Mutant Insulin Receptor Research Articles

Use of mutant insulin receptors in structure-function studies of insulins.

insulin receptor, hIR, in 1985 much work has been done to increase our understanding of the molecular mechanism of insulin action. Our interest has been mainly focused on the first step in the process, i.e. binding of insulin to the receptor. The insulin receptor is a membrane glycoprotein which is synthesized from a single-chain precursor. The processing of the receptor involves dimerization of the proreceptors, cleavage of the proreceptors to a disulphide-bridged a& structure and cell-specific modification of the carbohydrate. The a-subunits (molecular weight 125 kDa) are completely extracellular, whereas the P-subunits (molecular weight 90 kDa) contain a hydrophobic a-helix typical of a membrane spanning domain. Crosslinking studies indicate that insulin binds to the a-subunit. The binding of insulin is thought to induce a conformational change in the receptor which is somehow transmitted through the cell membrane, giving rise to autophosphorylation of a number of tyrosine residues and activation of the ability of the receptor to act as a kinase towards other substrates. This in turn gives rise to a cascade of effects on transport and metabolism of glucose and other metabolic substrates. In our efforts to gain an understanding of the binding process we are pursuing two strategies. The first is to express the soluble extracellular domain of the insulin receptor, SIR, in quantities for crystallization and X-ray structure determination, and for characterization by standard chemical techniques. The other is to locate the binding site by construction of chimeric receptors (Fig. 1). Soluble insulin receptor, SIR, has been produced in milligram quantities and purified to > 98% purity by affinity chromatography on insulinagarose [ 11. The affinity purification procedure has been developed specifically for this purpose since existing methods all suffered from too low capacity. We coupled insulin to the activated agarose through the R1-amino group as this is located at the oppo-

Alterations in insulin receptor and substrate phosphorylation in hypertensive rats.

Insulin stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and of an endogenous substrate of approximately 185 kd (insulin receptor substrate 1 or IRS-1) in most cell types. Tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor and of IRS-1 have been implicated in insulin signal transmission based on studies with insulin receptor mutants. In the study presented here, the levels and phosphorylation state of the insulin receptor and IRS-1 in liver and muscle after insulin stimulation in vivo have been examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by immunoblotting with antipeptide antibodies to insulin receptor and IRS-1 and antiphosphotyrosine antibodies. It was found that the levels of insulin receptor and IRS-1 protein in liver and muscle are similar in controls (Wistar-Kyoto rats) and SHR. By contrast, there is a decrease in autophosphorylation in the liver and muscle of SHR and a parallel decrease in phosphorylation of IRS-1. These data indicate that reduced insulin receptor kinase activity and reduced substrate phosphorylation may play an important role in the impaired insulin action in the hypertensive rat.

Enhanced insulin-induced mitogenesis and mitogen-activated protein kinase activities in mutant insulin receptors with substitution of two COOH-terminal tyrosine autophosphorylation sites by phenylalanine.

