Mechanism of insulin action--signal transductions after binding to insulin receptor

Insulin binds to the alpha subunit of the insulin receptor which activates the tyrosine kinase in the beta subunit and tyrosine-phosphorylates the insulin receptor substrates-1 (IRS-1). Insulin promotes the formation of a complex between tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 and several proteins including phosphoinositide(PI) 3-kinase, a heterodimer consisting of regulatory 85-kDa (p85) and catalytic 110-kDa (p110) subunits, GRB2 and Syp via the Src homology region 2 (SH2) domains. Recently, it was suggested that GRB2-Sos complex binding to IRS-1 was linked to Ras activation and that PI 3-kinase binding to IRS-1 was linked to activation of glucose transport. Since the mechanism of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is mainly due to translocation of glucose transporters from an intracellular vesicle pool to the plasma membrane, PI 3-kinase activity may be involved in vesicle transport in mammalian cells.     

Lovastatin disrupts early events in insulin signaling: a potential mechanism of lovastatin's anti-mitogenic activity

The mechanism by which lovastatin lowers cholesterol levels is well characterized but little is known about its anti-mitogenic and anti-tumorigenic mechanism. Here we demonstrate that lovastatin disrupts early events in the mitogenic signaling pathways of insulin. Insulin treatment (200 mM) of quiescent HIR rat-1 fibroblasts results in an 8-fold stimulation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-K) activity. Overnight pretreatment of cells with lovastatin (20 microM) inhibits insulin stimulation of PI-3-K activity by 75%. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting experiments using antibodies against the regulatory subunit of PI-3-K (p85), phosphotyrosine, and insulin receptor alpha and beta subunits demonstrate that lovastatin inhibits the association of p85 with tyrosine phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 and the beta subunit of the insulin receptor. Furthermore, lovastatin dramatically reduces (70-100%) the level of tyrosine phosphorylated insulin receptor beta subunit following insulin stimulation. These results clearly demonstrate that lovastatin disrupts early events of insulin mitogenic signaling by reducing the levels of tyrosine phosphorylated beta subunit and suggest that this disruption is a potential mechanism for the anti-mitogenic effect of lovastatin.     

Protein phosphatase-1 and -2a activities in cultured fetal chick neurons: differential regulation by insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I

In this study, we examined the developmental expression and regulation by insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) of protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and protein phosphatase-2A (PP-2A) in cultured fetal chick neurons. Protein phosphatase activities were measured using 32P-labeled phosphorylase-a or 32P-labeled S6 kinase substrate peptide. In cell extracts from day 1-5 cultures, 40-45% of spontaneous protein phosphatase activity was due to PP-1. PP-2A accounted for the remaining 55-60% of enzyme activity. Spontaneous PP-1 activity increased by 100% in day 2 cultures and remained constant thereafter. PP-2A activity increased by 48% in day 2 cultures, with minimal increases in enzyme activity in later cultures. Under the assay conditions employed, at all times in culture a significant proportion (45-50%) of PP-1 was in an inactive form that could be reactivated by trypsin. PP-2A activity was not influenced by trypsin. Insulin stimulated neuronal PP-1 activity in day 4 and 5 cultures, but had no effect in earlier cultures. The activation of PP-1 by insulin was rapid, with a maximal effect (30-40% increase over basal levels) at 5 min with 10 ng/ml insulin. Insulin did not alter total (trypsin-released) PP-1 activity, the content of PP-1 catalytic subunit, or PP-2A activity at any time in culture. In contrast to insulin, IGF-I had no effect on PP-1 activity at any time in culture, but significantly increased PP-2A activity in day 5 cultures. Maximal stimulation of PP-2A activity by IGF-I was observed at 10 min, with an EC50 of 5 ng/ml. These results indicate that chick forebrain neurons contain both PP-1 and PP-2A activities and that neuronal PP-1 and PP-2A activities are differentially regulated by insulin and IGF-I. We conclude that although insulin and IGF-I share many steps in signal transduction, these growth factors have distinct actions on neuronal phosphatase activity that may impact on differences in their neurotropic actions.     

