A novel ultra-sensitive enzyme immunoassay for soluble human insulin receptor ectodomain and its measurement in urine from healthy subjects and patients with diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: For the early identification of patients at risk of developing diabetes mellitus, and to prevent the onset of diabetes by performing dietary counseling and exercise guidance, we have developed an ultra-sensitive immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay (ICT-EIA) to measure soluble human insulin receptor ectodomain (sIRalpha) in urine which is collected non-invasively. DESIGN AND METHODS: We developed ICT-EIA for sIRalpha and measured urinary sIRalpha from 106 healthy volunteers, 35 obese volunteers and 42 patients with diabetes. RESULTS: The detection limit of ICT-EIA (0.04 pg/mL), using a urine sample of as little as 100 microL, was a few hundred-fold higher than that of conventional ELISA. Using ICT-EIA, the urinary sIRalpha level in patients with diabetes (9.7+/-20.1 pg/mg creatinine) was significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers (1.4+/-0.9; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: ICT-EIA for sIRalpha may be useful as a good marker for evaluating diabetes risk.


The Rab GTPase-Activating Protein AS160 as a Common Regulator of Insulin- and Gαq-Mediated Intracellular GLUT4 Vesicle Distribution

Akt substrate of 160kDa (AS160) is a Rab GTPase activating protein (GAP) and was recently identified as a component of the insulin signaling pathway of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) translocation. We and others, previously reported that the activation of Galphaq protein-coupled receptors (GalphaqPCRs) also stimulated GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake in several cell lines. Here, we report that the activation of GalphaqPCRs also promoted phosphorylation of AS160 by the 5'-AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). The suppression of AS160 phosphorylation by the siRNA mediated AMPKalpha1 subunit knockdown promoted GLUT4 vesicle retention in intracellular compartments. This suppression did not affect the ratio of non-induced cell surface GLUT4 to Galphaq-induced it. Rat 3Y1 cells lacking AS160 did not show insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation. The cells stably expressing GLUT4 revealed GLUT4 vesicles that were mainly localized in the perinuclear region and less frequently on the cell surface. After expression of exogenous AS160, GLUT4 on the cell surface decreased and GLUT4 vesicles were redistributed throughout the cytoplasm. Although PMA-induced or sodium fluoride-induced GLUT4 translocation was significantly increased in these cells, insulin did not affect GLUT4 translocation. These results suggest that AS160 is a common regulator of insulin- and GalphaqPCR activation-mediated GLUT4 distribution in the cells.


IRS1-Independent Defects Define Major Nodes of Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is a common disorder caused by a wide variety of physiological insults, some of which include poor diet, inflammation, anti-inflammatory steroids, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia. The common link between these diverse insults and insulin resistance is widely considered to involve impaired insulin signaling, particularly at the level of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS). To test this model, we utilized a heterologous system involving the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) pathway that recapitulates many aspects of insulin action independently of IRS. We comprehensively analyzed six models of insulin resistance in three experimental systems and consistently observed defects in both insulin and PDGF action despite a range of insult-specific defects within the IRS-Akt nexus. These findings indicate that while insulin resistance is associated with multiple deficiencies, the most deleterious defects and the origin of insulin resistance occur independently of IRS.


Deficiency of Cbl-b gene enhances infiltration and activation of macrophages in adipose tissue and causes peripheral insulin resistance in mice.

