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M Anai

Publications and source records attributed to M Anai.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes is due to inhibition of glucose transport rather than insulin signal transduction.

Glucocorticoids reportedly induce insulin resistance. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance using 3T3-L1 adipocytes in which treatment with dexamethasone has been shown to impair the insulin-induced increase in glucose uptake. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with dexamethasone, the GLUT1 protein expression level was decreased by 30%, which possibly caused decreased basal glucose uptake. On the other hand, dexamethasone treatment did not alter the amount of GLUT4 protein in total cell lysates but decreased the insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane, which possibly caused decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Dexamethasone did not alter tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptors, and it significantly decreased protein expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1. Interestingly, however, protein expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-2 were increased. To investigate whether the reduced IRS-1 content is involved in insulin resistance, IRS-1 was overexpressed in dexamethasone-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes using an adenovirus transfection system. Despite protein expression and phosphorylation levels of IRS-1 being normalized, insulin-induced 2-deoxy-D-[3H]glucose uptake impaired by dexamethasone showed no significant improvement. Subsequently, we examined the effect of dexamethasone on the glucose uptake increase induced by overexpression of GLUT2-tagged p110alpha, constitutively active Akt (myristoylated Akt), oxidative stress (30 mU glucose oxidase for 2 h), 2 mmol/l 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside for 30 min, and osmotic shock (600 mmol/l sorbitol for 30 min). Dexamethasone treatment clearly inhibited the increases in glucose uptake produced by these agents. Thus, in conclusion, the GLUT1 decrease may be involved in the dexamethasone-induced decrease in basal glucose transport activity, and the mechanism of dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance in glucose transport activity (rather than the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation resulting from a decreased IRS-1 content) is likely to underlie impaired glucose transporter regulation.

3T3 Cells↗

Hyperglycemia impairs the insulin signaling step between PI 3-kinase and Akt/PKB activations in ZDF rat liver.

Akt/PKB activation is reportedly essential for insulin-induced glucose metabolism in the liver. During the hypoinsulinemic and hyperglycemic phase in the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat liver, insulin-induced phosphorylations of the insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1/2 were significantly enhanced. Similarly, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activities associated with IRS-1/2 were markedly increased in ZDF rat liver compared with those in the control lean rat liver. However, interestingly, insulin-induced phosphorylation and kinase activation of Akt/PKB were severely suppressed. The restoration of normoglycemia by sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT) inhibitor to ZDF rats normalized elevated PI 3-kinase activation and phosphorylation of IR and IRS-1/2 to lean control rat levels. In addition, impaired insulin-induced Akt/PKB activation was also normalized. These results suggest that chronic hyperglycemia reduces the efficiency of the activation step from PI 3-kinase to Akt/PKB kinase and that this impairment is the molecular mechanism underlying hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance in the liver.

Animals↗

p85/p110-type phosphatidylinositol kinase phosphorylates not only the D-3, but also the D-4 position of the inositol ring.

Activation of p85/p110-type phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase has been implicated in various cellular activities. This PI kinase phosphorylates the D-4 position with a similar or higher efficiency than the D-3 position when trichloroacetic acid-treated cell membrane is used as a substrate, although it phosphorylates almost exclusively the D-3 position of the inositol ring in phosphoinositides when purified PI is used as a substrate. Furthermore, the lipid kinase activities of p110 for both the D-3 and D-4 positions were completely abolished by introducing kinase-dead point mutations in their lipid kinase domains (DeltaKinalpha and DeltaKinbeta, respectively). In addition, both PI 3- and PI 4-kinase activities of p110alpha and p110beta immunoprecipitates were similarly inhibited by either wortmannin or LY294002, specific inhibitors of p110. Insulin induced phosphorylation of not only the D-3 position, but also the D-4 position. Indeed, overexpression of p110 in Sf9 or 3T3-L1 cells induced marked phosphorylation of the D-4 position to a level comparable to or much greater than that of D-3, whereas inhibition of endogenous p85/p110-type PI kinase via overexpression of dominant-negative p85alpha (Deltap85alpha) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes abolished insulin-induced synthesis of both. Thus, p85/p110-type PI kinase phosphorylates the D-4 position of phosphoinositides more efficiently than the D-3 position in vivo, and each of the D-3- or D-4-phosphorylated phosphoinositides may transmit signals downstream.

