Insulin Receptor Protein Tyrosine Kinase Research Articles

New perspectives for targeting therapy in ALK-positive human cancers.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a member of the insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinase superfamily and was first discovered in anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). ALK alterations, including fusions, over-expression and mutations, are highly associated with cancer initiation and progression. This kinase plays an important role in different cancers, from very rare to the more prevalent non-small cell lung cancers. Several ALK inhibitors have been developed and received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. However, like other drugs used in targeted therapies, ALK inhibitors inevitably encounter cancer cell resistance. Therefore, monoclonal antibody screening based on extracellular domain or combination therapies may provide viable alternatives for treating ALK-positive tumors. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of wild-type ALK and fusion protein structures, the pathological functions of ALK, ALK target therapy, drug resistance and future therapeutic directions.

Identification of Novel Structurally Diverse Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors Based on Pharmacophore Modeling, Virtual Screening and Molecular Docking.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase, an insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinase, is a very attractive receptor protein target for anticancer therapy. This study was undertaken to identify novel structurally diverse anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors. Pharmacophore hypotheses modeling, virtual screening and molecular docking were used to detect potential inhibitors of anaplastic lymphoma kinase in this paper. After the generation of ten pharmacophore hypotheses, Hypo1 with the highest correlation value (0.981), lowest RMS (0.565), highest cost difference (83.850) along with four typical chemical features was regarded as the best hypothesis. Hypo1 contains a hydrogen bond acceptor, a hydrogen bong donor, a hydrophobic and a ring aromatic feature. And then, hypo1 was validated and used to screen three databases after screened by Lipinski's rule of five. 3015 hits screened by Hypo1 were submitted to molecular docking based on the crystal structure of anaplastic lymphoma kinase. all the seven molecules formed hydrogen bond interaction with Met1199 as well as formed several other hydrogen bond interactions with different residues. All of them formed Van Der Waals interaction with hydrophobic pocket which made up of residues of Ala1148, Leu1256, Leu1196, Leu1198 Val1130 and Val1180. Some of them also formed van der Waals interaction in somewhere else of protein pocket.

PTP1B and TCPTP – nonredundant phosphatases in insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis

Insulin resistance is a key pathological feature of type 2 diabetes and is characterized by defects in signaling by the insulin receptor (IR) protein tyrosine kinase. The inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) that antagonize IR signaling may provide a means for enhancing the insulin response and alleviating insulin resistance. The prototypic phosphotyrosine-specific phosphatase PTP1B dephosphorylates the IR and attenuates insulin signaling in muscle and liver. Mice that are deficient for PTP1B exhibit improved glucose homeostasis in diet and genetic models of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The phosphatase TCPTP shares 72% catalytic domain sequence identity with PTP1B and has also been implicated in IR regulation. Despite their high degree of similarity, PTP1B and TCPTP act together in vitro and in vivo to regulate insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis. This review highlights their capacity to act specifically and nonredundantly in cellular signaling, describes their roles in IR regulation and glucose homeostasis, and discusses their potential as drug targets for the enhancement of IR phosphorylation and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes.

T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) deficiency in muscle does not alter insulin signalling and glucose homeostasis in mice.

Insulin activates insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase and downstream phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signalling in muscle to promote glucose uptake. The insulin receptor can serve as a substrate for the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B and T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP), which share a striking 74% sequence identity in their catalytic domains. PTP1B is a validated therapeutic target for the alleviation of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. PTP1B dephosphorylates the insulin receptor in liver and muscle to regulate glucose homeostasis, whereas TCPTP regulates insulin receptor signalling and gluconeogenesis in the liver. In this study we assessed for the first time the role of TCPTP in the regulation of insulin receptor signalling in muscle. We generated muscle-specific TCPTP-deficient (Mck-Cre;Ptpn2(lox/lox)) mice (Mck, also known as Ckm) and assessed the impact on glucose homeostasis and muscle insulin receptor signalling in chow-fed versus high-fat-fed mice. Blood glucose and insulin levels, insulin and glucose tolerance, and insulin-induced muscle insulin receptor activation and downstream PI3K/Akt signalling remained unaltered in chow-fed Mck-Cre;Ptpn2(lox/lox) versus Ptpn2(lox/lox) mice. In addition, body weight, adiposity, energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis were not altered in high-fat-fed Mck-Cre;Ptpn2(lox/lox) versus Ptpn2(lox/lox) mice. These results indicate that TCPTP deficiency in muscle has no effect on insulin signalling and glucose homeostasis, and does not prevent high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. Thus, despite their high degree of sequence identity, PTP1B and TCPTP contribute differentially to insulin receptor regulation in muscle. Our results are consistent with the notion that these two highly related PTPs make distinct contributions to insulin receptor regulation in different tissues.