We have studied the function of a mutant human insulin receptor in which two COOH-terminal autophosphorylation sites (Tyr-1316 and -1322) were replaced by phenylalanine (F/Y COOH-terminal 2 tyrosines (CT2)). In addition, we have also constructed a mutant receptor in which Lys-1018 in the ATP-binding site was changed to arginine (R/K 1018). Both the wild type insulin receptor (HIR) and the mutant receptors were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by stable transfection. Autophosphorylation of solubilized and partially purified F/Y CT2 was decreased by approximately 30% compared with the HIR. Tyrosine kinase activities of F/Y CT2 and HIR toward exogenous substrates were almost equal. When CHO cells transfected with F/Y CT2 (CHO-F/Y CT2) were stimulated with insulin, autophosphorylation of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor and the phosphorylation of an endogenous substrate (pp185) in the intact cell were normal compared with cells expressing HIR (CHO-HIR). CHO-F/Y CT2 exhibited the same insulin sensitivity as CHO-HIR with respect to 2-deoxyglucose uptake. However, the dose-response curve of insulin-stimulated thymidine incorporation in CHO-F/Y CT2 was shifted to the left (approximately 5-7-fold) compared with that in CHO-HIR. There was no significant difference in insulin-like growth factor 1-stimulated thymidine incorporation between CHO-F/Y CT2 and CHO-HIR. Furthermore, the dose-response curve of insulin-stimulated kinase activity toward myelin basic protein in CHO-F/Y CT2 was also shifted to the left (approximately 5-fold) compared with that in CHO-HIR. Kinase assays in myelin basic protein-containing gels revealed that both species of MAP kinases (M(r) 44,000, 42,000) were more sensitive to activation by insulin in CHO-F/Y CT2 than in CHO-HIR. This observation was confirmed in immune complex kinase assays toward microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) using specific antibodies against mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. R/K 1018 mutant insulin receptors showed an absence of insulin-stimulated kinase activity and CHO cells transfected with R/K 1018 (CHO-R/K 1018) failed to enhance 2-deoxyglucose uptake or thymidine incorporation in response to insulin. In addition, R/K 1018 kinase-defective insulin receptors were unable to mediate insulin-stimulated MAP kinase activation. These data suggest that: 1) tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor is required for activation of insulin-stimulated MAP kinases and 2) phosphorylation of COOH-terminal tyrosine residues may play an inhibitory role in mitogenic signaling through regulation of MAP kinases.

Activation of insulin receptor signaling by a single amino acid substitution in the transmembrane domain.

The insulin receptor is a ligand-activated tyrosine kinase composed of two alpha and two beta subunits. A single transmembrane domain composed of 23 hydrophobic residues is contained in each beta subunit. We examined the role of the transmembrane domain in regulating insulin receptor signaling by inserting a negatively charged amino acid (Asp) for Val938 (V938D). Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were stably transfected with a plasmid containing both the neomycin-resistance gene and either the wild-type or the mutant (V938D) insulin receptor cDNA. Insulin binding increased similarly in CHO cells stably transfected with the wild-type and the V938D-mutant insulin receptor cDNA. Insulin stimulated glucose transport and cell growth in cells expressing the normal insulin receptor. By contrast, in the absence of insulin, glucose transport and cell growth in CHO-V938D cells were as high as in insulin-stimulated control cells and no longer responsive to insulin stimulation. Phosphorylation of the beta subunit of the insulin receptor was also increased in CHO-V938D cells not exposed to insulin. These results support an essential role of the transmembrane domain of the insulin receptor in the transduction of insulin signaling.

Insulin receptor and insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT 4) mutations and polymorphisms in a Welsh type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic population.

We have recently examined the exons encoding the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase domain and GLUT 4 in 30 subjects with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus using a molecular scanning approach. The variant sequences Val-Met985 and Lys-Glu1068 of the insulin receptor and Val-Ile383 of GLUT 4 were each separately found in three different diabetic subjects. In a study of a Welsh population, the GLUT 4(383) variant was found in three of 160 diabetic and none of the 80 control subjects. In this study, the same group of Welsh Type 2 diabetic and control subjects was analysed using allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridisation, single nucleotide primer extension and allele-specific restriction digestion to ascertain the frequency of the two insulin receptor mutations. The Val-Met985 mutation was found in none of the 160 Welsh Caucasian Type 2 diabetic subjects and two of 80 control subjects. The Lys-Glu1068 mutation removes a Sty 1 site and digestion of amplified exon 18 with Sty 1 confirmed the presence of the mutation in the heterozygous state in the original subject. None of the Welsh diabetic or control subjects had the Glu1068 mutation. The discovery of a very common silent polymorphism at codon 130 of GLUT 4 allowed examination of the association of this locus with Type 2 diabetes using allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridisation in a subset of the Welsh subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intracellular signaling by a mutant human insulin receptor lacking the carboxyl-terminal tyrosine autophosphorylation sites.

