Biomedical subjects

E Van Obberghen

Publications and source records attributed to E Van Obberghen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

The insulin receptor activation process involves localized conformational changes.

The molecular process by which insulin binding to the receptor alpha-subunit induces activation of the receptor beta-subunit with ensuing substrate phosphorylation remains unclear. In this study, we aimed at approaching this molecular mechanism of signal transduction and at delineating the cytoplasmic domains implied in this process. To do this, we used antipeptide antibodies to the following sequences of the receptor beta-subunit: (i) positions 962-972 in the juxtamembrane domain, (ii) positions 1247-1261 at the end of the kinase domain, and (iii) positions 1294-1317 and (iv) positions 1309-1326, both in the receptor C terminus. We have previously shown that insulin binding to its receptor induces a conformational change in the beta-subunit C terminus. Here, we demonstrate that receptor autophosphorylation induces an additional conformational change. This process appears to be distinct from the one produced by ligand binding and can be detected in at least three different beta-subunit regions: the juxtamembrane domain, the kinase domain, and the C terminus. Hence, the cytoplasmic part of the receptor beta-subunit appears to undergo an extended conformational change upon autophosphorylation. By contrast, the insulin-induced change does not affect the juxtamembrane domain 962-972 nor the kinase domain 1247-1261 and may be limited to the receptor C terminus. Further, we show that the hormone-dependent conformational change is maintained in a kinase-deficient receptor due to a mutation at lysine 1018. Therefore, during receptor activation, the ligand-induced change could precede ATP binding and receptor autophosphorylation. We propose that insulin binding leads to a transient receptor form that may allow ATP binding and, subsequently, autophosphorylation. The second conformational change could unmask substrate-binding sites and stabilize the receptor in an active conformation.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Nerve growth factor-induced phosphorylation cascade in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Association of S6 kinase II with the microtubule-associated protein kinase, ERK1.

Microtubule-associated protein (MAP) kinases form a group of serine/threonine kinases stimulated by various growth factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and hormones such as insulin. Interestingly, MAP kinases are thought to participate in a protein kinase cascade leading to cell growth as they have been shown to phosphorylate and activate ribosomal protein S6 kinase. To further evaluate the interactions between the different components of this cascade, we looked at the possible coprecipitation of MAP kinase activator(s) or MAP kinase substrate(s) with MAP kinase. Using antipeptides to the C terminus of the M(r) 44,000 MAP kinase, ERK1, and cell extracts from unstimulated or NGF-treated PC12 cells, we obtained in addition to MAP kinase itself coprecipitation of a protein with a M(r) in the 90,000 range. We further show that this protein is a protein kinase since it becomes phosphorylated on serine residues, after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transfer to a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane. In vitro phosphorylation performed before sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrates NGF-sensitive phosphorylation of this 90-kDa protein on both serine and threonine; the serine phosphorylation is likely to be due to autophosphorylation, and the threonine phosphorylation due to phosphorylation by the copurifying MAP kinase. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation of this 90-kDa protein was obtained with antibodies to S6 kinase II. Finally, using in situ chemical cross-linking, we were able to demonstrate in intact cells the occurrence of an anti-ERK1 immunoreactive species with a molecular mass of approximately 125,000 compatible with a complex between ERK1 and a 90-kDa S6 kinase. Taken together, our observations demonstrate that the 44-kDa MAP kinase is associated, in intact PC12 cells, with a protein kinase which is very likely to be S6 kinase II. In conclusion, our data represent strong evidence for a physiological role of the MAP kinase-S6 kinase cascade in PC12 cells. Finally, our antipeptides provide us with a powerful tool to search for additional physiologically relevant substrates for MAP kinase, a key integrator enzyme for growth factors and hormones.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Insulin stimulates phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase activity in rat adipocytes.

Phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase is thought to participate in the signal transduction pathways initiated by the activation of receptor tyrosine kinases including the insulin receptor. To approach the physiological relevance of this enzyme in insulin signaling, we studied the activation of PtdIns-3-kinase in adipocytes, a major insulin target tissue for glucose transport and utilisation. To analyze possible interactions of the enzyme with cellular proteins, immunoprecipitations with the following antibodies were performed: (a) anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies, (b) two antibodies to the 85-kDa subunit of PtdIns-3-kinase (p85) and (c) an antibody to the 185-kDa major insulin receptor substrate (p185). We show that in cell extracts from adipocytes exposed to insulin, and after immunoprecipitation with an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody and an antibody to p85, we are able to detect a PtdIns-3-kinase activity stimulated by the hormone. Similarly, after immunoprecipitation with an antibody to p185, an increase in the PtdIns-3-kinase activity could be demonstrated. Taken together these results suggest that, upon insulin stimulation of fat cells, PtdIns-3-kinase itself is tyrosine phosphorylated and/or associated with an insulin receptor substrate, such as p185, which could function as a link between the insulin receptor and PtdIns-3-kinase. The PtdIns-3-kinase was activated within 1 min of exposure to insulin, and the half-maximal effect was reached at the same concentration, i.e. 3 nM, as for stimulation of the insulin receptor kinase. Subcellular fractionation showed that PtdIns-3-kinase activity was found both in the membranes and in the cytosol. Further, immunoprecipitation with an antibody to p85, which possesses the capacity to activate PtdIns-3-kinase, suggests that the presence of the enzyme in the membrane may be due to an insulin-induced recruitment of the PtdIns-3-kinase from the cytosol to the membrane. Finally, we used isoproterenol, which exerts antagonistic effects on insulin action. This drug was found to inhibit both the PtdIns-3-kinase and the insulin receptor activation by insulin, suggesting that the activation of the PtdIns-3-kinase was closely regulated by the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase. The occurrence of an insulin-stimulated PtdIns-3-kinase in adipocytes leads us to propose that this enzyme might be implicated in the generation of metabolic responses induced by insulin.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1992

Dephosphorylation of human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors by membrane-associated tyrosine phosphatases.

The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor exhibits structural and functional similarities to the insulin receptor. Although the regulation of the insulin-receptor tyrosine kinase has been extensively investigated, the mechanisms involved in phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the IGF-I receptor have received only little attention. To obtain a better understanding of the mode of IGF-I action, we have investigated the effects of protein phosphotyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) on the phosphorylation status of the IGF-I receptor. The dephosphorylation of the human IGF-I receptor by membrane-associated tyrosine phosphatases was studied by an immuno-enzymic assay based on the recognition of phosphotyrosine residues by anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. Using intact IGF-I receptors as substrates, we show that they could be completely dephosphorylated by different cellular PTPases. Three pieces of evidence indicate that receptor dephosphorylation takes place on phosphotyrosine, i.e. the inhibition profile of phosphatase activity by zinc and vanadate, its absolute requirement for thiol compounds and the diminution of [32P]phosphotyrosine labelling of the beta subunit assessed by SDS/PAGE and phosphoamino acid analysis. Tyrosine kinase activity and autophosphorylation of the IGF-I receptor were decreased in a dose-dependent manner by PTPases, indicating that partial dephosphorylation of the receptor was associated with a decrease in its intrinsic activity. The sensitivity of the activated human IGF-I receptor to dephosphorylation on tyrosine leads to the speculation that IGF-I receptor activity might be regulated by mechanisms such as those described for the insulin receptor. Further investigation of the pathways of IGF-I receptor dephosphorylation will contribute to define the role(s) of PTPases in the overall mechanism of IGF-I signalling.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1992

Polymyxin B inhibits insulin-induced glucose transporter and IGF II receptor translocation in isolated adipocytes.

