Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 Ubiquitination Research Articles

Effects of Exercise, Metformin, Pioglitazone and Exenatide Treatment on Inflammation Induced Insulin Resistance and Ubiquitin Proteasome System in Diabetes and Obesity

Purpose: The aim of this study is; To examine the destruction of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) molecule, which is one of the mechanisms that cause insulin resistance in diabetes and obesity, and its effect to reduce this destruction. For this purpose, the effects of exercise, metformin, exenatide and pioglitazone treatments on IRS-1 ubiquitination in pancreas, muscle and adipose tissue were investigated in an obese and diabetic animal model.Method: Obese rat model was used in this study. This model is characterised by obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of IRS-1 breakdown in diabetes. IRS1, SOCS1, SOC3 expressions were evaluated in the liver, muscle and adipose tissue of this model. At the same time, immunohistochemical analyses were performed in terms of IRS1, SOCS1 and SOCS3 in the same tissues.Results: Gene expression and Immunohistochemical analysis results were evaluated, the increase in IRS1 was noticeable in rats treated with exenatide, especially in the liver tissue despite the greater decrease in SOCS1 (P> 0.05). It was determined that other drugs in this study and used in the treatment of diabetes may also affect this mechanism to different degrees.Conclusion: Our findings showed that some drugs used in the treatment of diabetes may alter the SOCS effect and / or proteasomal degradation of the IRS-1 protein. This effect was particularly pronounced in liver tissue. However, more comprehensive studies are required to show the contribution of ubiquitination in the destruction of IRS-1 and which drugs are effective on this mechanism.Acknowledgement: This study was supported by the Scientific And Tecnological Research Council Of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) Project No: 217S089

Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A ameliorates insulin resistance in neurons by up-regulating IRS-1 expression

Insulin resistance in the brain is a pathological mechanism that is shared between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although aberrant expression and phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) contribute to insulin resistance, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we used several approaches, including adeno-associated virus-based protein overexpression, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, and in situ proximal ligation assays, to investigate the function of dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) in IRS-1 regulation and the downstream insulin signaling in neurons. We found that DYRK1A overexpression up-regulated IRS-1 expression by slowing turnover of the IRS-1 protein. We further observed that DYRK1A directly interacted with IRS-1 and phosphorylated IRS-1's multiple serine residues. Of note, DYRK1A and IRS-1 were coordinately up-regulated in the prefrontal cortex of db/db mice brain. Furthermore, DYRK1A overexpression ameliorated chronic high insulin-induced insulin resistance in SH-SY5Y cells as well as in primary rat neurons. These findings suggest that DYRK1A protects against insulin resistance in the brain by elevating IRS-1 expression.

MG53-IRS-1 (Mitsugumin 53-Insulin Receptor Substrate-1) Interaction Disruptor Sensitizes Insulin Signaling in Skeletal Muscle

Mitsugumin 53 (MG53) is an E3 ligase that interacts with and ubiquitinates insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in skeletal muscle; thus, an MG53-IRS-1 interaction disruptor (MID), which potentially sensitizes insulin signaling with an elevated level of IRS-1 in skeletal muscle, is an excellent candidate for treating insulin resistance. To screen for an MID, we developed a bimolecular luminescence complementation system using an N-terminal luciferase fragment fused with IRS-1 and a C-terminal luciferase fragment fused with an MG53 C14A mutant that binds to IRS-1 but does not have E3 ligase activity. An MID, which was discovered using the bimolecular luminescence complementation system, disrupted the molecular association of MG53 with IRS-1, thus abolishing MG53-mediated IRS-1 ubiquitination and degradation. Thus, the MID sensitized insulin signaling and increased insulin-elicited glucose uptake with an elevated level of IRS-1 in C2C12 myotubes. These data indicate that this MID holds promise as a drug candidate for treating insulin resistance.

N-myristoylated ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b inhibitor prevents on glucocorticoid-induced atrophy in mouse skeletal muscle

A DGpYMP peptide mimetic of tyrosine608-phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), named Cblin, was previously shown to significantly inhibit Cbl-b-mediated IRS-1 ubiquitination. In the present study, we developed N-myristoylated Cblin and investigated whether it was effective in preventing glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy. Using HEK293 cells overexpressing Cbl-b, IRS-1 and ubiquitin, we showed that the 50% inhibitory concentrations of Cbl-b-mediated IRS-1 ubiquitination by N-myristoylated Cblin and Cblin were 30 and 120μM, respectively. Regarding the DEX-induced atrophy of C2C12 myotubes, N-myristoylated Cblin was more effective than Cblin for inhibiting the DEX-induced decreases in C2C12 myotube diameter and IRS-1 degradation. The inhibitory efficacy of N-myristoylated Cblin on IRS-1 ubiquitination in C2C12 myotubes was approximately fourfold larger than that of Cblin. Furthermore, N-myristoylation increased the incorporation of Cblin into HEK293 cells approximately 10-folds. Finally, we demonstrated that N-myristoylated Cblin prevented the wet weight loss, IRS-1 degradation, and MAFbx/atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 expression in gastrocnemius muscle of DEX-treated mice approximately fourfold more effectively than Cblin. Taken together, these results suggest that N-myristoylated Cblin prevents DEX-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in vitro and in vivo, and that N-myristoylated Cblin more effectively prevents muscle atrophy than unmodified Cblin.