We have recently characterized a mutant insulin receptor (Y/F2) in which the two tyrosines in the carboxyl terminus (Tyr1316, Tyr1322) were mutated to phenylalanine. Compared with wild type receptors, the Y/F2 receptor exhibited markedly enhanced sensitivity to insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis with normal insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (Takata, Y., Webster, N. J. G., and Olefsky, J. M. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 9135-9139). In this paper, we present further evidence for the divergence of the metabolic and mitogenic signaling pathways utilized by the insulin receptor. The mutant receptor showed normal sensitivity and responsiveness for insulin-stimulated glucose incorporation into glycogen. The insulin sensitivity for phosphorylation of two substrates (pp180 and pp220) was the same in both Y/F2 cells and HIRc cells. Phosphotyrosine content, however, was greater in Y/F2 cells than in HIRc cells, especially in the basal state. Insulin stimulated S6 kinase activity 2-6-fold, with an ED50 of -10 nM in Rat 1 cells and 0.5 nM in HIRc cells. The sensitivity to insulin was enhanced in Y/F2 cells with an ED50 of 0.1 nM. These effects were insulin-specific, since insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I-stimulated mitogenesis was normal. In summary: 1) Y/F2 receptors exhibit normal metabolic and enhanced mitogenic signaling; 2) the enhanced mitogenic signaling is specific for the insulin receptor in the Y/F2 cells, since IGF-I-stimulated mitogenesis is normal; 3) Y/F2 cells display increased endogenous substrate phosphorylation and augmented insulin-stimulated S6 kinase activity placing these responses among insulin's mitogenic effects; and 4) these results are consistent with the concept that the COOH-terminal tyrosine residues of the insulin receptor are normally inhibitory to mitogenic signaling.

Cysteine 647 in the insulin receptor is required for normal covalent interaction between alpha- and beta-subunits and signal transduction.

We have investigated the structural and functional properties of two mutant insulin receptors in which Cys647 and Cys682,683,685 have been replaced with Ser (IRS647 and IRS682,683,685, respectively). Compared with the wild-type receptor (IRWT), both mutant receptors displayed altered sensitivities to dithiothreitol with respect to insulin binding and reduction of oligomeric forms. Subunit composition of the oligomeric forms of the receptors as determined by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 125I-labeled receptors indicated that Cys682,683,685 are required for normal heterotetrameric structure and that Cys647 plays a major role in the normal covalent association of the alpha- and beta-subunits. Under nonreducing conditions, the affinity-labeled IRS647 migrated, almost exclusively, as a 230-kDa species which appeared to represent an alpha 2 form of the receptor. Furthermore, Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing IRS647 did not exhibit basal or insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation, suggesting that Cys647 is also required for signal transduction.

Detection of mutations in the insulin receptor gene in patients with insulin resistance by analysis of single-stranded conformational polymorphisms.

We analyzed single-stranded conformational polymorphisms to screen for mutations and polymorphisms in the insulin receptor gene in subjects with or without insulin resistance. Using this new technique, we demonstrated the existence of mutations in the insulin receptor gene which we had identified previously. In addition, a new mutation was found in exon 20 of the insulin receptor gene in a patient with moderate insulin resistance associated with morbid obesity, acanthosis nigricans, and polycystic ovary syndrome. The patient was heterozygous for a mutation substituting Leu (CTG) for Pro (CCG) at codon 1178. Pro1178 is a part of a characteristic sequence motif (D1150 F1151 G1152---A1177 P1178 E1179) common to many protein kinases. Analysis of single-stranded conformational polymorphisms was also used to estimate the frequency of a polymorphism at codon 1058. The two codons CAC (1058 His) and CAT (1058 His) both had a prevalence of 50% in 30 Japanese subjects. These data demonstrate that analysis of single-stranded conformational polymorphisms is a simple and sensitive screening method for mutations and polymorphisms in the insulin receptor gene in subjects with or without insulin resistance. Identification of a mutation in the insulin receptor gene in a patient with a moderate degree of insulin resistance associated with morbid obesity suggests that insulin receptor mutations may exist in patients with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus associated with a moderate degree of insulin resistance.