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗

Imidapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, improves insulin sensitivity by enhancing signal transduction via insulin receptor substrate proteins and improving vascular resistance in the Zucker fatty rat.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are antihypertensive agents, that inhibit the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, resulting in smooth-muscle relaxation and a reduction of vascular resistance. Recently, it has been suggested that ACE inhibitors improve insulin resistance in diabetic patients. To investigate the effect of an ACE inhibitor on insulin sensitivity, insulin signaling, and circulation, imidapril was administered orally or intraduodenally to Zucker fatty rats. Oral administration of imidapril improved insulin sensitivity based on the results of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a decrease in urinary glucose secretion. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activity associated with hepatic insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in the insulin-stimulated condition was significantly enhanced 110% without a significant alteration in tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in the imidapril-treated group. In muscle, IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and PI 3-kinase activity associated with IRS-1 in the insulin-stimulated condition were enhanced 70% and 20%, respectively, in the imidapril-treated group. In contrast, an alteration of the IRS-2 pathway was observed only in liver; a significant insulin-induced increase in the IRS-2-associated PI 3-kinase over the basal level was observed in the imidapril-treated group but not in the control. In addition, treatment with imidapril was shown to significantly reduce blood pressure and increase blood flow in the liver and muscle. These results suggest that the ACE inhibitor imidapril may improve insulin sensitivity not only by acting directly on the insulin signaling pathway but also by increasing blood flow in tissues via normalization of vascular resistance, a major cause of hypertension.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Effects on growth of rat offspring born from dams treated subcutaneously with a surfactant, polyoxyethylene(10)nonylphenyl ether(NP-10), during lactational period.

A surfactant NP-10 was administered subcutaneously to Jcl:Wistar female rats at dose levels of 5, 20 and 80 mg/kg/day from date of birth to day 21 after birth of F1 offspring to assess its effects on the growth, behavior and functions of the offspring. For F0 dams, scab formation and loss of hair at the test substance administration site were observed in all treatment groups and induration of the skin at the test substance administration site in the 20 and 80 mg/kg groups in general condition and necropsy findings at the end of the dosing period. In necropsy findings, in addition to these changes, hemorrhage and whitish change of the subcutis at the test substance administration site were seen in all treatment groups, adhesion to the somatic muscles and granulation of the subcutis at the test substance administration site in the 20 and 80 mg/kg groups, and swelling of the spleen and adrenals in the 80 mg/kg group. Reduction or a tendency for reduction in food consumption was also detected from the initial day of dosing (day 0) to day 17 after birth F1 offspring in the 80 mg/kg group. Body weight or the findings on the day after birth and day of weaning failed to reveal any evidence of an effect that could be ascribed to the test substance. In F1 born offspring, a decrease or tendency for decrease in body weight was observed from day 7 after birth in both sexes and for females during the gestation period in the 80 mg/kg group. However, body weight gains based on the weights at 4 weeks after birth or on day 0 of gestation in the 80 mg/kg group failed to reveal any difference from that in the control group. The observation on the day of birth and during the period of lactation, physical development test, reflex test, general condition, open-field test, water-maze test, reproductive ability test, observations at cesarean section, necropsy findings, organ weights, histopathological findings of females or males that did not achieve successful gestation, skeletal examination, and the observations at cesarean section and external examination of F2 fetuses failed to reveal any evidence that could be ascribed to the test substance. These results indicate that NP-10 had no effect on the behavior or functions of the offspring, although it affected the growth of the offspring born, under the conditions of this study. The non-effective dose level is considered to be 20 mg/kg for general toxicity of the dams and for their offspring.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Enhanced insulin-stimulated activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in the liver of high-fat-fed rats.