Insulin enhances macrophage scavenger receptor-mediated endocytic uptake of advanced glycation end products

Hyperglycemia accelerates the formation and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGE) in plasma and tissue, which may cause diabetic vascular complications. We recently reported that scavenger receptors expressed by liver endothelial cells (LECs) dominantly mediate the endocytic uptake of AGE proteins from plasma, suggesting its potential role as an eliminating system for AGE proteins in vivo (Smedsrod, B., Melkko, J., Araki, N., Sano, H., and Horiuchi, S. (1997) Biochem. J. 322, 567-573). In the present study we examined the effects of insulin on macrophage scavenger receptor (MSR)-mediated endocytic uptake of AGE proteins. LECs expressing MSR showed an insulin-sensitive increase of endocytic uptake of AGE-bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA). Next, RAW 264.7 cells expressing a high amount of MSR were overexpressed with human insulin receptor (HIR). Insulin caused a 3.7-fold increase in endocytic uptake of 125I-AGE-BSA by these cells. The effect of insulin was inhibited by wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3 kinase) inhibitor. To examine at a molecular level the relationship between insulin signal and MSR function, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing a negligible level of MSR were cotransfected with both MSR and HIR. Insulin caused a 1.7-fold increase in the endocytic degradation of 125I-AGE-BSA by these cells, the effect of which was also inhibited by wortmannin and LY294002, another PI3 kinase inhibitor. Transfection of CHO cells overexpressing MSR with two HIR mutants, a kinase-deficient mutant, and another lacking the binding site for insulin receptor substrates (IRS) resulted in disappearance of the stimulatory effect of insulin on endocytic uptake of AGE proteins. The present results indicate that insulin may accelerate MSR-mediated endocytic uptake of AGE proteins through an IRS/PI3 kinase pathway.     

Effect of insulin on farnesyltransferase. Specificity of insulin action and potentiation of nuclear effects of insulin-like growth factor-1, epidermal growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor

We have previously demonstrated that insulin activates farnesyltransferase (FTase) and augments the amounts of farnesylated p21 (Goalstone, M. L., and Draznin, B. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 27585-27589). We postulated that this aspect of insulin action might explain the "priming effect" of insulin on the cellular response to other growth factors. In the present study, we show the specificity of the effect of insulin on FTase. Insulin, but not insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), stimulated the phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of FTase and the amounts of farnesylated p21. Even though all four growth factors utilized the Ras pathway to stimulate DNA synthesis, only insulin used this pathway to influence FTase. Insulin failed to stimulate FTase in cells expressing the chimeric insulin/IGF-1 receptor and in cells derived from the insulin receptor knock-out animals. Insulin potentiated the effects of IGF-1, EGF, and PDGF on DNA synthesis in cells expressing the wild type insulin receptor, but this potentiation was inhibited in the presence of the FTase inhibitor, alpha-hydroxyfarnesylphosphonic acid. We conclude that the effect of insulin on FTase is specific, requires the presence of an intact insulin receptor, and serves as a conduit for the "priming" influence of insulin on the nuclear effects of other growth factors.     

Impact of mutations at different serine residues on the tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor

Insulin binding to its receptor activates a cascade of signaling events which are initiated by tyrosine autophosphorylation of the receptor and activation of the tyrosine kinase activity towards the insulin receptor substrates. In addition to phosphorylation at tyrosine residues a serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor is observed. Neither the functional significance of serine phosphorylation of the receptor nor the location of relevant regulatory sites has been determined exactly so far. We studied potential functions of serine residues in human insulin receptor (HIR) with respect to its ability to undergo insulin stimulated autophosphorylation. Using site directed mutagenesis of HIR we exchanged serine to alanine at 13 different positions in the HIR beta-subunit. Sites were chosen according to the criteria of known serine phosphorylation sites (1023/25, 1293/94, 1308/09), conserved positions in hIR, hIGF-1 receptor, hIRR, and dIR (962, 994, 1037, 1055, 1074/78, 1168, 1177/78/82, 1202, 1263, 1267). All HIR mutants were expressed in HEK 293 cells and basal and insulin stimulated autophosphorylation were determined. We found that the exchange of serine to alanine at position 994 and at position 1023/25 increased insulin stimulated receptor autophosphorylation significantly (147% +/- 12% and 129% +/- 6% of control, p < 0.01, n = 7), while all other exchanges did not significantly alter insulin stimulated HIR autophosphorylation. The data suggest that the serine residues at position 994 as well as 1023/25 might be part of inhibitory domains of the insulin receptor.     