In isolated adipocytes, polymyxin B inhibited insulin-induced glucose incorporation into lipids in a dose-dependent manner, while polymyxin E, a structurally related antibiotic, was ineffective. To approach the mechanism of this effect, the subcellular distribution of the glucose transporter Glut 4 was investigated. Adipocytes were pretreated without or with polymyxin B before insulin stimulation, subcellular fractionation was performed and Glut 4 was detected by immunodetection. Incubation of adipocytes with polymyxin B prevented the insulin-induced appearance of Glut 4 in the plasma membranes, but did not prevent their decrease from the low-density microsomal fraction. A lower purity of the plasma membrane fractions, a detergent effect of polymyxin B on the membranes or an interference of the substance with the immunodetection of the Glut 4 molecules were excluded. These results suggest that polymyxin B was interfering with the Glut 4 translocation process stimulated by insulin in adipocytes. In a similar fashion, polymyxin B inhibited the insulin-induced increase in IGF II binding to adipocytes. This resulted from a blockade of the appearance of IGF II receptors in the plasma membranes. Since low-molecular-mass GTP-binding proteins have been implicated in the regulation of vesicular trafficking, we have used [alpha-32P]GTP binding to analyze such proteins in adipocyte fractions, after SDS/PAGE and transfer to nitrocellulose. Specific and distinct subsets of GTP-binding proteins were revealed in plasma membrane and low-density microsomal fractions of control adipocytes, whether they were stimulated or not with insulin. Polymyxin B treatment of adipocytes markedly modified the profile of the low-molecular-mass GTP-binding proteins in plasma membranes, but not in low-density microsomal fractions. Our results suggest that polymyxin B was interfering with the exocytotic process of the Glut 4 and IGF II receptor-containing vesicles, perhaps at the fusion step between vesicles and plasma membranes.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1992

Antipeptide antibody to the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor sequence 1232-1246 inhibits the receptor kinase activity.

To approach the question of why insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin have different physiological actions, we developed antibodies directed against cytoplasmic regions of the IGF-I receptor exhibiting a low degree of homology with the corresponding sequences of the insulin receptor. We found that an antipeptide antibody directed against the beta-subunit carboxyl-terminal sequence (1232-1246) of the IGF-I receptor significantly reduced the in vitro receptor autophosphorylation. The ability of the synthetic peptide corresponding to the IGF-I receptor sequence 1232-1246 to abolish this inhibitory effect reflects the specific nature of the antibody interaction with the targeted domain in the receptor. Antipeptide antibody to IGF-I receptor sequence 1232-1246 also decreased receptor phosphorylation activity toward the exogenous substrate poly(Glu/Tyr). The reduction in poly(Glu/Tyr) phosphorylation was seen even when the antibody was incubated with a receptor previously activated and phosphorylated. Therefore, the inhibitory action on substrate phosphorylation is likely to be unrelated to the antibody reduction of receptor autophosphorylation but rather results from a global decrease in receptor enzymatic activity. The effect of the antipeptide antibody on receptor tyrosine kinase cannot be accounted for by a lowering of the receptor Km for ATP or of its affinity for the substrate poly(Glu/Tyr). Moreover, the interaction of the antibody with the receptor had no repercussion on the ligand binding site as shown by the unaltered IGF-I binding. Taken together our data suggest that the beta-subunit carboxyl-terminal domain of the IGF-I receptor plays a key role in regulating its kinase activity and that the particular sequence recognized by our antipeptide antibody could be involved in negative regulation of receptor functioning.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1992

Insulin and orthovanadate stimulate multiple phosphotyrosine-containing serine kinases.

Using the synthetic peptide substrate Kemptide and cytosolic extracts of mouse fibroblasts transfected with a human insulin receptor cDNA construct, we have studied an insulin-sensitive serine kinase activity. This activity is rapidly stimulated by insulin (maximum within 5 min) and also by orthovanadate. During cell extract preparation, para-nitrophenylphosphate and phosphotyrosine are able to preserve the enzyme activity, while phosphothreonine and phosphoserine fail to do so. Using antiphosphotyrosine antibodies, specific immunoprecipitation of this insulin- and orthovanadate-sensitive serine kinase was obtained. We then analysed by gel filtration chromatography eluates containing tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins obtained from unstimulated, insulin- and vanadate-treated cells. We found that several activities, with molecular weights estimated to be 30 kDa and smaller, are stimulated by both, insulin and orthovanadate. As a whole, our data indicate that insulin and orthovanadate enhance the cytosolic content in at least 2 or 3 phosphotyrosine-containing serine kinase activities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Effect of cold acclimation on the expression of glucose transporter Glut 4.