c-Cbl plays an important role in whole-body fuel homeostasis by regulating insulin action. In the present study, we examined the role of Cbl-b, another member of the Cbl family, in insulin action. C57BL/6 (Cbl-b(+/+)) or Cbl-b-deficient (Cbl-b(-/-)) mice were subjected to insulin and glucose tolerance tests and a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp test. Infiltration of macrophages into white adipose tissue (WAT) was assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. We examined macrophage activation using co-cultures of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and peritoneal macrophages. Elderly Cbl-b(-/-) mice developed glucose intolerance and peripheral insulin resistance; serum insulin concentrations after a glucose challenge were always higher in elderly Cbl-b(-/-) mice than age-matched Cbl-b(+/+) mice. Deficiency of the Cbl-b gene significantly decreased the uptake of 2-deoxyglucose into WAT and glucose infusion rate, whereas fatty liver was apparent in elderly Cbl-b(-/-) mice. Cbl-b deficiency was associated with infiltration of macrophages into the WAT and expression of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. Co-culture of Cbl-b(-/-) macrophages with 3T3-L1 adipocytes induced leptin expression and dephosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1, leading to impaired glucose uptake in adipocytes. Furthermore, Vav1, a key factor in macrophage activation, was highly phosphorylated in peritoneal Cbl-b(-/-) macrophages compared with Cbl-b(+/+) macrophages. Treatment with a neutralizing anti-MCP-1 antibody improved peripheral insulin resistance and macrophage infiltration into WAT in elderly Cbl-b(-/-) mice. Cbl-b is a negative regulator of macrophage infiltration and activation, and macrophage activation by Cbl-b deficiency contributes to the peripheral insulin resistance and glucose intolerance via cytokines secreted from macrophages.


Soluble insulin receptor ectodomain is elevated in the plasma of patients with diabetes mellitus.

Insulin binds to the alpha-subunit of the insulin receptor (IRalpha) and subsequently exerts its effects in the cells. The soluble ectodomains of several receptors have been found to circulate in the plasma. Therefore, we hypothesized that soluble human insulin receptor (hIR) ectodomain (alpha-subunit and a part of beta-subunit) may exist in the plasma of diabetic patients. We identified soluble hIR ectodomain in human plasma by a two-step purification followed by immunoblotting and gel-filtration chromatography. Furthermore, we established an hIRalpha-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and measured the plasma IRalpha levels in patients with diabetes. We also investigated this phenomenon in streptozotocin-induced diabetic hIR transgenic mice. Soluble hIRalpha, but not intact hIRbeta or whole hIR, exists in human plasma. The plasma IRalpha levels were significantly higher in type 1 (2.00 +/- 0.60 ng/ml; n = 53) and type 2 (2.26 +/- 0.80; n = 473) diabetic patients than in control subjects (1.59 +/- 0.40 ng/ml; n = 123 (P < 0.001 vs. control). Plasma IRalpha level was positively correlated with blood glucose level, and 10-20% of the insulin in plasma bound to hIRalpha. In the in vivo experiments using diabetic hIR transgenic mice, hyperglycemia was confirmed to increase the plasma hIRalpha level and the half-life estimated to be approximately 6 h. We propose that the increased soluble IR ectodomain level appears to be a more rapid glycemic marker than A1C or glycoalbumin.


Angiotensin II inhibits insulin-induced actin stress fiber formation and glucose uptake via ERK1/2.

There is crosstalk in intracellular signaling between Angiotensin II (Ang II) and insulin. We hypothesized that the underlying mechanism might be related to changes in cytoskeleton. In the presence of 100 nM of Ang II, insulin-induced glucose uptake was decreased and insulin-induced actin filament organization was inhibited. PKC inhibitors, including GF109203x and p38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) neither improved insulin-induced actin reorganization nor glucose uptake. In contrast, the Ang II-induced inhibition of glucose uptake and actin filament disorganization was reversed by 10 micromol ERK 1/2 MAPK inhibitor (PD98059). Pretreatment of Ang II increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and inhibited insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation. The effect of Ang II on ERK1/2 phosphorylation was blocked by Ang II type 1 receptor antagonists, RNH6270 and PD98059 but not by SB203580 or Guanosine-5'-O-(2-ThioDiphosphate), a G-protein inhibitor. We next tested the effect of broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor (GM6001) on Ang II-inhibition of insulin signaling pathway. GM6001 did not improve Ang II-induced actin filament disorganization and did not inhibit ERK1/2 phosphorylation. From these data in L6 myotube, we conclude that Ang II negatively regulates the insulin signal not through MMP signaling pathway but specifically through MMP-independent ERK1/2 activation pathway, providing an alternative molecular mechanism for angiotensin-induced insulin resistance.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


APS-mediated Ubiquitination of the Insulin Receptor Enhances its Internalization but does not Induce its Degradation.

