Biomedical subjects

S E Shoelson

Publications and source records attributed to S E Shoelson.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

The insulin receptor juxtamembrane region contains two independent tyrosine/beta-turn internalization signals.

We have investigated the role of tyrosine residues in the insulin receptor cytoplasmic juxtamembrane region (Tyr953 and Tyr960) during endocytosis. Analysis of the secondary structure of the juxtamembrane region by the Chou-Fasman algorithms predicts that both the sequences GPLY953 and NPEY960 form tyrosine-containing beta-turns. Similarly, analysis of model peptides by 1-D and 2-D NMR show that these sequences form beta-turns in solution, whereas replacement of the tyrosine residues with alanine destabilizes the beta-turn. CHO cell lines were prepared expressing mutant receptors in which each tyrosine was mutated to phenylalanine or alanine, and an additional mutant contained alanine at both positions. These mutations had no effect on insulin binding or receptor autophosphorylation. Replacements with phenylalanine had no effect on the rate of [125I]insulin endocytosis, whereas single substitutions with alanine reduced [125I]insulin endocytosis by 40-50%. Replacement of both tyrosines with alanine reduced internalization by 70%. These data suggest that the insulin receptor contains two tyrosine/beta-turns which contribute independently and additively to insulin-stimulated endocytosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Receptor binding redefined by a structural switch in a mutant human insulin.

Crystal structures of insulin have been determined in various distinct forms, the relevance of which to receptor recognition has long been the subject of speculation. Recently the crystal structure of an inactive insulin analogue has been determined and, surprisingly, found to have a conformation identical to native insulin. On this basis Dodson and colleagues have suggested that the known insulin crystal structures reflect an inactive conformation, and that a change in conformation is required for activity--specifically, the carboxy terminal residues of the B-chain are proposed to separate from the amino terminal residues of the A-chain. Here we report the solution structure of an active insulin mutant, determined by two-dimensional NMR, which supports this hypothesis. In the mutant, the carboxy terminal beta-turn and beta-strand of the B-chain are destabilized and do not pack across the rest of the molecule. We suggest that analogous detachment of the carboxy terminal region of the B-chain occurs in native insulin on binding to its receptor. Our finding that partial unfolding of the B-chain exposes an alternative protein surface rationalizes the receptor-binding properties of a series of anomalous insulin analogues, including a mutant insulin associated with diabetes mellitus in man.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Autophosphorylation within insulin receptor beta-subunits can occur as an intramolecular process.

The insulin receptor is a complex membrane-spanning glycoprotein composed of two alpha-subunits and two beta-subunits connected to form an alpha 2 beta 2 holoreceptor. Insulin binding to the extracellular alpha-subunits activates intracellular beta-subunit autophosphorylation and substrate kinase activity. The current study was designed to differentiate mechanisms of transmembrane signaling by the insulin receptor, specifically whether individual beta-subunits undergo cis- or trans-phosphorylation. We compared relative kinase activities of trypsin-truncated receptors, alpha beta-half receptors, and alpha 2 beta 2 holoreceptors under conditions that allowed us to differentiate intermolecular and intramolecular events. Compared to the insulin-stimulated holoreceptors, the trypsin-truncated receptor undergoes autophosphorylation at similar tyrosine residues and catalyzes substrate phosphorylation in the absence of insulin at a comparable rate. The truncated receptor sediments on a sucrose gradient at a position consistent with a structure comprising a single beta-subunit attached to a fragment of the alpha-subunit and undergoes autophosphorylation in this form in the absence of insulin. Autophosphorylation of the truncated insulin receptor is independent of receptor concentration, and immobilization of the truncated receptor on a matrix composed of an anti-receptor antibody bound to protein A-Sepharose diminishes neither autophosphorylation nor receptor-catalyzed substrate phosphorylation. Therefore, true intramolecular (cis) phosphorylations, which occur within individual beta-subunits derived from trypsin-truncated receptors, lead to kinase activation. However, insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of insulin receptor alpha beta heterodimers is concentration-dependent, and both autophosphorylation and kinase activity are markedly reduced following immobilization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Heteronuclear 2D NMR studies of an engineered insulin monomer: assignment and characterization of the receptor-binding surface by selective 2H and 13C labeling with application to protein design.