Insulin Signal Mimicry as a Mechanism for the Insulin-Like Effects of Vanadium

Among several metals, vanadium has emerged as an extremely potent agent with insulin-like properties. These insulin-like properties have been demonstrated in isolated cells, tissues, different animal models of type I and type II diabetes as well as a limited number of human subjects. Vanadium treatment has been found to improve abnormalities of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and of gene expression in rodent models of diabetes. In isolated cells, it enhances glucose transport, glycogen and lipid synthesis, and inhibits gluconeogenesis and lipolysis. The molecular mechanism responsible for the insulin-like effects of vanadium compounds have been shown to involve the activation of several key components of insulin-signaling pathways that include the mitogen-activated-protein kinases (MAPKs) extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38MAPK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/protein kinase B (PKB). It is interesting that the vanadium effect on these signaling systems is independent of insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity, but it is associated with enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1. These actions seem to be secondary to vanadium-induced inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases. Because MAPK and PI3-K/PKB pathways are implicated in mediating the mitogenic and metabolic effects of insulin, respectively, it is plausible that mimicry of these pathways by vanadium serves as a mechanism for its insulin-like responses.

Bisubstrate analog probes for the insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase: Molecular yardsticks for analyzing catalytic mechanism and inhibitor design

Bisubstrate analogs have the potential to provide enhanced specificity for protein kinase inhibition and tools to understand catalytic mechanism. Previous efforts led to the design of a peptide–ATP conjugate bisubstrate analog utilizing aminophenylalanine in place of tyrosine and a thioacetyl linker to the γ-phosphate of ATP which was a potent inhibitor of the insulin receptor kinase (IRK). In this study, we have examined the contributions of various electrostatic and structural elements in the bisubstrate analog to IRK binding affinity. Three types of changes (seven specific analogs in all) were introduced: a Tyr isostere of the previous aminophenylalanine moiety, modifications of the spacer between the adenine and the peptide, and deletions and substitutions within the peptide moiety. These studies allowed a direct evaluation of the hydrogen bond strength between the anilino nitrogen of the bisubstrate analog and the enzyme catalytic base Asp and showed that it contributes 2.5 kcal/mol of binding energy, in good agreement with previous predictions. Modifications of the linker length resulted in weakened inhibitory affinity, consistent with the geometric requirements of an enzyme-catalyzed dissociative transition state. Alterations in the peptide motif generally led to diminished inhibitory potency, and only some of these effects could be rationalized based on prior kinetic and structural studies. Taken together, these results suggest that a combination of mechanism-based design and empirical synthetic manipulation will be necessary in producing optimized protein kinase bisubstrate analog inhibitors.

Insulin Decreases the Secretion of apoB-100 from Hepatic HepG2 Cells but Does Not Decrease the Secretion of apoB-48 from Intestinal CaCo-2 Cells

We compared the acute effect of insulin on the human colonic intestinal epithelial cell line CaCo-2 and the transformed human hepatic cell line HepG2. Over 24 h, 100 nM and 10 µM insulin significantly inhibited the secretion of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 from HepG2 cells to 63 and 49% of control, respectively. Insulin had no effect on the secretion of apoB-48 from CaCo-2 cells. There was no effect of insulin on the cholesterol ester or free cholesterol concentrations in HepG2 or CaCo-2 cells. HepG2 and CaCo-2 cells bound insulin with high affinity, leading to similar stimulation of insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase activation. Protein kinase C or mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in the presence or absence of insulin was not correlated with apoB-48 production in CaCo-2 cells. Therefore, insulin acutely decreases the secretion of apoB-100 in hepatic HepG2 cells, but does not acutely modulate the production or secretion of apoB-48 from CaCo-2 intestinal cells.