Regional difference in insulin inhibition of non-esterified fatty acid release from human adipocytes: relation to insulin receptor phosphorylation and intracellular signalling through the insulin receptor substrate-1 pathway

Increased mobilization of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) from visceral as opposed to peripheral fat depots can lead to metabolic disturbances because of the direct portal link between visceral fat and the liver. Compared with peripheral fat, visceral fat shows a decreased response to insulin. The mechanisms behind these site variations were investigated by comparing insulin action on NEFA metabolism with insulin receptor signal transduction through the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) pathway in omental (visceral) and subcutaneous human fat obtained during elective surgery. Insulin inhibited lipolysis and stimulated NEFA re-esterification. This was counteracted by wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphaditylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. The effects of insulin on antilipolysis and NEFA re-esterification were greatly reduced in omental fat cells. Insulin receptor binding capacity, mRNA and protein expression did not differ between the cell types. Insulin was four times more effective in stimulating tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor in subcutaneous fat cells (p < 0.001). Similarly, insulin was two to three times more effective in stimulating tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in subcutaneous fat cells (p < 0.01). This finding could be explained by finding that IRS-1 protein expression was reduced by 50 +/- 8% in omental fat cells (p < 0.01). In omental fat cells, maximum insulin-stimulated association of the p85 kDa subunit of PI 3-kinase to phosphotyrosine proteins and phosphotyrosine associated PI 3-kinase activity were both reduced by 50% (p < 0.05 or better). Thus, the ability of insulin to induce antilipolysis and stimulate NEFA re-esterification is reduced in visceral adipocytes. This reduction can be explained by reduced insulin receptor autophosphorylation and signal transduction through an IRS-1 associated PI 3-kinase pathway in visceral adipocytes.     

Opposite regulation of tyrosine-phosphorylation of p130(Cas) by insulin and insulin-like growth factor I

To investigate the difference in signaling between insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), we studied the effects of these hormones on the phosphorylation state of Crk-associated substrate (Cas) in cells expressing human insulin receptor (HIRc). In the basal state, Cas was heavily tyrosine-phosphorylated, and insulin dephosphorylated Cas in a time- and dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, IGF-I phosphorylated rather than dephosphorylated Cas in HIRc cells. In HIRY/F2 cells expressing a mutant insulin receptor lacking a binding site of SHP-2, a protein-tyrosine phosphatase containing src homology 2 (SH2) regions, insulin accelerated phosphorylation of Cas, as did IGF-I. In HIRc cells expressing a mutant SHP-2 lacking a PTPase domain (DeltaPTP), which interfered with SHP-2 function, insulin failed to dephosphorylate Cas. In whole cell lysate obtained in the basal state, Cas bound to a glutathione-S transferase fusion protein containing SH2 domains of SHP-2 and dissociated from this GST protein in response to insulin. These results indicate that the opposite regulation of Cas phosphorylation by insulin and IGF-I may be mediated through different properties of their receptors, and that the interaction of the insulin receptor with SHP-2 may play an important role in determining the tyrosine-phosphorylation state of Cas.     

Insulin stimulates sequestration of beta-adrenergic receptors and enhanced association of beta-adrenergic receptors with Grb2 via tyrosine 350

G-protein-linked receptors, such as the beta2-adrenergic receptor, are substrates for growth factor receptors with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity (Karoor, V., Baltensperger, K., Paul, H., Czech, M. P., and Malbon C. C. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 25305-25308). In the present work, the counter-regulatory action of insulin on catecholamine action is shown to stimulate enhanced sequestration of beta2-adrenergic receptors in either DDT1MF-2 smooth muscle cells or Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing beta2-adrenergic receptors. Both insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 stimulate internalization of beta-adrenergic receptors, contributing to the counter-regulatory effects of these growth factors on catecholamine action. In combination with beta-adrenergic agonists, insulin stimulates internalization of 50-60% of the complement of beta-adrenergic receptors. Insulin administration in vitro and in vivo stimulates phosphorylation of Tyr-350 of the beta-adrenergic receptor, creating an Src homology 2 domain available for binding of the adaptor molecule Grb2. The association of Grb2 with beta-adrenergic receptors was established using antibodies to Grb2 as well as a Grb2-glutathione S-transferase fusion protein. Insulin treatment of cells provokes binding of Grb2 to beta2-adrenergic receptors. Insulin also stimulates association of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and dynamin, via the Src homology 3 domain of Grb2. Both these interactions as well as internalization of the beta-adrenergic receptor are shown to be enhanced by insulin, beta-agonist, or both. The Tyr-350 --> Phe mutant form of the beta2-adrenergic receptor, lacking the site for tyrosine phosphorylation, fails to bind Grb2 in response to insulin, fails to display internalization of beta2-adrenergic receptor in response to insulin, and is no longer subject to the counter-regulatory effects of insulin on cyclic AMP accumulation. These data are the first to demonstrate the ability of a growth factor insulin to counter-regulate G-protein-linked receptor, the beta-adrenergic receptor, via a new mechanism, i.e. internalization.     