Insulin provides an important model for the application of genetic engineering to rational protein design and has been well characterized in the crystal state. However, self-association of insulin in solution has precluded complementary 2D NMR study under physiological conditions. We demonstrate here that such limitations may be circumvented by the use of a monomeric analogue that contains three amino acid substitutions on the protein surface (HisB10----Asp, ProB28----Lys, and LysB29----Pro); this analogue (designated DKP-insulin) retains native receptor-binding potency. Comparative 1H NMR studies of native human insulin and a series of three related analogues--(i) the singly substituted analogue [HisB10----Asp], (ii) the doubly substituted analogue [ProB28----Lys; LysB29----Pro], and (iii) DKP-insulin--demonstrate progressive reduction in concentration-dependent line-broadening in accord with the results of analytical ultracentrifugation. Extensive nonlocal interactions are observed in the NOESY spectrum of DKP-insulin, indicating that this analogue adopts a compact and stably folded structure as a monomer in overall accord with crystal models. Site-specific 2H and 13C isotopic labels are introduced by semisynthesis as probes for the structure and dynamics of the receptor-binding surface. These studies confirm and extend under physiological conditions the results of a previous 2D NMR analysis of native insulin in 20% acetic acid [Hua, Q. X., & Weiss, M. A. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 5505-5515]. Implications for the role of protein flexibility in receptor recognition are discussed with application to the design of novel insulin analogues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Insulin receptors internalize by a rapid, saturable pathway requiring receptor autophosphorylation and an intact juxtamembrane region.

The effect of receptor occupancy on insulin receptor endocytosis was examined in CHO cells expressing normal human insulin receptors (CHO/IR), autophosphorylation- and internalization-deficient receptors (CHO/IRA1018), and receptors which undergo autophosphorylation but lack a sequence required for internalization (CHO/IR delta 960). The rate of [125I]insulin internalization in CHO/IR cells at 37 degrees C was rapid at physiological concentrations, but decreased markedly in the presence of increasing unlabeled insulin (ED50 = 1-3 nM insulin, or 75,000 occupied receptors/cell). In contrast, [125I]insulin internalization by CHO/IRA1018 and CHO/IR delta 960 cells was slow and was not inhibited by unlabeled insulin. At saturating insulin concentrations, the rate of internalization by wild-type and mutant receptors was similar. Moreover, depletion of intracellular potassium, which has been shown to disrupt coated pit formation, inhibited the rapid internalization of [125I]insulin at physiological insulin concentrations by CHO/IR cells, but had little or no effect on [125I]insulin uptake by CHO/IR delta 960 and CHO/IRA1018 cells or wild-type cells at high insulin concentrations. These data suggest that the insulin-stimulated entry of the insulin receptor into a rapid, coated pit-mediated internalization pathway is saturable and requires receptor autophosphorylation and an intact juxtamembrane region. Furthermore, CHO cells also contain a constitutive nonsaturable pathway which does not require receptor autophosphorylation or an intact juxtamembrane region; this second pathway is unaffected by depletion of intracellular potassium, and therefore may be independent of coated pits. Our data suggest that the ligand-stimulated internalization of the insulin receptor may require specific saturable interactions between the receptor and components of the endocytic system.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

NMR and photo-CIDNP studies of human proinsulin and prohormone processing intermediates with application to endopeptidase recognition.