Insulin decreases the secretion of apoB-100 from hepatic HepG2 cells but does not decrease the secretion of apoB-48 from intestinal CaCo-2 cells

We compared the acute effect of insulin on the human colonic intestinal epithelial cell line CaCo-2 and the transformed human hepatic cell line HepG2. Over 24 h, 100 nM and 10 microM insulin significantly inhibited the secretion of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 from HepG2 cells to 63 and 49% of control, respectively. Insulin had no effect on the secretion of apoB-48 from CaCo-2 cells. There was no effect of insulin on the cholesterol ester or free cholesterol concentrations in HepG2 or CaCo-2 cells. HepG2 and CaCo-2 cells bound insulin with high affinity, leading to similar stimulation of insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase activation. Protein kinase C or mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in the presence or absence of insulin was not correlated with apoB-48 production in CaCo-2 cells. Therefore, insulin acutely decreases the secretion of apoB-100 in hepatic HepG2 cells, but does not acutely modulate the production or secretion of apoB-48 from CaCo-2 intestinal cells.

Decreased erythrocyte insulin binding in hypertensive subjects with hyperinsulinemia

Background This study investigates erythrocyte insulin receptor binding and affinity in subjects with hypertension and hyperinsulinemia. Insulin receptor-binding function has not been extensively studied in hypertensive subjects. Methods Insulin receptor density, binding affinity, and protein tyrosine kinase activity were measured in erythrocytes from 18 hypertensive and 16 normotensive subjects. Insulin sensitivity was measured by the fasting plasma insulin/glucose ratio and the homeostatic assessment model algorithm (HOMA) index. Erythrocyte insulin binding was determined by a competitive binding assay and protein tyrosine kinase activity was measured by an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay technique. Results Fasting plasma insulin/glucose ratio and the insulin resistance index (HOMA) were significantly higher in the hypertensive versus normotensive subjects. Receptor saturation of the high affinity binding sites (Bmax) was reduced in the hypertensive versus control subjects. The Kd values were lower in the erythrocytes from hypertensive than control subjects. Insulin-induced protein tyrosine kinase activity was decreased in erythrocytes from hypertensive versus control subjects. Conclusions A reduced erythrocyte insulin receptor density and tyrosine protein kinase activity may reflect insulin receptor dysfunction in hypertensive individuals who have insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. More information is needed examining insulin receptor function in other target tissues such as fat or skeletal muscle cells before defects in the insulin receptor can be firmly proposed as a cause of the metabolic syndrome.

Phosphotyrosine specifies the phosphorylation by protein kinase CK2 of a peptide reproducing the activation loop of the insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase

Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous Ser/Thr-specific protein kinase responsible for the phosphorylation of many proteins implicated in signal transduction. It phosphorylates both threonyl and seryl residue(s) of the insulin receptor β-subunit. In this study, a series of peptides, reproducing all the threonyl sites of the intracellular domain of the insulin receptor that display the consensus sequence for CK2, has been synthesized and used as substrate for purified rat liver CK2. The only peptide readily phosphorylated is the one reproducing the activation loop of the insulin receptor (EIYET 1160DYYA), including three tyrosines (Y1158, Y1162 and Y1163) whose phosphorylation through an intermolecular autocatalytic process promotes the activation of the receptor kinase. The phosphorylation efficiency of T1160 is increased almost 20-fold if these three tyrosines are previously phosphorylated. By using variably phosphorylated peptides, the tyrosine mainly responsible for such a hierarchical phosphorylation process has been identified as Y1163. It can be concluded, from these data, that T1160 situated in the activation loop of the insulin receptor, represents an excellent target for CK2, its phosphorylation being triggered by the previous autophosphorylation of the three tyrosyl residues surrounding it, with special reference to Y1163. These data are consistent with the implication of CK2 in the regulation of the activation process of the insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase.