Mutant insulin receptors in syndromes of insulin resistance.

Mutant insulin receptors in syndromes of insulin resistance.

Insulin receptor signaling through non-tyrosine kinase pathways: evidence from anti-receptor antibodies and insulin receptor mutants.

Although there is general agreement that insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity mediates many of the actions of insulin, two types of studies suggest that non-tyrosine kinase dependent pathways may also exist. First, both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the receptor have been shown to mediate many of insulin's actions with little or no stimulation of receptor kinase. Second, insulin receptor mutants, with reduced or no tyrosine kinase activity, have been shown to mediate several actions of insulin. Non-tyrosine kinase pathways that could signal insulin effects through the insulin receptor include non-covalent activation of G proteins, phospholipase Cs, or docking proteins such as IRS-1. Further studies on the chemical structures of phospholipids and their hydrolysis products involved in insulin action will be required to sort out the underlying mechanisms of insulin action via non-tyrosine kinase dependent pathways.

Rapid and simultaneous detection of multiple mutations by pooled and multiplex single nucleotide primer extension: application to the study of insulin-responsive glucose transporter and insulin receptor mutations in non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

The application of molecular scanning techniques to the detection of potentially pathogenic mutations in candidate genes in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes has revealed a number of molecular variants of uncertain pathophysiologic significance. The determination of the significance of such variants requires large-scale population studies of the prevalence of the mutant in affected and control groups. Herein, we describe two adaptations of the technique of single nucleotide primer extension (SNuPE) which allow the simultaneous examination of large numbers of alleles at multiple loci. The usefulness of these adaptations is illustrated by their application to the simultaneous detection of three point mutations, two in the tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor and one in the insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4) in a highly insulin-resistant NIDDM population. By pooling genomic or amplified DNA and performing the SNuPE reactions with three primers of different length we could readily examine 300 alleles on a single 20 lane gel. Using pooled SNuPE, we also examined a large British Caucasian control population for the prevalence of GLUT4 Ile383, a variant which has previously been reported only in NIDDM. GLUT4 Ile383 was detected in 2/42 of the highly insulin-resistant NIDDM subjects and 4/240 middle-aged blood donors. Family studies and examination of the expressed mutant transporter will be necessary to establish whether this mutation is of functional significance. Pooled and multiplex SNuPE are powerful techniques with wide applicability to population genetic studies of specific mutations.

Insulin stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity maps to insulin receptor regions required for endogenous substrate phosphorylation.

We have studied the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PtdIns 3-kinase) in insulin-stimulated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing normal (CHO/IR) and mutant human insulin receptors. Insulin stimulation of CHO/IR cells results in an increase in PtdIns 3-kinase activity associated with anti-phosphotyrosine (alpha PY) immunoprecipitates, which has been previously shown to correlate with the in vivo production of PtdIns(3,4)P2, and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 (Ruderman, N., Kapeller, R., White, M.F., and Cantley, L.C. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 1411-1415). Stimulation was maximal within 1 min and showed a dose response identical to that of insulin receptor autophosphorylation. The PtdIns 3-kinase also associated with the insulin receptor in an insulin-stimulated manner, as approximately 50% of the total alpha PY-precipitable activity could be specifically immunoprecipitated with anti-insulin receptor antibody. Mutant insulin receptors displayed variable ability to stimulate the PtdIns 3-kinase, but in all cases the presence of PtdIns 3-kinase in alpha PY immunoprecipitates correlated closely with the tyrosyl phosphorylation of the endogenous substrate pp185. In CHO cells expressing a kinase-deficient mutant (IRA1018), there was no observable insulin stimulation of PtdIns 3-kinase activity in alpha PY immunoprecipitates and no tyrosyl phosphorylation of pp185. Substitution of Tyr1146 in the insulin receptor regulatory region with phenylalanine partially impaired receptor autophosphorylation, pp185 phosphorylation, and insulin-stimulated increases in alpha PY-precipitable PtdIns 3-kinase activity. In contrast, a deletion mutant lacking 12 amino acids from the juxtamembrane region (IR delta 960) displayed normal in vivo autophosphorylation but failed to stimulate the PtdIns 3-kinase or phosphorylate pp185. Finally, a mutant receptor from which the C-terminal 43 amino acids had been deleted (IR delta CT) exhibited normal insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation, pp185 phosphorylation, and stimulation of the PtdIns 3-kinase activity in alpha PY immunoprecipitates. These data suggest that the PtdIns 3-kinase is itself a substrate of the insulin receptor kinase or associates preferentially with a substrate. A comparison of the biological activities of the mutant receptors with their activation of the PtdIns 3-kinase furthermore suggests that the PtdIns 3-kinase may be linked to insulin's ability to regulate DNA synthesis and cell growth.

Immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding protein binds to misfolded mutant insulin receptors with mutations in the extracellular domain.

Cell-surface proteins are transported through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus en route to the plasma membrane. Previously, we have identified three point mutations in the insulin receptor gene that impair transport of the mutant receptors to the cell surface: Asn15----Lys, His209----Arg, and Phe382----Val. Furthermore, these mutations impair post-translational processing steps that normally occur as the receptors are transported through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. In this study, we have demonstrated that the unprocessed Arg209 and Val382 mutant proreceptors are bound to the immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding protein (BiP) in the endoplasmic reticulum. This was demonstrated by the fact that monoclonal anti-BiP antibody coimmunoprecipitated the mutant proreceptors. Moreover, when ATP was added to the immunoprecipitates, the mutant proreceptors were released from BiP. In contrast, neither the normal human insulin receptor nor the Lys15 mutant proreceptor was coimmunoprecipitated by anti-BiP antibody. It seems likely that the Lys15 receptor also binds BiP, but that the affinity was too low to resist dissociation during the stringent washing of the immunoprecipitate. In conclusion, these observation are consistent with the hypothesis that binding to BiP explains the impaired transport of mutant receptors through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane.

Identification of a Point Mutation of the Insulin Receptor Gene in a Patient with Extreme Insulin Resistance, and Analysis of a Mutant Insulin Receptor Expressed by Transfection of a Mutant cDNA

Identification of a Point Mutation of the Insulin Receptor Gene in a Patient with Extreme Insulin Resistance, and Analysis of a Mutant Insulin Receptor Expressed by Transfection of a Mutant cDNA

Phosphorylation in vitro of the 85 kDa subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and its possible activation by insulin receptor tyrosine kinase

Insulin causes a dramatic and rapid increase in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in the anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates of cells overexpressing the human insulin receptor. This enzyme may therefore be a mediator of insulin signal transduction [Endemann, Yonezawa & Roth (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 396-400; Ruderman, Kapeller, White & Cantley (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 1411-1415]. At least two questions remain to be elucidated. Firstly, does the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase directly, or does it phosphorylate a protein associated with the 3-kinase? Second, if the enzyme is a direct substrate for the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, does tyrosine phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase by the kinase alter the specific enzyme activity, or does the amount of the tyrosine-phosphorylated form of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase increase, with no change in the specific activity? We report here evidence that the 85 kDa subunit of highly purified phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is phosphorylated on the tyrosine residue by the activated normal insulin receptor in vitro, but not by a mutant insulin receptor which lacks tyrosine kinase activity. We found that an increase in enzyme activity was detected in response to insulin not only in the anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates of the cytosol, but also in the cytosolic fraction before immunoprecipitation. In addition, we partially separated the tyrosine-phosphorylated form from the unphosphorylated form of the enzyme, by using a f.p.l.c. Mono Q column. The insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity was mainly detected in the fraction containing almost all of the tyrosine-phosphorylated form. This result suggests that tyrosine phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase by the insulin receptor kinase may increase the specific activity of the former enzyme in vivo.