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and IRS-2, which mediate phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activation, play essential roles in insulin-induced translocation of GLUT4 and in glycogen synthesis. In this study, we investigated the process of PI 3-kinase activation via binding with IRS-1 and -2 in liver, muscle, and fat of high-fat-fed rats, a model of insulin-resistant diabetes. In the liver of high-fat-fed rats, insulin increased the PI 3-kinase regulatory subunit p85alpha and the PI 3-kinase activities associated with IRS-1 3.6- and 2.4-fold, and with IRS-2, 4.7- and 3.0-fold, respectively, compared with those in control rats. The tyrosine phosphorylation levels of IRS-1 and IRS-2 were not significantly altered, however. In contrast with the liver, tyrosine phosphorylation levels and associated PI 3-kinase proteins and activities were decreased in the muscle and adipose tissue of high-fat-fed rats. Thus, high-fat feeding appears to cause insulin resistance in the liver by a mechanism different from the impaired PI 3-kinase activation observed in muscle and adipose tissue. Taking into consideration that hepatic PI 3-kinase activation is severely impaired in obese diabetic models such as Zucker fatty rats, it is possible that the mechanism by which a high-fat diet causes insulin resistance is quite different from that associated with obesity and overeating due to abnormality in the leptin system. This is the first report to show increased PI 3-kinase activation by insulin in an insulin-resistant diabetic animal model. These findings may be important for understanding the mechanism of insulin resistance in human NIDDM, since a high-fat diet is considered to be one of the major factors exacerbating insulin insensitivity in humans.

Adipose Tissue↗

No correlation of plasma cell 1 overexpression with insulin resistance in diabetic rats and 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Membrane glycoprotein plasma cell 1 (PC-1) has been shown to be increased in type 2 diabetes and involved in insulin resistance through inhibiting the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, which was demonstrated using cultured breast cancer cells. However, other reports have shown contradictory results in Chinese hamster ovary cells and in vitro kinase assay. Thus, we considered it necessary to investigate the effect of PC-1 using highly insulin-sensitive cells. Here, we used two of the following approaches: 1) investigating PC-1 expression levels in insulin-responsive tissues in rat models of diabetes and 2) overexpressing PC-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We found that PC-1 was highly expressed in insulin-responsive tissues, such as liver and adipose tissue, in normal rats. However, high-fat feeding or streptozotocin-induced diabetes did not change its expression levels in liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. Thus, PC-1 expression levels were not associated with high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance or hyperglycemia. Although PC-1 was increased in adipose tissue in Zucker fatty rats (protein level, by 50%; mRNA level, by 90%), its expression levels in liver and skeletal muscle, tissues that are more responsible for whole body glucose metabolism than adipose tissue, did not significantly differ from those in normal rats. Next, we overexpressed PC-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes using an adenovirus transfection system. PC-1 expression was markedly increased to a level 16-fold greater than that in normal human adipose tissue, which is higher than the previously reported levels in diabetic patients. However, insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate 1, activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and glucose uptake were not affected by PC-1 overexpression. These results strongly suggest that increased PC-1 expression is not causally related to insulin resistance.

3T3 Cells↗

T-1095, an inhibitor of renal Na+-glucose cotransporters, may provide a novel approach to treating diabetes.

T-1095A and T-1095 are synthetic agents derived from phlorizin, a specific inhibitor of Na+-glucose cotransporters (SGLTs). Unlike phlorizin, T-1095 is absorbed into the circulation via oral administration, is metabolized to the active form, T-1095A, and suppresses the activity of SGLTs in the kidney. Orally administered T-1095 increases urinary glucose excretion in diabetic animals, thereby decreasing blood glucose levels. Indeed, the postprandial hyperglycemia after a meal load was shown to be suppressed by this compound in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. With long-term T-1095 treatment, both blood glucose and HbA1c levels were reduced in STZ-induced diabetic rats and yellow KK mice. In addition, there was amelioration of abnormal carbohydrate metabolism, i.e., hyperinsulinemia and hypertriglyceridemia, and of the development of microalbuminuria, in yellow KK mice. Thus, T-1095 may be a useful antidiabetic drug, providing a novel therapeutic approach for diabetes.

Administration, Oral↗

Different subcellular distribution and regulation of expression of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-3 from those of IRS-1 and IRS-2.