Comparative phosphorylation kinetics of the human insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinase domain and an enzymatically competent deletion construct - the tail could wag the dog

Comparative phosphorylation kinetics of the human insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinase domain and an enzymatically competent deletion construct - the tail could wag the dog

Expression, Characterization, and Crystallization of the Catalytic Core of the Human Insulin Receptor Protein-tyrosine Kinase Domain

The deduced primary sequence of the cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor contains a conserved kinase homology region (receptor residues 1002-1257) flanked by a juxtamembrane region and a C-terminal tail. A soluble 48-kDa derivative (residues 959-1355) containing these regions but lacking the first six residues of the juxtamembrane region had earlier been synthesized in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus expression system. The catalytic core of the kinase domain was studied first by proteolytic analysis of the 48-kDa kinase and then by expressing a series of truncated kinase domains in transiently transfected COS cells. Based on these studies, two core kinases of 34 (residues 985-1283) and 35 (residues 978-1283) kDa, respectively, were overexpressed in Sf9 cells. Biochemical characterization of the 35-kDa kinase revealed that the core kinase conserved the major functional properties of the native receptor kinase domain. Activity of the 35-kDa kinase toward a synthetic peptide increased more than 200-fold upon autophosphorylation, which occurred exclusively at Tyr-1158, Tyr-1162, and Tyr-1163; the largest increase was observed between bis- and trisphosphorylation of the kinase. The activated 35- and 48-kDa kinases were similar with respect to specific activity and ATP and Mg2+ requirements for peptide phosphorylation. Moreover, autophosphorylation appeared to initiate predominantly at Tyr-1162, immediately followed by phosphorylation at Tyr-1158 and then at Tyr-1163. The rate of autophosphorylation was dependent on enzyme concentration, consistent with a trans-phosphorylation mechanism. Finally, the 35-kDa kinase was crystallized, making possible elucidation of its three-dimensional structure by x-ray crystallography.

Structural determinants of substrate selection by the human insulin-receptor protein-tyrosine kinase.

Using NMR spectroscopy to visualise tyrosine phosphorylation kinetics in real time, we have investigated the sequence-dependent determinants of the selectivity of the human insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinase for different tyrosine residues. The peptides used encompass the multiple-tyrosine-containing autophosphorylation site sequences from the insulin receptor kinase core domain (Tyr1158, Tyr1162 and Tyr1163) and from its specific C-terminal tail domain (Tyr1328 and Tyr1334). Comparison of the phosphorylation kinetics with those found for the tyrosine residues on a peptide comprising the regulatory tyrosine phosphorylation site of cdc2 points to the role of the primary sequence context of the phosphate acceptor. The particularly deleterious influence of a basic residue immediately C-terminal to the tyrosine is discussed in relation to the autophosphorylation properties of the regulatory loop regions of the insulin and epidermal growth factor receptor kinases. The data further suggest that receptor tyrosine kinase active sites and their substrate targets act in concert to ensure that specific downstream effects are activated.

Annexin I as a Potential Inhibitor of Insulin Receptor Protein Tyrosine Kinase

Insulin receptor (IR) purified from human placenta by wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography was incubated in the presence of insulin, [γ-32P]ATP and annexin I. In parallel to its own tyrosine phosphorylation, annexin I promoted a dose-dependent inhibition of IR autophosphorylation (IC50 0.5 μM). This effect was specific for insulin-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity and required the N-terminal end of the protein containing the phosphorylatable Tyr21 residue. A pentadecapeptide encompassing residues 16-30 of human annexin I displayed a similar activity, but at higher concentrations. These data underscore a specific interaction of IR with annexin I, which should be considered as a potential physiological regulator of the effects of insulin on its target tissues.

Regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase by insulin in rat skeletal muscle.