APS, a tyrosine kinase adaptor protein with pleckstrin homology and Src homology 2 domains, is rapidly and strongly tyrosine-phosphorylated by insulin receptor kinase upon insulin stimulation. We have previously shown that APS knockout mice have increased insulin sensitivity, and that this enhancement is possibly due to increased insulin-response on adipose tissues. However, the function of APS in insulin signaling has so far been controversial. Here, we report that APS enhanced ligand-dependent multi-ubiquitination of the insulin receptor (IR) in CHO cells overexpressing the IR. APS-mediated ubiquitination of the IR induced enhancement of the IR internalization, but did not affect the IR degradation. This finding shows one of the pleiotropic functions of APS in insulin signaling.


Intra-islet insulin suppresses glucagon release via GABA-GABA(A) receptor system

Excessive secretion of glucagon is a major contributor to the development of diabetic hyperglycemia. Secretion of glucagon is regulated by various nutrients, with glucose being a primary determinant of the rate of alpha cell glucagon secretion. The intra-islet action of insulin is essential to exert the effect of glucose on the alpha cells since, in the absence of insulin, glucose is not able to suppress glucagon release in vivo. However, the precise mechanism by which insulin suppresses glucagon secretion from alpha cells is unknown. In this study, we show that insulin induces activation of GABA(A) receptors in the alpha cells by receptor translocation via an Akt kinase-dependent pathway. This leads to membrane hyperpolarization in the alpha cells and, ultimately, suppression of glucagon secretion. We propose that defects in this pathway(s) contribute to diabetic hyperglycemia.


Platelet-derived growth factor stimulates glucose transport in skeletal muscles of transgenic mice specifically expressing PDGF receptor in the muscle, but does not affect blood glucose levels

Insulin stimulates the disposal of blood glucose into skeletal muscle and adipose tissues by the translocation of GLUT4 from intracellular pools to the plasma membrane, and consequently the concentration of blood glucose levels decreases rapidly in vivo. Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase and Akt play a pivotal role in the stimulation of glucose transport by insulin, but detailed mechanisms are unknown. We and others reported that not only insulin but also platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and epidermal growth factor facilitate glucose uptake through GLUT4 translocation by activation of PI 3-kinase and Akt in cultured cells. However, opposite results were also reported. We generated transgenic mice that specifically express the PDGF receptor in skeletal muscle. In these mice, PDGF stimulated glucose transport into skeletal muscle in vitro and in vivo. Thus, PDGF apparently shares with insulin some of the signaling molecules needed for the stimulation of glucose transport. The degree of glucose uptake in vivo reached approximately 60% of that by insulin injection in skeletal muscle, but blood glucose levels were not decreased by PDGF in these mice. Therefore, PDGF-induced disposal of blood glucose into skeletal muscle is insufficient for rapid decrease of blood glucose levels.


Protein Phosphatase 2A Negatively Regulates insulin's Metabolic Signaling Pathway by Inhibiting AKT (Protein Kinase B) Activity in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a multimeric serine/threonine phosphatase which has multiple functions, including inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. Simian virus 40 small t antigen specifically inhibits PP2A function by binding to the PP2A regulatory subunit, interfering with the ability of PP2A to associate with its cellular substrates. We have reported that the expression of small t antigen inhibits PP2A association with Shc, leading to augmentation of insulin and epidermal growth factor-induced Shc phosphorylation with enhanced activation of the Ras/MAP kinase pathway. However, the potential involvement of PP2A in insulin's metabolic signaling pathway is presently unknown. To assess this, we overexpressed small t antigen in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer and found that the phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream target, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta, were enhanced both in the absence and in the presence of insulin. Furthermore, protein kinase C lambda (PKC lambda) activity was also augmented in small-t-antigen-expressing 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Consistent with this result, both basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake were enhanced in these cells. In support of this result, when inhibitory anti-PP2A antibody was microinjected into 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we found a twofold increase in GLUT4 translocation in the absence of insulin. The small-t-antigen-induced increase in Akt and PKC lambda activities was not inhibited by wortmannin, while the ability of small t antigen to enhance glucose transport was inhibited by dominant negative Akt (DN-Akt) expression and Akt small interfering RNA (siRNA) but not by DN-PKC lambda expression or PKC lambda siRNA. We conclude that PP2A is a negative regulator of insulin's metabolic signaling pathway by promoting dephosphorylation and inactivation of Akt and PKC lambda and that most of the effects of PP2A to inhibit glucose transport are mediated through Akt.