Adipocytes contain three major substrate proteins of the insulin receptor, termed IRS-1, IRS-2, and IRS-3. We demonstrated that IRS-1 and IRS-2 are located mainly in the low density microsome (LDM) fraction and are tyrosine phosphorylated in response to insulin stimulation, leading to phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activation. In contrast, IRS-3 is located mainly in the plasma membrane (PM) fraction and contributes to PI 3-kinase activation in the PM fraction. The different cellular localizations of IRS proteins may account for the mechanism of insulin resistance induced by a high fat diet, considering that PI 3-kinase activation in the LDM fraction is reportedly essential for the translocation of GLUT4 in adipocytes. High fat feeding in rats increased both protein and mRNA levels of IRS-3 but decreased those of IRS-1 and IRS-2 in epididymal adipocytes. As a result, selective impairment of insulin-induced PI 3-kinase activation was observed in the LDM fraction, whereas PI 3-kinase activation was conserved in the PM fraction. This is the first report showing that different IRS proteins function in different subcellular compartments, which may contribute to determining the insulin sensitivity in adipocytes.

Adipocytes↗

Multiple isoforms of the regulatory subunit for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) are expressed in neurons in the rat brain.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) is a heterodimeric enzyme composed of a catalytic subunit of 110 kDa and an adaptor regulatory subunit. We investigated the presence and localization of five isoforms of the regulatory subunits, p55 alpha, p55 gamma, p85 alpha, p85 beta, and p50 alpha, in the rat brain. In situ hybridization histochemistry using isoform-specific cRNA probes revealed that all five isoforms were expressed in the neurons of the brain. Interestingly, most neuronal cells including Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and pyramidal cells in the cerebrum expressed all five isoforms. Immunohistochemical staining also showed the localization of p55 alpha, p55 gamma, p85 alpha, and p50 alpha in the neuronal cells in the brain. Expression of multiple isoforms in neurons suggests that they may play important roles in signal transduction in the brain.

Animals↗

Role of JTT-501, a new insulin sensitiser, in restoring impaired GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes of rats fed a high fat diet.

JTT-501 is an insulin-sensitising compound with an isoxazolidinedione rather than a thiazolidionedione structure. Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high fat diet for 2 weeks were used as an animal model of insulin resistance, and JTT-501 was administered for the final week of the diet. An euglycaemic glucose clamp study showed that the glucose infusion rate (GIR) required to maintain euglycaemia was 57% lower in rats fed a high fat diet than in control rats, and that JTT-501 treatment restored the reduction in GIR produced by the high fat diet. To explain the mechanisms underlying the effects of a high fat diet and JTT-501 treatment, epididymal fat pads were excised and used in the analysis of insulin action. The high fat diet caused: (1) a 58% decrease in insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) content with a 58% decrease in IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation; (2) reductions of 56% and 73% respectively in insulin-induced maximal PI 3-kinase activation in anti-phosphotyrosine and anti-IRS-1 antibody immunoprecipitates; (3) a 46% reduction in the glucose transporter protein, GLUT4 content and, consequently, (4) severely impaired insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane and glucose uptake in adipocytes. JTT-501 treatment restored appreciably the protein content and tyrosine phosphorylation level of IRS-1. Insulin-stimulated PI 3-kinase activation was also restored in anti-phosphotyrosine and anti-IRS-1 antibody immunoprecipitates. As reflected by these improvements in insulin signalling, JTT-501 treatment improved considerably insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane as well as insulin-induced glucose uptake. However, JTT-501 had no effect on the decrease in GLUT4 content produced by the high fat diet. These observations suggest that JTT-501 enhances insulin signalling and may be effective in reducing insulin resistance.

Adipocytes↗

Altered expression levels and impaired steps in the pathway to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation via insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 in Zucker fatty rats.

To elucidate the mechanism of obesity-related insulin resistance, we investigated the impaired steps in the processes of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activation through binding with insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 (IRS-1 and IRS-2) in liver and muscle of Zucker fatty rats. The expressions of IRS-1 and IRS-2 were shown to be downregulated in both liver and muscle in fatty rats (hepatic IRS-1, 83%; hepatic IRS-2, 45%; muscle IRS-1, 60%; muscle IRS-2, 78%), resulting in decreased tyrosine phosphorylation in response to insulin stimulation. Despite the decrease in the tyrosine phosphorylation levels of hepatic IRS-1 and IRS-2 being mild to moderate, associated PI 3-kinase activities were dramatically decreased in fatty rats (IRS-1, 14%; IRS-2, 10%), which may suggest alteration in the sites of phosphorylated tyrosine residues of hepatic IRS-1 and IRS-2. In addition, we demonstrated that the expressions of p85alpha and p55alpha regulatory subunits of PI 3-kinase were reduced (p85alpha, 67%; p55alpha, 54%), and that the p50alpha regulatory subunit was markedly upregulated (176%) in the livers of fatty rats without apparent alterations in expressions of the catalytic subunits p110alpha and p110beta. These alterations may reflect the obesity-related insulin resistance commonly observed in human NIDDM.

