble and hence can diffuse through the cell membrane ins a skin patch. Skin cells destroy pathogens due to innate immune mechanism. They don’t affect protein/hormones. Insulin affects the target organs via its receptor. It is only transported to these organs via circulatory system.

Right choice: A) Protein cannot dissolve thru skin cell membranes.