MG53-induced IRS-1 ubiquitination negatively regulates skeletal myogenesis and insulin signalling

Mitsugumin 53 (MG53) negatively regulates skeletal myogenesis by targeting insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1). Here, we show that MG53 is an ubiquitin E3 ligase that induces IRS-1 ubiquitination with the help of an E2-conjugating enzyme, UBE2H. Molecular manipulations that disrupt the E3-ligase function of MG53 abolish IRS-1 ubiquitination and enhance skeletal myogenesis. Skeletal muscles derived from the MG53-/- mice show an elevated IRS-1 level with enhanced insulin signalling, which protects the MG53-/- mice from developing insulin resistance when challenged with a high-fat/high-sucrose diet. Muscle samples derived from human diabetic patients and mice with insulin resistance show normal expression of MG53, indicating that altered MG53 expression does not serve as a causative factor for the development of metabolic disorders. Thus, therapeutic interventions that target the interaction between MG53 and IRS-1 may be a novel approach for the treatment of metabolic diseases that are associated with insulin resistance.

Liver kinase b1 is required for white adipose tissue growth and differentiation.

White adipose tissue (WAT) is not only a lipogenic and fat storage tissue but also an important endocrine organ that regulates energy homeostasis, lipid metabolism, appetite, fertility, and immune and stress responses. Liver kinase B1 (LKB1), a tumor suppressor, is a key regulator in energy metabolism. However, the role of LKB1 in adipogenesis is unknown. The current study aimed to determine the contributions of LKB1 to adipogenesis in vivo. Using the Fabp4-Cre/loxP system, we generated adipose tissue–specific LKB1 knockout (LKB1ad−/−) mice. LKB1ad−/− mice exhibited a reduced amount of WAT, postnatal growth retardation, and early death before weaning. Further, LKB1 deletion markedly reduced the levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α, and phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Consistent with these results, overexpression of constitutively active AMPK partially ablated IRS1 degradation in LKB1-deficient cells. LKB1 deletion increased the levels of F-box/WD repeat-containing protein (Fbw) 8, the IRS1 ubiquitination E3 ligase. Silencing of Fbw8 increased IRS1 levels. Finally, promoter analysis and DNA chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis identified three sterol regulatory element (SRE) sites in the Fbw8 promoter, where SRE-binding protein 1c binds and induces the expression of Fbw8. Taken together, these data indicate that LKB1 controls IRS1-dependent adipogenesis via AMPK in WAT.

Identification of the Degradation Determinants of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 for Signaling Cullin-RING E3 Ubiquitin Ligase 7-mediated Ubiquitination

Negative feedback regulation of insulin signaling involves ubiquitin-dependent degradation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1). Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 7 (CRL7) mediates the ubiquitination of IRS1 in hyperphosphorylated form. Multisite IRS1 phosphorylation triggers interactions with CRL7 for ubiquitin modification. Insulin signaling is self-restrained when its downstream effector kinases are hyperactivated to trigger the negative feedback inhibition. Hyperactivation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and its effector kinase S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) is known to trigger multisite seryl phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), leading to its ubiquitination and degradation. This negative feedback inhibition functions to restrain PI3K activity and plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of cancer and type II diabetes. Recent work has implicated a role for cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 7 (CRL7) in targeting IRS1 for mTORC1/S6K1-dependent degradation. In the present study we have employed both cell-based degradation and reconstituted ubiquitination approaches to define molecular features associated with IRS1 critical for CRL7-mediated ubiquitination and degradation. We have mapped IRS1 degradation signal sequence to its N-terminal 574 amino acid residues, of which the integrity of Ser-307/Ser-312 and Ser-527, each constituting a S6K1 phosphorylation consensus site, was indispensible for supporting CRL7-forced degradation. In vitro, S6K1 was able to support the ubiquitination of bacterially expressed IRS1 N-terminal fragment by CRL7 but at low levels. In contrast, CRL7 supported efficient ubiquitination of IRS1 N-terminal fragment in hyperphosphorylated form, which was isolated from infected insect cells, suggesting requirement of additional phosphorylation by kinases yet to be identified. Finally, removal of IRS1 amino acids 1-260 led to substantial reduction of ubiquitination efficiency, suggesting a role for this region in mediating productive interactions with CRL7. The requirement of multisite phosphorylation and the N terminus of IRS1 for its turnover may ensure that complete IRS1 degradation occurs only when mTORC1 and S6K1 reach exceedingly high levels.