Albumins↗

14-3-3 protein binds to insulin receptor substrate-1, one of the binding sites of which is in the phosphotyrosine binding domain.

Insulin binding to its receptor induces the phosphorylation of cytosolic substrates, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and IRS-2, which associate with several Src homology-2 domain-containing proteins. To identify unique IRS-1-binding proteins, we screened a human heart cDNA library with 32P-labeled recombinant IRS-1 and obtained two isoforms (epsilon and zeta) of the 14-3-3 protein family. 14-3-3 protein has been shown to associate with IRS-1 in L6 myotubes, HepG2 hepatoma cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells, and bovine brain tissue. IRS-2, a protein structurally similar to IRS-1, was also shown to form a complex with 14-3-3 protein using a baculovirus expression system. The amount of 14-3-3 protein associated with IRS-1 was not affected by insulin stimulation but was increased significantly by treatment with okadaic acid, a potent serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor. Peptide inhibition experiments using phosphoserine-containing peptides of IRS-1 revealed that IRS-1 contains three putative binding sites for 14-3-3 protein (Ser-270, Ser-374, and Ser-641). Among these three, the motif around Ser-270 is located in the phosphotyrosine binding domain of IRS-1, which is responsible for the interaction with the insulin receptor. Indeed, a truncated mutant of IRS-1 consisting of only the phosphotyrosine binding domain retained the capacity to bind to 14-3-3 protein in vivo. Finally, the effect of 14-3-3 protein binding on the insulin-induced phosphorylation of IRS-1 was investigated. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that IRS-1 coimmunoprecipitated with anti-14-3-3 antibody to be weakly phosphorylated after insulin stimulation, on tyrosine as well as serine residues, compared with IRS-1 immunoprecipitated with anti-IRS-1 antibody. Thus, the association with 14-3-3 protein may play a role in the regulation of insulin sensitivity by interrupting the association between the insulin receptor and IRS-1.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

Role of the C terminus in histamine H2 receptor signaling, desensitization, and agonist-induced internalization.

To evaluate the role of the histamine H2 receptor C terminus in signaling, desensitization, and agonist-induced internalization, canine H2 receptors with truncated C termini were generated. Wild-type (WT) and truncated receptors were tagged at their N termini with a hemagglutinin (HA) epitope and expressed in COS7 cells. Most of the C-terminal intracellular tail could be truncated (51 of 70 residues, termed T308 mutant) without loss of functions: cAMP production, tiotidine binding, and plasma membrane targeting. In fact, the T308 mutant produced more cAMP than the WT when cell-surface expression per cell was equivalent. Pretreatment of cells with 10(-5) M histamine desensitized cAMP productions via WT and T308 receptors to similar extents. Incubation of cells expressing WT receptors with 10(-5) M histamine reduced cell-surface anti-HA antibody binding by approximately 30% (by 30 min, t1/2 approximately 15 min), but did not affect the Bmax of tiotidine in membrane fractions, which represents total receptor amounts, suggesting that WT receptors were internalized from the cell surface. In contrast, no internalization was observed with T308 receptors following histamine treatment. A mutant with a deletion of the 30 C-terminal amino acids, termed T329, was functional but was as potent as the WT in terms of cAMP production. Apart from being desensitized by histamine, the internalization of the receptor was indistinguishable from that of the WT. Internalization was observed in the T320 but not in T313 mutant, narrowing the region involved in internalization to that between Glu314 and Asn320 (ETSLRSN). Of these seven residues, either Thr315, Ser316, or both, were replaced with Ala. Thr315 and Ser316 are conserved among species. The mutation at Thr315 (but not that at Ser316) abolished internalization. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Thr315 is involved in agonist-induced internalization. Furthermore, the finding that T308 receptors were desensitized in the absence of internalization suggests that internalization and desensitization are meditated by independent mechanisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Oligomer formation of histamine H2 receptors expressed in Sf9 and COS7 cells.