Lesions of the midline thalamic nuclei impair classical conditioning under partial but not continuous reinforcement conditions

Protein Phosphatase-1 (PP-1) appears to be the key component of the insulin signalling pathway which is responsible for bridging the initial insulin-simulated phosphorylation cascade with the ultimate dephosphorylation of insulin sensitive substrates. Dephosphorylations catalyzed by PP-1 activate glycogen synthase (GS) and simultaneously inactivate phosphorylase a and phosphorylase kinase promoting glycogen synthesis. Our in vivo studies using L6 rat skeletal muscle cells and freshly isolated adipocytes indicate that insulin stimulates PP-1 by increasing the phosphorylation status of its regulatory subunit (PP-1G). PP-1 activation is accompanied by an inactivation of Protein Phosphatase-2A (PP-2A) activity. To gain insight into the upstream kinases that mediate insulin-stimulated PP-1G phosphorylation, we employed inhibitors of the ras/MAPK, PI3-kinase, and PKC signalling pathways. These inhibitor studies suggest that PP-1G phosphorylation is mediated via a complex, cell type specific mechanism involving PI3-kinase/PKC/PKB and/or the ras/MAP kinase/Rsk kinase cascade. cAMP agonists such as SpcAMP (via PKA) and TNF-alpha (recently identified as endogenous inhibitor of insulin action via ceramide) block insulin-stimulated PP-1G phosphorylation with a parallel decrease of PP-1 activity, presumably due to the dissociation of the PP-1 catalytic subunit from the regulatory G-subunit. It appears that any agent or condition which interferes with the insulin-induced phosphorylation and activation of PP-1, will decrease the magnitude of insulin's effect on downstream metabolic processes. Therefore, regulation of the PP-1G subunit by site-specific phosphorylation plays an important role in insulin signal transduction in target cells. Mechanistic and functional studies with cell lines expressing PP-1G subunit site-specific mutations will help clarify the exact role and regulation of PP-1G site-specific phosphorylations on PP-1 catalytic function.     

Self-reported physical activity in a rural county: a New York county health census

We have previously shown that phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3'-kinase is activated by the binding of proteins or peptides containing the phosphorylated motif Y(P)XXM. In the present study, we examine interactions between PtdIns 3'-kinase and the human insulin receptor, which contains a C-terminal phosphorylation site in the sequence Y1322THM. Partially purified insulin receptors bound tightly to bacterial fusion proteins containing the N- or C-terminal SH2 domains from PtdIns 3'-kinase regulatory subunit (p85). In contrast, a mutant insulin receptor, truncated by 43 amino acids at the C terminus (IR delta CT), bound poorly to the SH2 domains; these mutant receptors have normal kinase activity but lack the Y1322THM motif. Similarly, incubation with wild-type receptors increased the activity of immunopurified PtdIns 3'-kinase, whereas incubation with IR delta CT receptors did not affect PtdIns 3'-kinase activity. Activation of PtdIns 3'-kinase by the wild-type receptor was mimicked by a tyrosyl phosphopeptide derived from the insulin receptor C terminus and containing the Y1322THM motif; non-phosphorylated peptide did not affect activity. Thus, the insulin receptor C terminus activates PtdIns 3'-kinase in vitro by binding to the SH2 domains of the 85-kDa regulatory subunit. These data support the hypothesis that binding of tyrosyl-phosphorylated receptors to p85 SH2 domains is a general mechanism for PtdIns 3'-kinase activation, and they suggest that direct interactions between the insulin receptor and PtdIns 3'-kinase may provide an alternative pathway for the activation of this enzyme by insulin.     