Activation of Akt through 5-HT2A receptor ameliorates serotonin-induced degradation of insulin receptor substrate-1 in adipocytes

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) was found to be elevated in the serum of diabetic patients. In this study, we investigate the mechanism of insulin desensitization caused by 5-HT. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, 5-HT treatment induced the translocation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) from low density microsome (LDM), the important intracellular compartment for its functions, to cytosol, inducing IRS-1 ubiquitination and degradation. Moreover, inhibition of 5-HT-stimulated Akt activation by either ketanserin (a specific 5-HT2A receptor antagonist) or knocking-down the expression of 5-HT2A receptor promoted 5-HT-stimulated IRS-1 dissociation from 14-3-3β in LDM, leading to drastic ubiquitination. Interestingly, sarpogrelate, another antagonist of 5-HT2A receptor, protected IRS-1 from degradation through activation of Akt. This implicates the importance of Akt activation in extending IRS-1 life span through maintaining their optimal sub-location into adipocytes. Taken together, this study suggest that activation of Akt may be able to compensate the adverse effects of 5-HT by stabilizing IRS-1 in LDM.

Degradation of IRS1 leads to impaired glucose uptake in adipose tissue of the type 2 diabetes mouse model TALLYHO/Jng

The TALLYHO/Jng (TH) mouse strain is a polygenic model for type 2 diabetes (T2D) characterized by moderate obesity, impaired glucose tolerance and uptake, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia. The goal of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the reduced glucose uptake and insulin resistance in the adipose tissue of this model. The translocation and localization of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to the adipocyte plasma membrane were impaired in TH mice compared to control C57BL6/J (B6) mice. These defects were associated with decreased GLUT4 protein, reduced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, and alterations in the phosphorylation status of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1). Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2, which can phosphorylate IRS1 on Ser307, was significantly higher in TH mice compared with B6 controls. IRS1 protein but not mRNA levels was found to be lower in TH mice than controls. Immunoprecipitation with anti-ubiquitin and western blot analysis of IRS1 protein revealed increased total IRS1 ubiquitination in adipose tissue of TH mice. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1, known to promote IRS1 ubiquitination and subsequent degradation, was found at significantly higher levels in TH mice compared with B6. Immunohistochemistry showed that IRS1 colocalized with the 20S proteasome in proteasomal structures in TH adipocytes, supporting the notion that IRS1 is actively degraded. Our findings suggest that increased IRS1 degradation and subsequent impaired GLUT4 mobilization play a role in the reduced glucose uptake in insulin resistant TH mice. Since low-IRS1 levels are often observed in human T2D, the TH mouse is an attractive model to investigate mechanisms of insulin resistance and explore new treatments.

Ubiquitin Ligase Cbl-b Downregulates Bone Formation Through Suppression of IGF-I Signaling in Osteoblasts During Denervation

Unloading can prevent bone formation by osteoblasts. To study this mechanism, we focused on a ubiquitin ligase, Cbl-b, which was highly expressed in osteoblastic cells during denervation. Our results suggest that Cbl-b may mediate denervation-induced osteopenia by inhibiting IGF-I signaling in osteoblasts. Unloading, such as denervation (sciatic neurectomy) and spaceflight, suppresses bone formation by osteoblasts, leading to osteopenia. The resistance of osteoblasts to growth factors contributes to such unloading-mediated osteopenia. However, a detailed mechanism of this resistance is unknown. We first found that a RING-type ubiquitin ligase, Cbl-b, was highly expressed in osteoblastic cells after sciatic neurectomy in mice. In this study, we reasoned that Cbl-b played an important role in the resistance of osteoblasts to IGF-I. Cbl-b-deficient (Cbl-b(-/-)) or wildtype (Cbl-b(+/+)) mice were subjected to sciatic neurectomy. Bone formation in these mice was assessed by calcein labeling and histomorphometric analyses. We examined IGF-I signaling molecules in femora of these mice by Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. We also examined the mitogenic response of Cbl-b-overexpressing or -deficient osteoblastic cells to various growth factors. In Cbl-b(+/+) mice, denervation decreased femur mass and bone formation, whereas it increased the expression of Cbl-b protein in osteoprogenitor cells and in osteocalcin-positive cells (osteoblastic cells) in hindlimb bone. In contrast, in Cbl-b(-/-) mice, bone mass and bone formation were sustained during denervation. Denervation inhibited the mitogenic response of osteoprogenitor cells most significantly to IGF-I. Therefore, we focused on Cbl-b-mediated modification of IGF-I signaling. Denervation decreased the amounts of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), phosphatidly inositol 3-phosphate kinase (PI3K), and Akt-1 proteins in femora of Cbl-b(+/+) mice, whereas the amounts of these IGF-I signaling molecules in femora of Cbl-b(-/-) mice were constant after denervation. On a cellular level, primary osteoblastic cells from Cbl-b(-/-) mice were more stimulated to proliferate by IGF-I treatment compared with those from Cbl-b(+/+) mice. Furthermore, overexpression of Cbl-b increased ubiquitination and degradation of IRS-1 in primary Cbl-b(-/-) osteoblastic cells, leading to their impaired mitogenic response to IGF-I. These results suggest that Cbl-b induces resistance of osteoblasts to IGF-I during denervation by increasing IRS-1 degradation and that Cbl-b-mediated modification of IGF-I signaling may contribute to decreased bone formation during denervation.