Glucose uptake by brown adipose tissue, measured following deoxyglucose injection in vivo, was increased by 6- and 11-fold following 2 and 14 days of cold exposure, respectively. To look for the possible mechanism of these modifications, the glucose transporter Glut 4 has been characterized at the protein and mRNA levels in brown adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue following cold acclimation. Crude membranes were prepared from those tissues, and Glut 4 was studied by Western blot analysis. In brown adipose tissue, the total Glut 4 amount was increased by 52 +/- 7% and by 104 +/- 12% following 2 and 14 days of cold exposure, respectively. By contrast, in white adipose tissue of 14-day-cold-exposed mice the total Glut 4 content was decreased by 42 +/- 5%. However, Glut 4 concentration, expressed per mg of membrane protein, was unchanged in both brown and white adipose tissues following cold exposure, since the membrane protein content increased in brown but decreased in white adipose tissue. No modification in Glut 4 content was observed in skeletal muscle from cold-exposed mice. Total RNA were prepared and analyzed for Glut 4, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and actin. Glut 4 and GAPDH mRNA were increased 2-fold in brown adipose tissue from cold-exposed mice, while actin mRNA content was unmodified. Glut 4 mRNA content was not changed in white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle from cold-exposed mice. Our results suggest that Glut 4 expression is differently modulated in the three insulin-responsive tissues during cold acclimation.

Acclimatization↗

PubMed1992

Activation of insulin-epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor chimerae regulates EGF receptor binding affinity.

Cell surface tyrosine kinase receptors are subject to a rapid activation by their ligand, which is followed by secondary regulatory processes. The IHE2 cell line is a unique model system to study the regulation of EGF binding to EGF receptors after activation of the EGF receptor kinase. IHE2 cells express both a chimeric insulin-EGF receptor kinase (IER) and a kinase-deficient EGF receptor (HER K721A). We have previously reported that IER is an insulin-responsive EGF receptor tyrosine kinase that activates one or several serine/threonine kinases, which in turn phosphorylate(s) the unoccupied HER K721A. In this article we show that insulin through IER activation induces a decrease in 125I-EGF binding to IHE2 cells. Scatchard analysis indicates that, as for TPA, the effect of insulin can be accounted for by a loss of the high affinity binding of EGF to HER K721A. Since this receptor transmodulation persists in protein kinase C downregulated IHE2 cells, it is likely to be due to a mechanism independent of protein kinase C activation. Using an in vitro system of 125I-EGF binding to transmodulated IHE2 membranes, we illustrate that the inhibition of EGF binding induced by IER activation is related to the phosphorylation state of HER K721A. Further, studies with phosphatase 2A, or at a temperature (4 degrees C) where only IER is functional, strongly suggest that the loss of high affinity EGF binding is related to the serine/threonine phosphorylation of HER K721A after IER activation. Our results provide evidence for a "homologous desensitization" of EGF receptor binding after activation of the EGF receptor kinase of the IER receptor.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1992

Potential involvement of the carboxy-terminus of the Glut 1 transporter in glucose transport.

The role of the carboxy-terminal domain of the Glut 1 glucose transporter was investigated using an antipeptide antibody to the C-terminal part of the molecule. The study was performed in fibroblasts transfected with the cDNA coding for the human insulin receptor. These cells acutely respond to insulin for glucose transport. Using antipeptide antibodies to Glut 1 and Glut 4, we first established that these cells expressed only Glut 1. Then, to define the role of the C-terminal part of Glut 1 in glucose transport, the antibodies were loaded into the cells by electroporation. When anti-Glut 1 immunoglobulins were introduced into the cells, a 60% increase in basal deoxyglucose and 3-O-methylglucose transport was observed compared to that in cells electroporated with nonimmune immunoglobulins. The stimulatory action of the antipeptide was not due to an increase in the total amount of transporters. It was found only at low glucose concentrations, suggesting that the affinity of the transporter, rather than its maximal capacity, was changed. Finally, the effect of antibody was additive to that of insulin. The interaction between the anti-Glut 1 antibody and the carboxy-tail of the transporter seems to lead to an increase in the intrinsic activity of the transporter, suggesting that this part of the molecule could be implicated in the regulation of glucose uptake.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

PubMed1992

Activation and regulation of the insulin receptor kinase.