The proinsulin-insulin system provides a general model for the proteolytic processing of polypeptide hormones. Two proinsulin-specific endopeptidases have been defined, a type I activity that cleaves the B-chain/C-peptide junction (Arg31-Arg32) and a type II activity that cleaves the C-peptide/A-chain junction (Lys64-Arg65). These endopeptidases are specific for their respective dibasic target sites; not all such dibasic sites are cleaved, however, and studies of mutant proinsulins have demonstrated that additional sequence or structural features are involved in determining substrate specificity. To define structural elements required for endopeptidase recognition, we have undertaken comparative 1H NMR and photochemical dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) studies of human proinsulin, insulin, and split proinsulin analogues as models of prohormone processing intermediates. The overall conformation of proinsulin is observed to be similar to that of insulin, and the connecting peptide is largely unstructured. In the 1H NMR spectrum of proinsulin significant variation is observed in the line widths of insulin-specific amide resonances, reflecting exchange among conformational substates; similar exchange is observed in insulin and is not damped by the connecting peptide. The aromatic 1H NMR resonances of proinsulin are assigned by analogy to the spectrum of insulin, and assignments are verified by chemical modification. Unexpectedly, nonlocal perturbations are observed in the insulin moiety of proinsulin, as monitored by the resonances of internal aromatic groups. Remarkably, these perturbations are reverted by site-specific cleavage of the connecting peptide at the CA junction but not the BC junction. These results suggest that a stable local structure is formed at the CA junction, which influences insulin-specific packing interactions. We propose that this structure (designated the "CA knuckle") provides a recognition element for type II proinsulin endopeptidase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Two-dimensional NMR and photo-CIDNP studies of the insulin monomer: assignment of aromatic resonances with application to protein folding, structure, and dynamics.

The aromatic 1H NMR resonances of the insulin monomer are assigned at 500 MHz by comparative studies of chemically modified and genetically altered variants, including a mutant insulin (PheB25----Leu) associated with diabetes mellitus. The two histidines, three phenylalanines, and four tyrosines are observed to be in distinct local environments; their assignment provides sensitive markers for studies of tertiary structure, protein dynamics, and protein folding. The environments of the tyrosine residues have also been investigated by photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) and analyzed in relation to packing constraints in the crystal structures of insulin. Dimerization involving specific B-chain interactions is observed with increasing protein concentration and is shown to depend on temperature, pH, and solvent composition. In the monomer large variations are observed in the line widths of amide resonances, suggesting intermediate exchange among conformational substates; such substates may relate to conformational changes observed in different crystal states and proposed to occur in the hormone-receptor complex. Additional evidence for multiple conformations in solution is provided by comparative studies of an insulin analogue containing a peptide bond between residues B29 and A1 (mini-proinsulin). This analogue forms dimers and higher-order oligomers under conditions in which native insulin is monomeric, suggesting that the B29-A1 peptide bond stabilizes a conformational substate favorable for dimerization. Such stabilization is not observed in corresponding studies of native proinsulin, in which a 35-residue connecting peptide joins residues B30 and A1; this extended tether is presumably too flexible to constrain the conformation of the B-chain. The differences between proinsulin and mini-proinsulin suggest a structural mechanism for the observation that the fully reduced B29-A1 analogue folds more efficiently than proinsulin to form the correct pattern of disulfide bonds. These results are discussed in relation to molecular mechanics calculations of insulin based on the available crystal structures.

Circular Dichroism↗

PubMed1989

Nonphosphorylatable substrate analogs selectively block autophosphorylation and activation of the insulin receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, and pp60v-src kinases.

The receptors for insulin and epidermal growth factor undergo tyrosine autophosphorylation in response to ligand stimulation, while pp60v-src is an unregulated tyrosine kinase. In this report we show that each of the kinases phosphorylates an exogenous peptide that corresponds to the insulin proreceptor sequence 1142-1153. When the kinases were pre-phosphorylated, saturable Michaelis-Menten kinetics were observed. However, when the kinases had not been pre-phosphorylated biphasic kinetics were observed; at progressively higher substrate concentrations (greater than Km) less substrate phosphorylation was seen. Furthermore, when the kinases had not been pre-phosphorylated kinase autophosphorylation was inhibited at high substrate concentrations. On this basis we postulated that the substrate inhibition of substrate phosphorylation resulted directly from substrate inhibition of kinase autophosphorylation. To test this we designed additional peptides to function specifically as inhibitors of the kinases. Each of the 3 tyrosine residues within the substrate sequence were replaced either by 4-methoxyphenylalanine or phenylalanine, residues structurally similar to tyrosine but unable to accept phosphoryl transfer. Both analogs inhibited insulin and epidermal growth factor receptor autophosphorylation, whereas only the Phe-substituted analog inhibited pp60v-src phosphorylation. These data suggest that autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues near the kinase active site is a generalized mechanism for tyrosine kinase activation and that activation can be selectively blocked by substrates and nonphosphorylatable analogs.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1988

Lipocortins 1 and 2 as substrates for the insulin receptor kinase in rat liver.