KATP Channel Knockout Mice Crossbred with Transgenic Mice Expressing a Dominant-Negative Form of Human Insulin Receptor have Glucose Intolerance but not Diabetes

Impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance are thought to be two major causes of type 2 diabetes mellitus. There are two kinds of diabetic model mice: one is a K(ATP) channel knockout (Kir6.2KO) mouse which is defective in glucose-induced insulin secretion, and the other is a transgenic mouse expressing the tyrosine kinase-deficient (dominant-negative form of) human insulin receptor (hIR(KM)TG), and which has insulin resistance in muscle and fat. However, all of these mice have no evidence of overt diabetes. To determine if the double mutant Kir6.2KO/hIR(KM)TG mice would have diabetes, we generated mutant mice by crossbreeding, which would show both impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion and insulin resistance in muscle and fat. We report here that: 1) blood glucose levels of randomly fed and 6 h fasted double mutant (Kir6.2KO/hIR(KM)TG) mice were comparable with those of wild type mice; 2) in intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (ipGTT), Kir6.2KO/hIR(KM)TG mice had an impaired glucose tolerance; and 3) during ipGTT, insulin secretion was not induced in either Kir6.2KO/hIR(KM)TG or Kir6.2KO mice, while the hIR(KM)TG mice showed a more prolonged insulin secretion than did wild type mice; 4) hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp test revealed that Kir6.2KO, Kir6.2KO/hIR(KM)TG and hIR(KM)TG mice, showed decreased whole-body glucose disposal compared with wild type mice; 5) Kir6.2KO, but not Kir6.2KO/hIR(KM)TG mice had some obesity and hyperleptinemia compared with wild type mice. Thus, the defects in glucose-induced insulin secretion (Kir6.2KO) and an insulin resistance in muscle and fat (hIR(KM)TG) were not sufficient to lead to overt diabetes.


Increased Insulin Sensitivity and Hypoinsulinemia in APS Knockout Mice

A tyrosine kinase adaptor protein containing pleckstrin homology and SH2 domains (APS) is rapidly and strongly tyrosine phosphorylated by insulin receptor kinase upon insulin stimulation. The function of APS in insulin signaling has heretofore remained unknown. APS-deficient (APS(-/-)) mice were used to investigate its function in vivo. The blood glucose-lowering effect of insulin, as assessed by the intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test, was increased in APS(-/-) mice. Plasma insulin levels during fasting and in the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test were lower in APS(-/-) mice. APS(-/-) mice showed an increase in the whole-body glucose infusion rate as assessed by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp test. These findings indicated that APS(-/-) mice exhibited increased sensitivity to insulin. However, overexpression of wild-type or dominant-negative APS in 3T3L1 adipocytes did not affect insulin receptor numbers, phosphorylations of insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1, or Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase. The glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation were not affected by insulin stimulation in these cells. Nevertheless, the insulin-stimulated glucose transport in isolated adipocytes of APS(-/-) mice was increased over that of APS(+/+) mice. APS(-/-) mice also showed increased serum levels of leptin and adiponectin, which might explain the increased insulin sensitivity of adipocytes.