A histamine H2 receptor, which had been mutated at its glycosylation site and tagged at its N-terminus with an HA tag (HA-H2 receptor), was expressed in Sf9 cells and COS7 cells. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting of HA-H2 receptors with alphaHA antibody revealed four bands of 31.5 +/- 2.5 kDa, 59.0 +/- 6.0 kDa, 80.5 +/- 4.5 kDa and 120 kDa. These bands were also detected by immunoblot using anti-H2 receptor serum (C-terminus). In addition, H2 receptors without the HA-tag coimmunoprecipitated with HA-tagged H2 receptors devoid of the 51 C-terminal amino acids, via immunoprecipitation with alphaHA antibody, when the two receptors were coexpressed. These results suggest that H2 receptors are present as receptor oligomers and that the C-terminal portion is not involved in the formation of these oligomers.

Animals↗

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2 is dephosphorylated more rapidly than IRS-1 via its association with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in skeletal muscle cells.

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2 is structurally and functionally similar to IRS-1. Indeed, stimulation with insulin or insulin-like growth factor I led to the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of both IRS-1 and IRS-2, which in turn activated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase in L6 cells and rat skeletal muscle. However, IRS-2 was rapidly dephosphorylated (3-10 min after the addition of insulin/insulin-like growth factor I), whereas IRS-1 phosphorylation continued for at least 60 min. The time courses of the PI 3-kinase activity associated with IRS-1 and IRS-2 paralleled the tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins. Preincubation with sodium orthovanadate, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase, blocked the rapid dephosphorylation of IRS-2, suggesting the involvement of tyrosine phosphatase. The activation of PI 3-kinase apparently plays an important role in the rapid dephosphorylation of IRS-2, as IRS-2 dephosphorylation was inhibited markedly by suppressing PI 3-kinase activity with wortmannin or overexpression of the dominant negative p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase, which cannot bind the p110 catalytic subunit. In addition, platelet-derived growth factor stimulation prior to insulin stimulation decreased IRS-associated PI 3-kinase and significantly inhibited the dephosphorylation of IRS-2. Taken together, these observations suggest that IRS-2 plays a unique role in mediating the signals from the insulin receptor to downstream molecules and that this effect is more transient than that of IRS-1. Tyrosine phosphatase and IRS-associated PI 3-kinase activity thus contribute to the rapid dephosphorylation of IRS-2.

Androstadienes↗

p85alpha gene generates three isoforms of regulatory subunit for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-Kinase), p50alpha, p55alpha, and p85alpha, with different PI 3-kinase activity elevating responses to insulin.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) is stimulated by association with a variety of tyrosine kinase receptors and intracellular tyrosine-phosphorylated substrates. We isolated a cDNA that encodes a 50-kDa regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase with an expression cloning method using 32P-labeled insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). This 50-kDa protein contains two SH2 domains and an inter-SH2 domain of p85alpha, but the SH3 and bcr homology domains of p85alpha were replaced by a unique 6-amino acid sequence. Thus, this protein appears to be generated by alternative splicing of the p85alpha gene product. We suggest that this protein be called p50alpha. Northern blotting using a specific DNA probe corresponding to p50alpha revealed 6.0- and 2.8-kb bands in hepatic, brain, and renal tissues. The expression of p50alpha protein and its associated PI 3-kinase were detected in lysates prepared from the liver, brain, and muscle using a specific antibody against p50alpha. Taken together, these observations indicate that the p85alpha gene actually generates three protein products of 85, 55, and 50 kDa. The distributions of the three proteins (p85alpha, p55alpha, and p50alpha), in various rat tissues and also in various brain compartments, were found to be different. Interestingly, p50alpha forms a heterodimer with p110 that can as well as cannot be labeled with wortmannin, whereas p85alpha and p55alpha associate only with p110 that can be wortmannin-labeled. Furthermore, p50alpha exhibits a markedly higher capacity for activation of associated PI 3-kinase via insulin stimulation and has a higher affinity for tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 than the other isoforms. Considering the high level of p50alpha expression in the liver and its marked responsiveness to insulin, p50alpha appears to play an important role in the activation of hepatic PI 3-kinase. Each of the three alpha isoforms has a different function and may have specific roles in various tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