Lipocortins 1 and 2 are major substrates for the epidermal growth factor receptor and the pp60v-src tyrosine kinases in transformed cells. In the present study, we have characterized the phosphorylation of lipocortins 1 and 2 by the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the solubilized insulin receptor, partially purified from rat liver, catalyzed phosphorylation of human recombinant lipocortin 1 and purified bovine lipocortin 2. Phosphorylation of lipocortin 1 was increased 15-fold upon stimulation with 10(-7) M insulin. The apparent Km of the reaction was 3.3 microM and was not affected by insulin stimulation. Insulin stimulated phosphate incorporation into lipocortin 2 by 20-fold (apparent Km greater than 20 microM). Both lipocortins were phosphorylated exclusively on tyrosine residues as judged by phosphoamino acid analysis. Based upon peptide mapping, lipocortin 1 was phosphorylated on Tyr-21, a site phosphorylated by other tyrosine kinases. Polyclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies recognized the tyrosine-phosphorylated lipocortin 2, but not lipocortin 1 in its phosphorylated form. In hepatocytes from normal and dexamethasone-treated rats, lipocortin 1 content was less than 50 ng/10(6) cells. Insulin-induced phosphorylation of lipocortin 1 was detected in intact hepatocytes from corticosteroid-treated animals but not in cells from normal rats. No phosphorylation of lipocortin 2 was found, although its content was approximately 100 ng/10(6) cells from normal animals and increased to approximately 1 microgram/10(6) cells following treatment of rats with dexamethasone for 4 days. Thus, although lipocortins 1 and 2 are in vitro substrates of the insulin receptor kinase, only lipocortin 1 is phosphorylated in an insulin-dependent manner in intact hepatocytes, and this is only observed after dexamethasone treatment of the rats.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1988

Tryptic activation of the insulin receptor. Proteolytic truncation of the alpha-subunit releases the beta-subunit from inhibitory control.

Trypsin exerts insulin-like effects in intact cells and on partially purified preparations of insulin receptors. To elucidate the mechanism of these insulinomimetic effects, we compared the structures of insulin- and trypsin-activated receptor species with their functions, including insulin binding, autophosphorylation, and tyrosine kinase activity. In vitro treatment of wheat germ agglutinin-purified receptor preparations with trypsin resulted in proteolysis of both alpha- and beta-subunits. The activated form of the receptor had an apparent molecular mass of 110 kDa under nonreducing conditions, compared to the 400-kDa intact receptor, and was separated following reduction into an 85-kDa beta-subunit related fragment and a 25-kDa alpha-subunit related fragment. Treatment of whole cells with trypsin prior to isolation of the insulin receptor resulted in proteolytic modification of the alpha-subunit only. In this case, the total molecular mass of the activated species was 116 kDa, comprised of an intact 92-kDa beta-subunit and again a 25-kDa alpha-subunit related fragment. Values of Km for peptide substrate phosphorylation and Ki for inhibition of receptor autophosphorylation, and sites of autophosphorylation within the beta-subunits were similar for receptors activated either by insulin or trypsin. Insulin had no additional effect on the rate of autophosphorylation of the truncated receptor, and no binding of insulin by the truncated receptor was detected either by direct assay or cross-linking with bifunctional reagents. Based on the deduced amino acid sequence of the insulin receptor and the structural studies presented here we concluded that this activated form of the receptor resulted from tryptic cleavage at the dibasic site Arg576-Arg577. This was accompanied by loss of the insulin binding site and separation of alpha-beta heterodimers. As truncation of the alpha-subunit results in beta-subunit activation, it appears that the beta-subunit is a constitutively activated kinase and that the function of the alpha-subunit in the intact receptor is to inhibit the beta-subunit.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1988

A cascade of tyrosine autophosphorylation in the beta-subunit activates the phosphotransferase of the insulin receptor.