Differential subcellular localization of protein phosphatase-1 alpha, gamma1, and delta isoforms during both interphase and mitosis in mammalian cells

Protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) is involved in the regulation of numerous metabolic processes in mammalian cells. The major isoforms of PP-1, alpha, gamma1, and delta, have nearly identical catalytic domains, but they vary in sequence at their extreme NH2 and COOH termini. With specific antibodies raised against the unique COOH-terminal sequence of each isoform, we find that the three PP-1 isoforms are each expressed in all mammalian cells tested, but that they localize within these cells in a strikingly distinct and characteristic manner. Each isoform is present both within the cytoplasm and in the nucleus during interphase. Within the nucleus, PP-1 alpha associates with the nuclear matrix, PP-1 gamma1 concentrates in nucleoli in association with RNA, and PP-1 delta localizes to nonnucleolar whole chromatin. During mitosis, PP-1 alpha is localized to the centrosome, PP-1 gamma1 is associated with microtubules of the mitotic spindle, and PP-1 delta strongly associates with chromosomes. We conclude that PP-1 isoforms are targeted to strikingly distinct and independent sites in the cell, permitting unique and independent roles for each of the isoforms in regulating discrete cellular processes.     

Stimulation of glucose and amino acid transport and activation of the insulin signaling pathways by insulin lispro in L6 skeletal muscle cells

The monomeric insulin analogue insulin lispro (Lys B28, Pro B29) is a rapid-acting insulin with a shorter duration of activity than human regular insulin. This compound has the advantage of reducing early postprandial hyperglycemia and the accompanying late hypoglycemia, thereby improving overall blood glucose control. To date, all published studies of the functional properties of insulin lispro have been conducted in whole animals. This study aimed to characterize the cellular actions of insulin lispro and the signals it elicits in an insulin-sensitive muscle cell line, L6 cells. Comparing the cellular actions of insulin lispro with those of human regular insulin, a number of observations were made. (1) Insulin lispro stimulated glucose and amino acid transport into L6 myotubes with a dose dependency and time course virtually identical to those of human regular insulin. (2) Insulin lispro was as effective as human regular insulin in stimulating time-dependent phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), p70 ribosomal S6 kinase, and two isoforms of mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1 and ERK2). (3) Insulin lispro's ability to induce the association of IRS-1 with the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase was similar to that of human regular insulin. (4) As with human regular insulin, 100 nmol of the fungal metabolite wortmannin completely inhibited insulin lispro stimulation of glucose uptake. We concluded that the cellular actions of insulin lispro are similar to those of human regular insulin with respect to glucose and amino acid uptake and that the biochemical signals elicited are also comparable.     

The pleckstrin homology and phosphotyrosine binding domains of insulin receptor substrate 1 mediate inhibition of apoptosis by insulin

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) evoke diverse biological effects through receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins. We investigated the elements of IRS-1 signaling that inhibit apoptosis of interleukin 3 (IL-3)-deprived 32D myeloid progenitor cells. 32D cells have few insulin receptors and no IRS proteins; therefore, insulin failed to inhibit apoptosis during IL-3 withdrawal. Insulin stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase in 32D cells expressing insulin receptors (32DIR) but failed to activate the phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI 3)-kinase cascade or to inhibit apoptosis. By contrast, insulin stimulated the PI 3-kinase cascade, inhibited apoptosis, and promoted replication of 32DIR cells expressing IRS-1. As expected, insulin did not stimulate PI 3-kinase in 32DIR cells, which expressed a truncated IRS-1 protein lacking the tail of tyrosine phosphorylation sites. However, this truncated IRS-1 protein, which retained the NH2-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) and phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains, mediated phosphorylation of PKB/akt, inhibition of apoptosis, and replication of 32DIR cells during insulin stimulation. These results suggest that a phosphotyrosine-independent mechanism mediated by the PH and PTB domains promoted antiapoptotic and growth actions of insulin. Although PI 3-kinase was not activated, its phospholipid products were required, since LY294002 inhibited these responses. Without IRS-1, a chimeric insulin receptor containing a tail of tyrosine phosphorylation sites derived from IRS-1 activated the PI 3-kinase cascade but failed to inhibit apoptosis. Thus, phosphotyrosine-independent IRS-1-linked pathways may be critical for survival and growth of IL-3-deprived 32D cells during insulin stimulation.     