For the insulin receptor and the EGF receptor it is believed that ligand occupancy results in interactions within the heterotetrameric alpha 2 beta 2 insulin receptor or between monomeric EGF receptors. These interactions then activate the intracellular receptor tyrosine kinase which induces receptor autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of cellular substrates. In the present study we have approached the nature of this receptor activation and autophosphorylation. We have investigated whether these phenomena occur via an intra--or an intermolecular process. To this end the following receptor model system consisting of two receptors was co-expressed in NIH 3T3 cells: a kinase inactive human insulin receptor (HIR K1018A) and a chimeric (EIR) receptor corresponding to the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the human EGF receptor and the cytosolic domain of the human insulin receptor beta subunit. Using this system we found that stimulation of the cells with EGF induced tyrosine autophosphorylation of the EGF-insulin receptor chimera (150 kd) and tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta-subunit of the kinase-deficient insulin receptor (95 kd). The phosphopeptides of the autophosphorylated cytoplasmic domain of the EGF-insulin receptor chimera were comparable to those of the transphosphorylated beta subunit of the kinase-deficient insulin receptor and the wild type human insulin receptor. When immunoaffinity purified EGF-insulin receptor hybrids and kinase-deficient insulin receptors were used in a cell lysate phosphorylation assay, it was found that addition of EGF produced [32P]-labeling of both receptor species. In conclusion, we have shown that tyrosine transphosphorylation can occur between homologous receptor domains. This transphosphorylation and transactivation could be a possible mechanism for signal amplification.2+ domain could influence interactions between the receptor and cellular structures and, as such, play a key role in signal transduction.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

[The insulin receptor: mechanism of activation and message transmission].

The insulin receptor is a heterotetrameric glycoprotein composed of two 130 kD extracellular alpha subunits and two 95 kD membrane-spanning beta subunits. The insulin receptor functions as an allosteric enzyme which undergoes conformational changes when its alpha subunit binds insulin, resulting in activation and autophosphorylation of the tyrosine kinase contained in the beta subunit. This receptor activation is due to intermolecular reactions responsible for amplification of the hormone-induced response at the receptor level. Activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase initiates a cascade of phosphorylation/dephosphorylation reactions and enzyme activation/deactivation reactions. Insulin causes very rapid activation of the enzymes MAP kinase (Microtubule Associated Protein kinase) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, which may act as key links between the insulin receptor and the cell effectors responsible for hormone-induced responses.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

PubMed1991

Interaction between heterologous receptor tyrosine kinases. Hormone-stimulated insulin receptors activate unoccupied IGF-I receptors.

To determine whether heterologous receptor tyrosine kinases interact with each other we have investigated the ability of insulin receptors to transphosphorylate and transactivate IGF-I receptors. Using partially purified receptors we show that hormone-stimulated insulin receptors induced a 40% increase in IGF-I receptor phosphorylation. Remarkably, this transphosphorylation of IGF-I receptors by insulin receptors resulted in a 2.5-fold augmentation of the IGF-I receptor tyrosine kinase activity for substrates. Our findings demonstrate that transphosphorylation with transactivation can occur between insulin and IGF-I receptors. We would like to propose that such a phenomenon participates in the insulin-induced pleiotropic program by mediating the growth promoting effects of the hormone.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1991

Tyrosine and threonine phosphorylation of an immunoaffinity-purified 44-kDa MAP kinase.