We identified the major autophosphorylation sites in the insulin receptor and correlated their phosphorylation with the phosphotransferase activity of the receptor on synthetic peptides. The receptor, purified from Fao hepatoma cells on immobilized wheat germ agglutinin, undergoes autophosphorylation at several tyrosine residues in its beta-subunit; however, anti-phosphotyrosine antibody (alpha-PY) inhibited most of the phosphorylation by trapping the initial sites in an inactive complex. Exhaustive trypsin digestion of the inhibited beta-subunit yielded two peptides derived from the Tyr-1150 domain (Ullrich, A, Bell, J. R., Chen, E. Y., Herrera, R., Petruzzelli, L. M., Dull, T. J., Gray, A., Coussens, L., Liao, Y.-C., Tsubokawa, M., Mason, A., Seeburg, P. H., Grunfeld, C., Rosen, O. M., and Ramachandran, J. (1985) Nature 313, 756-761) called pY4 and pY5. Both peptides contained 2 phosphotyrosyl residues (2Tyr(P], one corresponding to Tyr-1146 and the other to Tyr-1150 or Tyr-1151. In the absence of the alpha-PY additional sites were phosphorylated. The C-terminal domain of the beta-subunit contained phosphotyrosine at Tyr-1316 and Tyr-1322. Removal of the C-terminal domain by mild trypsinolysis did not affect the phosphotransferase activity of the beta-subunit suggesting that these sites did not play a regulatory role. Full activation of the insulin receptor during in vitro assay correlated with the appearance of two phosphopeptides in the tryptic digest of the beta-subunit, pY1 and pY1a, that were inhibited by the alpha-PY. Structural analysis suggested that pY1 and pY1a were derived from the Tyr-1150 domain and contained 3 phosphotyrosyl residues (3Tyr(P] corresponding to Tyr-1146, Tyr-1150, and Tyr-1151. The phosphotransferase of the receptor that was phosphorylated in the presence of alpha-PY at 2 tyrosyl residues in the Tyr-1150 domain was not fully activated during kinase assays carried out with saturating substrate concentrations which inhibited further autophosphorylation. During insulin stimulation of the intact cell, the 3Tyr(P) form of the Tyr-1150 domain was barely detected, whereas the 2Tyr(P) form predominated. We conclude that 1) autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor begins by phosphorylation of Tyr-1146 and either Tyr-1150 or Tyr-1151; 2) progression of the cascade to phosphorylation of the third tyrosyl residue fully activates the phosphotransferase during in vitro assay; 3) in vivo, the 2Tyr(P) form predominates, suggesting that progression of the autophosphorylation cascade to the 3Tyr(P) form is regulated during insulin stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antibodies↗

PubMed1986

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC): a rapid, flexible and sensitive method for separating islet proinsulin and insulin.

Evaluating islet function in vitro involves studying both insulin biosynthesis and release. For the former, it is necessary to resolve insulin from its precursor, proinsulin. This has been achieved in the past by various procedures, each of which suffers from major drawbacks in terms of resolution and the time involved. We show here that reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) outperforms previous methods for separating proinsulin from insulin in islet extracts without any prepurification or concentration steps. This HPLC method is rapid (90 min for a complete cycle, including washing the column) and reproducible, while allowing for unambiguous separation and quantification of proinsulin and insulin.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Circulating forms of somatostatinlike immunoreactivity in human plasma.

Circulating forms of somatostatinlike immunoreactivity (SLI) in humans were characterized using several chromatographic techniques. After gelfiltration chromatography on Bio-Gel P-6 columns greater than 90% of circulating SLI was of high molecular weight (MW) and eluted in the void volume. When plasma samples were passed through protein A-Sepharose columns, more than 85% of the high MW SLI was removed, indicating that this form of plasma SLI is mainly due to cross-reacting immunoglobulins. Extraction of 10-ml plasma samples from normal subjects on octadecyl silyl silica cartridges eliminated the high MW material. In addition, this extraction technique concentrated the two lower MW forms of SLI, which coelute on gel filtration chromatography with somatostatin-28 (S-28) and the tetradecapeptide form of somatostatin (S-14), respectively. Extracted plasma SLI was further analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results confirmed the identity of S-28 and demonstrated that S-14 is converted, in part, to Des-Alasomatostatin (S-13) following secretion into the circulation. At least four forms of SLI are thus present in human plasma: cross-reacting immunoglobulins, S-28, S-14, and S-13. Concentrations of SLI forms in the plasma of normal controls and patients with renal failure or cirrhosis were measured to assess the role of circulating somatostatin in health and disease. High MW SLI was elevated above normal in the plasma of patients with cirrhosis, but was not significantly elevated in patients with chronic renal failure. On the other hand, concentrations of plasma S-28 and S-13/14 (total concentrations of S-13 plus S-14) were elevated in patients with either chronic renal failure or cirrhosis.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

PubMed1986

Antiinsulin receptor antibodies in an insulin-dependent diabetic may arise as autoantiidiotypes.