Retinoic acid mediates degradation of IRS-1 by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway, via a PKC-dependant mechanism

Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) mediates signaling from the insulin-like growth factor type-I receptor. We found that all-trans retinoic acid (RA) decreases IRS-1 protein levels in MCF-7, T47-D, and ZR75.1 breast cancer cells, which are growth arrested by RA, but not in the RA-resistant MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells. Based on prior reports of ubiquitin-mediated degradation of IRS-1, we investigated the ubiquitination of IRS-1 in RA-treated breast cancer cells. Two proteasome inhibitors, MG-132 and lactacystin, blocked the RA-mediated degradation of IRS-1, and RA increased ubiquitination of IRS-1 in the RA-sensitive breast cancer cells. In addition, we found that RA increases serine phosphorylation of IRS-1. To elucidate the signaling pathway responsible for this phosphorylation event, pharmacologic inhibitors were used. Two PKC inhibitors, but not a MAPK inhibitor, blocked the RA-induced degradation and serine phosphorylation of IRS-1. We demonstrate that RA activates PKC-delta in the sensitive, but not in the resistant cells, with a time course that is consistent with the RA-induced decrease of IRS-1. We also show that: (1) RA-activated PKC-delta phosphorylates IRS-1 in vitro, (2) PKC-delta and IRS-1 interact in RA-treated cells, and (3) mutation of three PKC-delta serine sites in IRS-1 to alanines results in no RA-induced in vitro phosphorylation of IRS-1. Together, these results indicate that RA regulates IRS-1 levels by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, involving a PKC-sensitive mechanism.

Estrogen receptor-alpha regulates the degradation of insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 in breast cancer cells.

In breast cancer cells, 17-beta-estradiol (E2) upregulates the expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), a molecule transmitting insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) signals through the PI-3K/Akt survival pathways. The stimulation of IRS-1 by E2 has been documented on the transcriptional level. Here we studied whether the expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha affects IRS molecules post-transcriptionally. We used ER-alpha-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and MDA-MB-231 cells with re-expressed ER-alpha. In MDA-MB-231 cells cultured under serum-free conditions, IRS-1 and IRS-2 were degraded through the 26S proteasome and calpain pathways. Re-expression of ER-alpha in MDA-MB-231 cells correlated with enhanced stability of IRS molecules. This effect coincided with significantly reduced ubiquitination of IRS-1 and IRS-2, but did not involve increased IRS-1 and IRS-2 transcription. The interference of ER-alpha with IRS-1 and IRS-2 turnover could rely on the competition for common degradation pathways, as in MDA-MB-231/ER cells, ER-alpha processing was blocked by proteasome and calpain inhibitors. Notably, a fraction of the cytosolic ER-alpha colocalized and coprecipitated with IRS-1 and IRS-2, indicating a possible common destination for these proteins. The stabilization of IRS-1 in MDA-MB-231/ER cells was paralleled by the upregulation of the IRS-1/Akt/GSK-3 pathway and improved survival in the presence of IGF-I, whereas IRS-2 was not involved in IGF-I signaling.

Insulin-like Growth Factor I-mediated Degradation of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 Is Inhibited by Epidermal Growth Factor in Prostate Epithelial Cells

We have sought to determine whether insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) regulates the levels of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in prostate epithelial cells. Exposure of prostate epithelial cells to IGF-I in the absence of other growth factors leads to a reduction in IRS-1 levels. Ubiquitin content of IRS-1 is increased in the presence of IGF-I, and inhibitors of the proteasome prevented the reduction of IRS-1 levels seen following IGF-I exposure. These results imply that IRS-1 is targeted to the proteasome upon exposure to IGF-I. The addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) maintained IRS-1 levels even in the presence of IGF-I and inhibits IGF-I-dependent ubiquitination of IRS-1. Thus, these two growth factors, IGF-I and EGF, had antagonistic effects on IRS-1 protein levels in prostate epithelial cells. This regulation of IRS-1 reveals a novel level of cross-talk between the IGF-I and EGF signal pathways, which may have implications in tumors that harbor activating mutations in the EGF receptor.