We have approached the functioning of a MAP kinase, which is thought to be a "switch kinase" in the phosphorylation cascade initiated from various receptor tyrosine kinases including the insulin receptor. To do so, antipeptide antibodies were raised against the C-terminal portion of ERK1 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1), a protein kinase belonging to the family of MAP kinases. With these antipeptide antibodies, we observed the following: (i) a 44-kDa protein can be specifically recognized both under native and denaturing conditions; (ii) a 44-kDa phosphoprotein can be revealed in 32P-labeled cells; its phosphorylation is stimulated by insulin, sodium orthovanadate, and okadaic acid; (iii) a MBP kinase activity can be precipitated, which phosphorylates MBP on threonine residues, and which is stimulated by insulin, sodium orthovanadate, okadaic acid, and fetal calf serum; (iv) this MBP kinase activity appears to be correlated with the in vivo induced phosphorylation of the 44-kDa protein. We next studied the in vitro phosphorylation of this 44-kDa/ERK1-immunoreactive protein. A time- and manganese-dependent phosphorylation was stimulated by the in vitro addition of sodium orthovanadate. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the in vitro phosphorylated 44-kDa protein revealed both threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation. Importantly, this in vitro phosphorylation of MAP kinase results in activation of phosphorylation of added MBP substrate. As a whole, our data indicate that the 44-kDa phosphoprotein identified by our antipeptide antibodies very likely corresponds to a MAP kinase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1991

The carboxyl-terminal domain of the insulin receptor: its potential role in growth-promoting effects.

The role of the insulin receptor carboxyl-terminal domain in regulation of insulin signal transduction was studied with antipeptide antibodies against the sequence 1321-1338, which contains two autophosphorylation sites, tyrosine 1328 and tyrosine 1334. The antibodies were introduced by electroporation in murine fibroblasts transfected with an expression plasmid encoding the human insulin receptor. We found that introduction of these antipeptides into cells stimulated cellular proliferation, compared to cells loaded with nonimmune Ig. In contrast, neither glucose transport nor amino acid transport was stimulated by the antibodies. Despite its stimulatory effect on cell growth, the injected antipeptide did not enhance phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6. In vitro, anti-C1 antipeptide stimulated insulin receptor autophosphorylation but did not increase receptor-mediated phosphorylation of the copolymer (glutamate/tyrosine, 4/1), while histone phosphorylation was increased. We interpret our results to mean that perturbation of the receptor C-terminus could lead to phosphorylation of selected substrates, which may be involved in cell growth regulation. Taken together, our data suggest that (i) insulin receptor mediated stimulation of cell growth and stimulation of ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation result from divergent signaling pathways and (ii) the insulin receptor C-terminal domain exerts an inhibition on the growth signal mediated by the receptor. This inhibition appears to be released upon insulin binding to receptor or by interaction of the antipeptide with the receptor.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1991

Insulin-EGF receptor chimerae mediate tyrosine transphosphorylation and serine/threonine phosphorylation of kinase-deficient EGF receptors.

To study cross-talk between unoccupied epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and activated EGF receptor kinases, we have used double-transfected cells, IHE2 cells, expressing both an enzymatically active insulin-EGF chimeric receptor and an inactive kinase EGF receptor mutant. Using immunoaffinity-purified receptors, we show that insulin increased phosphorylation of the insulin-EGF chimeric beta subunit and of the kinase-deficient EGF receptor. Stimulation of intact IHE2 cells with insulin leads to a rapid tyrosine autophosphorylation of the insulin-EGF chimeric beta subunit and to tyrosine phosphorylation of the unoccupied kinase-deficient EGF receptor. Insulin-stimulated transphosphorylation of the kinase-deficient EGF receptor yields the same pattern of tryptic phosphopeptides as those in EGF-induced autophosphorylation of the wild-type human EGF receptor. We conclude that insulin, through activation of the insulin-EGF chimeric receptor, mediates transphosphorylation of the kinase-deficient EGF receptor, further confirming that EGF receptor autophosphorylation may proceed by an intermolecular mechanism. In addition to receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, we find that exposure of cells to insulin results in enhanced phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues of the unoccupied kinase-deficient EGF receptor. These results suggest that insulin-EGF chimeric receptor activation stimulates at least one serine/threonine kinase, which in turn phosphorylates the kinase-deficient EGF receptor. Finally, we show that transphosphorylation and coexpression of an active kinase cause a decrease in the number of cell surface kinase-deficient EGF receptors without increasing their degradation rate.