A leucine to proline mutation at position 233 in the insulin receptor inhibits cleavage of the proreceptor and transport to the cell surface

We have previously shown that a homozygous mutation encoding a substitution of proline for leucine at position 233 in the insulin receptor is linked with the syndrome of leprechaunism, being a lethal form of insulin resistance in newborn children. Specific binding of insulin and insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor are nearly absent in fibroblasts from the leprechaun patient. To examine the molecular basis of the observed insulin receptor abnormalities, CHO cell lines overexpressing mutant insulin receptors were made by transfection. The results show that the mutation inhibits cleavage and transport of the proreceptor from intracellular sites to the cell surface. As the mutant receptor is poorly precipitated by two different monoclonal antibodies recognizing epitopes on undenatured wild-type alpha-subunits, the mutation probably affects overall folding of the alpha-subunit. The mutant proreceptor is unable to bind insulin and exhibits no insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation. These data explain the abnormalities seen in the patient's fibroblasts. Pulse-chase labeling experiments on transfected cells show that the mutant precursor has an extended half-life (approximately 5 h) compared to the precursor of wild-type insulin receptors (approximately 2 h). This mutation is the first example of a naturally occurring mutation in the insulin receptor which completely blocks cleavage of the proreceptor and transport to the cell surface.

Mutations in the Juxtamembrane Region of the Insulin Receptor Impair Activation of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase by Insulin

CHO/IRF960/T962 cells express a mutant human insulin receptor in which Tyr960 and Ser962 in the juxtamembrane region of the receptor's beta-subunit are replaced by Phe and Thr, respectively. The mutant insulin receptor undergoes autophosphorylation normally in response to insulin; however, insulin fails to stimulate thymidine incorporation into DNA, glycogen synthesis, and tyrosyl phosphorylation of an endogenous substrate pp185 in these cells. Another putative substrate of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (Ptdlns 3-kinase). We have previously shown that Ptdlns 3-kinase activity in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the wild-type human insulin receptor (CHO/IR) increases in both antiphosphotyrosine [anti-Tyr(P)] immunoprecipitates and intact cells in response to insulin. In the present study a new technique (detection of the 85-kDa subunit of Ptdlns 3-kinase using [32P]phosphorylated polyoma virus middle T-antigen as probe) is used to monitor the Ptdlns 3-kinase protein. The 85-kDa subunit of Ptdlns 3-kinase is precipitated by anti-Tyr(P) antibodies from insulin-stimulated CHO/IR cells, but markedly less protein is precipitated from CHO/IRF960/T962 cells. The amount of Ptdlns 3-kinase activity in the immunoprecipitates was also reduced in the CHO/IRF960/T962 cells compared to CHO/IR cells. In intact CHO/IRF960/T962 cells, insulin failed to stimulate phosphate incorporation into one of the products of activated Ptdlns 3-kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate [Ptdlns(3,4)P2], whereas it caused a 12-fold increase in CHO/IR cells. In contrast, phosphate incorporation into another product, phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate [PtdlnsP3], was only partially depressed in the CHO/IRF960/T962 cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The insulin receptor functions normally in Chinese hamster ovary cells after truncation of the C terminus

We studied the structure and function of the human insulin receptor (IR) and a mutant which lacked the last 43 amino acids of the beta-subunit (IR delta ct). This deletion removed tyrosine (Tyr1322, Tyr1316) and threonine (Thr1336) phosphorylation sites. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, insulin binding to the mutant receptor was normal, and [35S]methionine labeling indicated that both the IR and IR delta ct were processed normally; however, the beta-subunit of IR delta ct was 5 kDa smaller than that of the IR. The time course of insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the partially purified IR delta ct was normal, but the maximum autophosphorylation was reduced 20-30%. Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping confirmed the absence of the C-terminal phosphorylation sites and indicated that phosphorylation of the regulatory region (Tyr1146, Tyr1150, Tyr1151) occurred normally; kinase activity of the IR and IR delta ct was activated normally by insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation. In the intact CHO cells, insulin-stimulated serine and threonine phosphorylation of the IR delta ct was reduced 20%, suggesting that most Ser/Thr phosphorylation sites are located outside of the C terminus. During insulin stimulation, the wild-type and mutant insulin receptor activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Moreover, insulin itself or human-specific anti-insulin receptor antibodies stimulated glycogen and DNA synthesis equally in both CHO/IR and CHO/IR delta ct cells. These data suggest that the C terminus plays a minimal role in IR function and signal transmission in CHO cells.