Impaired insulin signaling in skeletal muscles from transgenic mice expressing kinase-deficient insulin receptors

Transgenic mice which overexpress kinase-deficient human insulin receptors in muscle were used to study the relationship between insulin receptor tyrosine kinase and the in vivo activation of several downstream signaling pathways. Intravenous insulin stimulated insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity by 7-fold in control muscle versus < or = 1.5-fold in muscle from transgenic mice. Similarly, insulin failed to stimulate tyrosyl phosphorylation of receptor beta-subunits or insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) in transgenic muscle. Insulin substantially stimulated IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase in control versus absent stimulation in transgenic muscles. In contrast, insulin-like growth factor 1 modestly stimulated PI 3-kinase in both control and transgenic muscle. The effects of insulin to stimulate p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-fos mRNA expression were also markedly impaired in transgenic muscle. Specific immunoprecipitation of human receptors followed by measurement of residual insulin receptors suggested the presence of hybrid mouse-human heterodimers. In contrast, negligible hybrid formation involving insulin-like growth factor 1 receptors was evident. We conclude that (i) transgenic expression of kinase-defective insulin receptors exerts dominant-negative effects at the level of receptor auto-phosphorylation and kinase activation; (ii) insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity is required for in vivo insulin-stimulated IRS-1 phosphorylation, IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activation, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-fos gene induction in skeletal muscle; (iii) hybrid receptor formation is likely to contribute to the in vivo dominant-negative effects of kinase-defective receptor expression.     

Expression of a dominant-negative mutant human insulin receptor in the muscle of transgenic mice

To examine the in vivo effects of a kinase-deficient mutant human insulin receptor, we used the muscle creatine kinase promoter to express a putative dominant-negative receptor: Ala1134-->Thr (Moller, D. E., Yokota, A., White, M. F., Pazianos, A. G., and Flier, J. S. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 14979-14985) in transgenic mice. Two lines were generated, where receptor expression was restricted to striated muscle and was increased by 5-12-fold in skeletal muscle. Transgenic gluteal muscle insulin receptor kinase activity was reduced by approximately 80% after maximal in vitro insulin stimulation. Glycogen content in this muscle was reduced by 45% in transgenic mice. Insulin levels were approximately 2-fold higher, and glucose concentrations were 12% higher in transgenics fed ad libitum. Transgenic mice exhibited reduced in vivo sensitivity to low dose (0.1 milliunits/g) intravenous insulin. In isolated soleus muscles from transgenics, where mutant receptors were expressed at lower levels, insulin-stimulated receptor kinase activity was reduced by 42%, but insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake was unaffected. These results indicate that (i) overexpression of a kinase-deficient human insulin receptor in muscle causes dominant-negative effects at the level of receptor kinase activation, (ii) impairment of insulin-stimulated muscle receptor tyrosine kinase activity can cause decreased insulin sensitivity in vivo, (iii) kinase-defective receptor mutants may be used to create novel animal models of tissue-specific insulin resistance.     

Anti-apoptotic signaling by a colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor/insulin receptor chimera with a juxtamembrane deletion

The intracellular mechanisms used by insulin and insulin-like growth factors to block programmed cell death are unknown. To identify receptor structures and signaling pathways essential for anti-apoptotic effects on cells, we have created a chimeric receptor (colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor/insulin receptor chimera (CSF1R/IR)) connecting the extracellular, ligand-binding domain of the colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) receptor to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the insulin receptor. Upon activation with CSF-1, the CSF1R/IR phosphorylates itself and intracellular substrates in a manner characteristic of normal insulin receptors. CSF-1 treatment protected cells expressing the CSF1R/IR from staurosporine-induced apoptosis. A chimeric receptor (CSF1R/IRDelta960) with a deletion of 12 amino acids from its juxtamembrane domain was constructed and expressed. CSF-1-treated cells expressing the CSF1R/IRDelta960 are unable to phosphorylate IRS-1 and Shc (Chaika, O. V., Chaika, N., Volle, D. J., Wilden, P. A. , Pirrucello, S. J., and Lewis, R. E. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 11968-11974). CSF-1 stimulated glucose uptake, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3' kinase in cells expressing the CSF1R/IR but not in cells expressing the CSF1R/IRDelta960. Surprisingly, the CSF1R/IRDelta960 was as effective as the CSF1R/IR in mediating CSF-1 protection of cells from staurosporine-induced apoptosis. These observations indicate that the anti-apoptotic effects of the insulin receptor cytoplasmic domain can be mediated by signaling pathways distinct from those requiring IRS-1 and Shc.     