The presence of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) in mammalian skeletal muscle and its response to insulin stimulation were investigated. PI kinase, immunoprecipitated from rat soleus muscle with antibodies directed toward its 85-kDa subunit phosphorylated PI, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate [PI(4)P], and phosphatidylinositol 4,5,-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] to yield phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PI(3)P], phosphatidylinositol 3,4,-bisphosphate, and phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate in vitro. PI 3-kinase activity was also immunoprecipitated with antiphosphotyrosine [alpha-Tyr(P)] antibodies and with antibodies raised against IRS-1, a substrate of the insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase that associates with and activates PI 3-kinase. Incubation of the soleus with insulin in vitro, or injection of insulin into rats in vivo, produced three- to fivefold increases in alpha-Tyr(P)- and alpha-IRS-1-immunoprecipitable PI 3-kinase activity. In nonstimulated soleus muscle, PI 3-kinase activity immunoprecipitated with alpha-IRS-1 or with alpha-Tyr(P) antibodies was evenly distributed between particulate (200,000-g pellet) and soluble fractions. Insulin treatment increased immunoprecipitable PI 5-kinase activity in both fractions, but the increase in alpha-Tyr-(P)-precipitable activity was greater in the particulate fraction, whereas the increase in alpha-IRS-1-precipitable activity was greater in the soluble fraction. In intact soleus muscles incubated with 32PO4, insulin increased the labeling of PI(3)P but did not affect the labeling of PI(4)P or PI(4,5)P2. Activation of PI 3-kinase by insulin was unaffected by prior denervation of the muscle, a manipulation that has been shown to cause both insulin resistance and hypersensitivity in muscles, depending on the parameter measured.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The role of COOH-terminal and acidic domains in the activity and stability of human insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase studied by purified deletion mutants of the beta subunit domain.

We have previously expressed the human insulin receptor beta subunit domain containing transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains (IRTMTPK) in insect cells, and showed that the purified IRTMTPK was highly active (Li, S. L., Yan, P.-F., Pax, I. B., and Fujita-Yamaguchi, Y. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 12455-12462). To investigate the role of COOH-terminal and acidic domains of the insulin receptor kinase, we have expressed deletion mutants IRTMTPK delta CT (delta 76 amino acids) and IRTMTPK delta Acid (delta 19 amino acids). Both enzymes were purified by a one-step method using the same immunoaffinity column as used for IRTMTPK. While Km and Vmax for prephosphorylated IRTMTPK and delta Acid mutant enzyme determined using poly(Glu, Tyr)(4:1) were similar, catalytic efficiency of the delta CT mutant enzyme was significantly lower than those of IRTMTPK and delta Acid mutant enzyme as judged by Km and Vmax. Experiments for thermostability and susceptibility to proteases revealed that Tm of delta CT mutant enzyme was 3.5 degrees C lower than that of IRTMTPK enzyme (= 33.3 degrees C) and that delta CT mutant enzyme was digested by either trypsin or Lys-C into a 28,000 core domain much faster than IRTMTPK. Activation of delta CT mutant enzyme by polylysine was less significant than that of IRTMTPK and delta Acid mutant enzyme, approximately 4-versus approximately 17-fold. These studies suggested that the COOH-terminal domain plays important roles in both catalytic efficiency and stability of the insulin receptor kinase, and that the acidic domain by itself is not responsible for kinase activation by polylysine.

Human insulin receptor beta-subunit transmembrane/cytoplasmic domain expressed in a baculovirus expression system: purification, characterization, and polylysine effects on the protein tyrosine kinase activity.