Biologic activities of naturally occurring human insulin receptor mutations. Evidence that metabolic effects of insulin can be mediated by a kinase-deficient insulin receptor mutant

We have studied insulin receptor-mediated signaling in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell transfectants that expressed either of two naturally occurring mutant human insulin receptors: Trp1200----Ser1200 and Ala1134----Thr1134. Compared with overexpressed normal human insulin receptors, both mutant receptors displayed normal processing and normal binding affinity; however, neither was capable of detectable insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation or tyrosine kinase activity toward endogenous (pp185) or exogenous substrates. Several biologic actions of insulin were evaluated in transfected cells. Compared with neomycin-only transfected CHO cells (CHO-NEO), cells expressing normal receptors demonstrated increased insulin sensitivity for 2-deoxyglucose uptake, [14C]glucose incorporation into glycogen, [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and specific gene expression (accumulation of glucose transporter GLUT-1 mRNA). Cells expressing either Ser1200 or Thr1134 receptors showed no increase in insulin-stimulated thymidine incorporation or GLUT-1 mRNA accumulation compared with CHO-NEO. Surprisingly, cells expressing Ser1200 receptors showed increased insulin stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake and glucose incorporation into glycogen compared with CHO-NEO, whereas Thr1134 receptors failed to signal these metabolic responses. We conclude that 1) transfected kinase-deficient insulin receptor mutants derived from insulin-resistant patients have distinct defects in the ability to mediate insulin action in vitro; 2) divergence of insulin signaling pathways may occur at the level of the receptor; and 3) normal activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase by insulin is not necessarily required for signaling of certain important biologic actions.

Mutation of the two carboxyl-terminal tyrosines results in an insulin receptor with normal metabolic signaling but enhanced mitogenic signaling properties

Our previous studies have shown that the deletion of the insulin receptor carboxyl terminus impairs metabolic, but augments mitogenic, signaling (McClain, D. A., Maegawa, H., Levy, J., Huecksteadt, T., Dull, T. J., Lee, J., Ullrich, A., and Olefsky, J. M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 8904-8911; Thies, R.S., Ulrich, A., and McClain, D. A. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 12820-12825). To explore further the regulatory role of the insulin receptor carboxyl terminus, a mutant insulin receptor was constructed in which the two tyrosines (Y1316 and Y1322) on the carboxyl terminus were replaced with phenylalanines. Rat 1 fibroblasts expressing high levels of this mutant receptor (Y/F2 cells) exhibited normal insulin binding and normal insulin internalization. The absence of the two tyrosines in the carboxyl terminus did not affect the phosphotransferase activity of the beta-subunit and insulin-stimulated glucose transport. However, the Y/F2 cells showed markedly enhanced sensitivity for insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis. Dose-response curves for both insulin-stimulated thymidine uptake and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation in the Y/F2 cell lines were shifted to the left (4-10-fold) compared with those observed in the cells expressing similar numbers of wild type receptors. Thus, the two tyrosines of the insulin receptor carboxyl terminus do not modulate the kinase function of the insulin receptor, although they are autophosphorylated in native receptors. Moreover, these tyrosines are not necessary for stimulation of glucose transport. On the other hand, these results suggest that the two carboxyl-terminal tyrosine residues exert an inhibitory effect on mitogenic signaling in native insulin receptors.