ErbB Receptors↗

PubMed1991

Effects of okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases-1 and -2A, on glucose transport and metabolism in skeletal muscle.

The effect of okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases-1 and -2A, was studied on glucose transport and metabolism in soleus muscles isolated from lean and insulin-resistant obese mice. In muscles from lean mice, the uptake of 2-deoxyglucose, an index of glucose transport and phosphorylation, was increased by okadaic acid in a concentration-dependent manner. At 5 microM, okadaic acid was as efficient as a maximally effective insulin concentration. Glucose metabolism (glycolysis and glycogen synthesis) was also measured. Whereas glycolysis was stimulated by okadaic acid, glycogen synthesis was unchanged. When okadaic acid and insulin were added together in the incubation medium, the rates of glucose transport, glycolysis, and glycogen synthesis were similar to those obtained with insulin alone, whether maximal or submaximal insulin concentrations were used. Furthermore, okadaic acid did not activate the kinase activity of the insulin receptor studied in an acellular system or in intact muscles. These results indicate that a step in the insulin-induced stimulation of muscle glucose transport involves a serine/threonine phosphorylation event that is regulated by protein phosphatases-1 and/or -2A. In muscles of insulin-resistant obese mice, the absolute values of deoxyglucose uptake stimulated by okadaic acid were lower than in muscles from lean mice. However, the okadaic acid effect, expressed as a fold stimulation, was normal. These observations suggest that in the insulin-resistant state linked to obesity, the serine/threonine phosphorylation event is likely occurring normally, but a defect at the level of the glucose transporter itself would prevent a normal response to insulin or okadaic acid.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Insulin and insulin-like-growth-factor-I (IGF-I) receptors in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Comparison with insulin receptors from liver and muscle.

Insulin and insulin-like-growth-factor-I (IGF-I) receptors were partially purified from full-grown (stages V-VI) Xenopus laevis oocytes by affinity chromatography on wheat-germ agglutinin-agarose. Competitive-binding assays revealed high-affinity binding sites for both insulin and IGF-I (Kd = 2.5 x 10(-10) M and 8 x 10(-10) M respectively). However, IGF-I receptors were about 15 times more abundant than insulin receptors (22.5 x 10(11) versus 1.5 x 10(11)/mg of protein). Moreover, comparison of intact and collagenase-treated oocytes showed that most of the insulin receptors were in the oocyte envelopes, whereas IGF-I receptors were essentially at the oocyte surface. Oocyte receptors were composed of alpha-subunits of approximately 130 kDa and a doublet of beta-subunits of 95 and 105 kDa, which both had ligand-induced phosphorylation patterns compatible with IGF-I receptor beta-subunits. Accordingly, the receptor tyrosine kinase was stimulated at low IGF-I concentrations [half-maximally effective concentration (EC50) approximately 0.5-1 nM], and at higher insulin concentrations (EC50 approximately 20-50 nM). Partially purified glycoproteins from Xenopus liver and muscle contained mainly receptors of the insulin-receptor type, with alpha-subunits of 140 kDa in liver and 125 kDa in muscle, and doublets of beta-subunits of 92-98 kDa in liver and 85-94 kDa in muscle. Immunoprecipitation of receptors from oocytes, liver and muscle by receptor-specific anti-peptide antibodies suggested that the beta-subunit heterogeneity resulted from the existence of two distinct IGF-I receptors in oocytes and of two distinct insulin receptors in both liver and muscle. In the different tissues, the two receptor subtypes differed at least by their beta-subunit C-terminal region.

Animals↗