We have expressed, purified, and characterized the insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) retaining the transmembrane and downstream domains. The proteins expressed in insect cells using a baculovirus expression system were identified as membrane-bound by immunofluorescence staining and biochemical characterization. One-step purification by immunoaffinity chromatography from Triton X-100 cell extracts resulted in a approximately 360-fold increase in the specific kinase activity with a yield of approximately 50%. An appMr = approximately 60,000 protein was the major component identified by both silver staining of the purified enzyme and immunostaining of the crude extracts after separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. Using nondenaturing conditions, the molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 250,000 and approximately 500,000 by glycerol gradient centrifugation and gel permeation chromatography, respectively, suggesting that oligomers of the beta-subunit domains such as tetramers and octamers are formed. The basal PTK activity of this enzyme was much higher than those of previously reported soluble-form insulin receptor PTKs expressed in insect cells or the native receptor. Km and Vmax for two substrates, src-related peptide and poly(Glu, Tyr) (4:1), were 2.4 mM and 2.5 mumol min-1 mg-1 and 0.26 mM and 1.2 mumol min-1 mg-1, respectively. Specific activities measured under two previously reported conditions using histone H2B as a substrate were 100 or 135 nmol min-1 mg-1, in contrast to those of soluble PTKs which were reported to be 20 or 70 nmol min-1 mg-1, respectively. The purified enzyme was autophosphorylated at Tyr residues. Autophosphorylation activated the enzyme approximately 3-fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tissue-specific expression of the rat insulin receptor-related receptor gene.

Characterization of genomic DNA encoding the insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR) previously revealed that the predicted IRR protein is closely related to the insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I receptor protein-tyrosine kinases. Using rat IRR genomic DNA as probe, IRR transcripts were detected by Northern blot analysis in RNA from rat kidney, stomach, and thymus, but not in RNA from other tissues, including skeletal muscle, brain, intestine, and uterus. Primer extension analysis using RNA from stomach revealed a single transcriptional start site 29 basepairs down-stream from a putative TATA box and 544 basepairs up-stream of the initiator methionine codon. Amplification of IRR cDNA by polymerase chain reaction and isolation of partial IRR cDNA clones confirmed that the IRR gene is an expressed gene.

Deletion of approximately 10 kDa from the carboxyl terminus of a soluble approximately 48-kDa insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinase results in slower rates of diphosphorylation of a series of dodecapeptide substrates. An assessment by 1H NMR

Autophosphorylation of a soluble approximately 48-kDa derivative of the insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinase is accompanied by an increase in its specific activity towards exogenous substrates. In the present study, we have utilized 1H NMR to compare the order and rate of mono- and diphosphorylation of multiple tyrosine residues in a series of synthetic dodecapeptide substrates (based on the receptor sequence, which includes major sites of autophosphorylation (RRDIYETDYYRK), with substitution(s) at positions 6 and/or 7 based on residue size and/or charge) by the approximately 48-kDa enzyme and by a approximately 38-kDa enzyme generated by tryptic deletion of approximately 10 kDa from the carboxyl terminus of the approximately 48-kDa protein. Both enzymes exhibit a marked order and progression of phosphorylation of peptide tyrosine residues; for each peptide, phosphorylation initiates and proceeds to completion first on tyrosine 9, followed by phosphorylation on tyrosine 10. Although removal of the carboxyl terminus does not affect the rate of monophosphorylation of these peptides on tyrosine 9, the smaller enzyme exhibits a slower rate of diphosphorylation (at tyrosine 10), as compared with the approximately 48-kDa enzyme.

Autophosphorylation of soluble insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinases. 1H NMR spectral changes observed during phosphorylation of mobile tyrosine residues

Autophosphorylation of a soluble approximately 48-kDa derivative of the insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinase occurs at multiple tyrosine residues (analogous to tyrosines 1158, 1162, and 1163 in the kinase homology region of the native receptor and tyrosines 1328 and 1334 in the carboxyl-terminal tail) and is accompanied by an increase in the specific activity of the enzyme toward exogenous substrates. A comparison of 1H NMR spectra of approximately 48- and approximately 38-kDa forms of enzyme (the latter generated by tryptic deletion of approximately 10 kDa from the carboxyl terminus of the approximately 48-kDa protein) allows a correlation of observed mobile tyrosine resonances to two of the known sites of autophosphorylation (residues 1328 and 1334). Furthermore, spectra acquired during autophosphorylation of the approximately 48-kDa enzyme reveal a rapid downfield shift in the resonances of these mobile tail tyrosines consistent with their phosphorylation (as confirmed by two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping performed under identical conditions). This experimental strategy now provides a means by which to monitor protein-tyrosine kinase autophosphorylation in solution in real time.