An insulin-requiring diabetic patient with intermittent periods of increased insulin requirements and insulin resistance was studied. The patient was found to have high titers of antiinsulin antibodies; subfractionation of the patient's serum revealed several populations of antiinsulin antibodies with differing affinities and titers for insulin. The ability of one of the insulin antibody fractions to bind [125I]iodoinsulin was markedly inhibited by the patient's serum (insulin depleted) and by purified total immunoglobulin G from which antiinsulin antibodies and insulin were removed. These findings suggested an antiidiotypic antibody in the patient's immunoglobulin G fraction reacting specifically with the antiinsulin antibody subfraction. Finally, the patient's serum contained an antiinsulin receptor antibody, as demonstrated by the ability of serum to specifically immunoprecipitate covalently labeled soluble insulin receptors. In conclusion, these results suggest that this patient generated a widespread polyclonal response to insulin, with the development of several populations of antiinsulin antibodies. An antiidiotypic antibody to a specific insulin antibody subfraction was present in the patient's serum which we believe had structural similarity to the binding site of the insulin molecule, accounting for the reactivity of the antiidiotypic antibody with the insulin receptor.

Affinity Labels↗

PubMed1985

Biochemical and clinical implications of proinsulin conversion intermediates.

Since a complete map of insulin-related peptides in humans requires consideration of proinsulin, Arg32/Glu33-split proinsulin, Arg65/Gly66-split proinsulin, des-Arg31,Arg32-proinsulin, des-Lys64, Arg65-proinsulin, and insulin, we applied high performance liquid chromatography coupled with radioimmunoassay to investigate the formation of proinsulin conversion intermediates in vitro and in vivo. Kinetic analysis of proinsulin processing by a mixture of trypsin and carboxypeptidase B (to stimulate in vivo processes) revealed (a) a rapid decline in proinsulin concommitant with formation of conversion intermediates, (b) formation of des-Arg31, Arg32-proinsulin and des-Lys64,Arg65-proinsulin in the ratio 3.3:1 at steady state, and (c) complete conversion of the precursor to insulin during extended incubation. Studies on normal human pancreas identified a similar ratio of des-Arg31,Arg32-proinsulin to des-Lys64,Arg65-proinsulin (approximately 3:1), whereas two insulinomas contained sizable amounts of des-Arg31,Arg32-proinsulin, but barely detectable amounts of des-Lys64,Arg65-proinsulin. None of the tissues contained measurable quantities of Arg32/Glu33- or Arg65/Gly66-split proinsulin. Analysis of plasma from three diabetic subjects managed by the intravenous infusion of human proinsulin revealed less than 1% processing of the circulating precursor to conversion intermediates and no processing of the precursor to human insulin. Nevertheless, analysis of plasma from the same subjects managed by the subcutaneous infusion of proinsulin revealed 4-11% processing of the precursor to intermediates that had the properties of des-Arg31,Arg32-proinsulin and Arg65/Gly66-split proinsulin. We conclude that (a) processing of proinsulin to insulin in vivo as in vitro likely occurs by preferential cleavage at the Arg32-Glu33 peptide bond in proinsulin, (b) proinsulin is inefficiently processed in the vascular compartment, and (c) subcutaneous administration of the precursor can result in the formation of conversion intermediates with the potential for contributing to biological activity.

Carboxypeptidases↗

PubMed1985

A radioimmunoassay for circulating human proinsulin.