Identification of sds22 as an inhibitory subunit of protein phosphatase-1 in rat liver nuclei

sds22 was originally identified in yeast as a regulator of protein phosphatase-1 that is essential for the completion of mitosis. We show here that a structurally related mammalian polypeptide (41.6 kDa) is part of a 260-kDa species of protein phosphatase-1. This holoenzyme, designated PP-1N(sds22), could be immunoprecipitated with sds22 antibodies and was retained by microcystin-Sepharose. PP-1N(sds22) is a latent phosphatase, but its activity could be revealed by the proteolytic destruction of the noncatalytic subunit(s). PP-1N(sds22) accounted for only 5-10% of the total activity of PP-1 in rat liver nuclear extracts. A synthetic 22-mer peptide, corresponding to a leucine-rich repeat of sds22, specifically inhibited the catalytic subunit of PP-1, showing that at least part of the latency stems from the interaction of the sds22 repeat(s) with PP-1C.     

Homozygous deletions of the CDKN2 gene and loss of heterozygosity of 9p in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

To examine the role of phosphorylation of the elongation factor eEF-1 in regulation of translation, 32P-labeled 3T3-L1 cells were deprived of serum, then incubated in the presence or absence of 10 nM insulin for 15 min. eEF-1 was purified by affinity chromatography on tRNA-Sepharose and shown to be phosphorylated on the alpha, beta and delta subunits. Phosphorylation of eEF-1alpha was stimulated sixfold in response to insulin, beta was stimulated fourfold and delta was threefold. The rate of elongation assayed with eEF-1 from insulin-stimulated cells was over twofold greater than with eEF-1 from serum-deprived cells. When eEF-1 from insulin-treated cells was subjected to two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping, nine phosphopeptides were obtained with the alpha subunit, one with the beta subunit and three with the delta subunit. When compared with phosphopeptide maps of alpha, beta and delta subunits of eEF-1 phosphorylated in vitro by the insulin-stimulated multipotential protein kinase, the maps of the beta and delta subunits were identical. Five phosphopeptides obtained with the alpha subunit in vivo were identical to those obtained with S6 kinase in vitro; the remainder were unique. To examine whether protein kinase C had a role in phosphorylation of eEF-1 in response to insulin, protein kinase C was down-regulated by prolonged exposure of 3T3-L1 cells to 4beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Phosphorylation of the alpha, beta and delta subunits was stimulated 2.5-fold in response to insulin, with elongation activity stimulated to a similar extent, suggesting that protein kinase C had no effect on stimulation of elongation in response to insulin. Thus, stimulation of eEF-1 activity in response to insulin appears to be mediated primarily by multipotential S6 kinase. This data is consistent with previous studies on stimulation of initiation via phosphorylation of initiation factors by multipotential S6 kinase [Morley, S. J. & Traugh, J. A. (1993) Biochemie (Paris) 95, 985-989].     

Vitamin D3 and ceramide reduce the invasion of tumor cells through extracellular matrix components by elevating protein phosphatase-2A

Increasing phosphorylation reactions by protein kinase A (PKA) or reducing dephosphorylation reactions of protein phosphatase-2A (PP-2A) increases the invasiveness of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells, as measured by their capacity to traverse extracellular matrix (ECM)-coated filters. Metastatic LLC-LN7 variants have reduced PP-2A activity when compared to nonmetastatic LLC-C8 variants. Immunoblotting showed that this reduced level of PP-2A activity was not due to reduced levels of the PP-2A catalytic (C) subunit. The cellular PP-2A activity could be stimulated by addition of C2-ceramide to LLC-LN7 lysates, or by incubating cells with either C2-ceramide or with a noncalcemic analog of vitamin D3, which has previously been shown to stimulate the release of ceramide. These treatments to elevate PP-2A activity in metastatic LLC-LN7 cells resulted in a decline in their capacity to invade through select (ECM) components, particularly through vitronectin and laminin. Underscoring the importance of PP-2A in limiting the invasiveness of tumor cells was the demonstration that LLC-LN7 cell transfectants overexpressing the PP-2A C alpha subunit were less invasive through ECM components than the wild-type cells. Invasion by these cells was further reduced by additionally increasing PP-2A activity by incubation with C2-ceramide or the vitamin D3 analog. These results suggest a role of a vitamin D3/ceramide/PP-2A pathway in limiting the invasiveness of tumor cells through select ECM components.