A radioimmunoassay for human proinsulin (hPl) has been developed using biosynthetic hPl prepared by recombinant DNA technology as immunogen, standard, and tracer. The antiserum was raised in a guinea pig and then adsorbed against insulin and C-peptide conjugated to Sepharose to improve its specificity. After adsorption of the antiserum, the cross-reactivities to insulin and C-peptide were each less than 0.2%. Competition studies using in vitro enzymatically split forms of proinsulin demonstrated that the major antigenic determinant recognized was the junctional region between the B-chain of insulin and the C-peptide. The range of the assay extended from 10 to 150 fmol/tube, with a 50% displacement of 45-55 fmol/tube. This sensitivity proved suitable for measurements of serum hPl concentrations during infusion of biosynthetic hPl into normal subjects and type I diabetic subjects. Eighty-five of 89 serum samples from the normal subjects and each of 20 samples from diabetic subjects diluted in parallel with the hPl standard. Since the direct assay sensitivity was not sufficient for measurement of endogenous hPl levels, a simple procedure for quantitative extraction of proinsulin-like material (PLM) from up to 40 ml of plasma on insulin antibody-Sepharose columns was developed. Logit-log slopes were calculated for dilutions of extracts of samples collected in the fasting state and 60 min after 75 g or oral glucose from eight healthy subjects. The slopes of 15 of the 16 samples did not differ significantly from the slope of the hPl standard.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Products of therapeutic insulins in the blood of insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic patients.

The tendency of insulin in high concentrations to self-associate and the widespread presence of insulin-degrading enzymes suggest that fragments and/or aggregates of insulin may circulate in normal and insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) individuals. To examine this possibility, we have analyzed, by sensitive physicochemical methods, immunoreactive insulin (IRI) taken from the blood of 9 healthy volunteers and 12 insulin-dependent diabetic patients. IRI from the blood of the normal volunteers was composed of 6000 (91.0 +/- 1.4%) and 9000 (9.0 +/- 1.4%) molecular weight (mol wt) material. By 10% polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the 6000 mol wt material was indistinguishable from human insulin standards and insulin fragments were not found. C-peptide reactivity in the 9000 mol wt material confirmed the expected presence of proinsulin and intermediates of proinsulin conversion. IRI harvested from the blood of 12 C-peptide-negative IDDMs, using a variety of insulin preparations, also separated into 6000 (80.5 +/- 3.9%) and 9000-12,000 (19.5 +/- 3.9%) mol wt material. By HPLC, 6000 mol wt IRI was either pork insulin (in volunteers using pure pork insulin) or a mixture of beef (approximately 90%), pork (approximately 10%) and deamidated beef (trace) insulin in those using a beef-pork mixture. However, the 9000-12,000 mol wt material had characteristics entirely distinct from proinsulin of either human or animal origin: C-peptide reactivity was undetectable using any of three sensitive radioimmunoassay systems, on PAGE it migrated more rapidly than proinsulin-like material, and in contrast to proinsulin, it was unaffected by proteolytic degradation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chromatography, Affinity↗

PubMed1984

Familial hyperinsulinemia due to a structurally abnormal insulin. Definition of an emerging new clinical syndrome.

We have identified a patient with mild diabetes, marked fasting hyperinsulinemia (89 to 130 microU of insulin per milliliter), and a reduced fasting C-peptide: insulin molar ratio of 1.11 to 1.50 (normal, greater than 4). The patient responded normally to exogenous insulin. However, her endogenous immunoreactive insulin showed reduced biologic activity during a glucose-clamp study with hyperglycemia and a reduced ability to bind to the insulin receptor and stimulate glucose transport in vitro. Family studies showed that five additional relatives in three generations had variable degrees of glucose intolerance, marked hyperinsulinemia, and a reduced peripheral C-peptide:insulin molar ratio. Restriction-endonuclease cleavage of DNA isolated from circulating leukocytes in the patient and in family members with hyperinsulinemia revealed loss of the MboII recognition site in one allele of the insulin gene--consistent with a point mutation at position 24 or 25 in the insulin B chain. Other studies using high-pressure liquid chromatography and detailed gene analysis have identified the defect as a serine for phenylalanine substitution at position 24 of the insulin B chain. The secretion of a structurally abnormal insulin should be considered in patients with hyperinsulinemia who respond normally to exogenous insulin and have a reduced C-peptide:insulin molar ratio. Glucose tolerance may range from relatively normal to overtly diabetic.

Adult↗