Injection of the Insulin receptor alpha subunit increases blood glucose levels in mice

Using the expression vector of the truncated human insulin receptor (hIR), we have constructed a stable Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line which secretes the His-tagged alpha subunit (insulin-binding domain) of hIR into medium. To examine characteristics of the His-tagged hIRalpha, we purified the protein secreted from the CHO cells. The His-tagged hIRalpha was glycosylated and processed a dimer. The molecule bound insulin with an affinity similar to that of the intact hIR. The His-tagged full length of hIR was autophosphorylated by insulin stimulation in CHO cells. Injection of the purified His-tagged hIRalpha into veins of mice increased in the concentration of blood glucose within 30 min. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (ipGTT) done after injection of the purified His-tagged hIRalpha showed evidence of a marked hyperglycemia. These findings provide direct evidence that the presence of hIRalpha in the blood stream inhibits insulin actions by binding with plasma insulin.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications


Use of RNA interference-mediated gene silencing and adenoviral overexpression to elucidate the roles of AKT/protein kinase B isoforms in insulin actions

Insulin plays a central role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis in part by stimulating glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt has been proposed to mediate insulin signaling in several processes. However, it is unclear whether Akt is involved in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and which isoforms of Akt are responsible for each insulin action. We confirmed that expression of a constitutively active Akt, using an adenoviral expression vector, promoted translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to plasma membrane, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake, and glycogen synthesis in both Chinese hamster ovary cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Inhibition of Akt either by adenoviral expression of a dominant negative Akt or by the introduction of synthetic 21-mer short interference RNA against Akt markedly reduced insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation, 2-DG uptake, and glycogen synthesis. Experiments with isoform-specific short interference RNA revealed that Akt2, and Akt1 to a lesser extent, has an essential role in insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation and 2-DG uptake in both cell lines, whereas Akt1 and Akt2 contribute equally to insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis. These data suggest a prerequisite role of Akt in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and distinct functions among Akt isoforms.


Shikonin stimulates glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via an insulin-independent tyrosine kinase pathway.

Type 2 diabetes is due to defects in both insulin action and secretion. In an attempt to discover small molecules that stimulate glucose uptake, similar to insulin, a cell-based glucose uptake screening assay was performed using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Shikonin, a substance originally isolated from the root of the Chinese plant that has been used as an ointment for wound healing, was thus identified. Shikonin stimulated glucose uptake and potentiated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in a concentration-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Stimulation of glucose uptake was also observed in rat primary adipocytes and cardiomyocytes. Like insulin, shikonin-stimulated glucose uptake was inhibited by genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and enhanced by vanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. However, in contrast to insulin, shikonin-stimulated glucose uptake was not strongly inhibited by wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). In vitro phosphorylation analyses revealed that shikonin did not induce tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, but significantly induced both Thr-308 and Ser-473 phosphorylation of Akt. Our results suggest that in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, shikonin action is not mediated primarily via the insulin receptor/PI3K pathway, but rather via another distinct tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway leading to glucose uptake involving Akt phosphorylation.


Effects of losartan in combination with or without exercise on insulin resistance in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats.

Hypertension often complicates type 2 diabetes mellitus, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor treatment has been shown to improve insulin resistance in such cases. However, the effect of angiotensin II type-1 (AT(1)) receptor antagonists on insulin resistance is still controversial. To gain further information on this effect, we examined the effect of losartan on insulin resistance in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Losartan administration alone lowered systolic blood pressure, but did not improve oral glucose tolerance test or insulin resistance in OLETF rats. However, the administration of losartan with exercise significantly improved both systolic blood pressure and insulin resistance relative to control OLETF rats. On the other hand, losartan treatment, regardless of exercise, increased glucose uptake in excised soleus muscle and fat cells. To explore the beneficial effect of losartan on skeletal muscle glucose uptake, we examined intracellular signaling of soleus muscle. Although Akt activity and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) expressions were not affected by losartan with or without exercise, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activities were increased by both interventions. These results indicate that angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonist improved local insulin resistance, but not systemic insulin resistance. These findings may explain the controversy over the effect of angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonists on insulin resistance in clinical use. The enhancing effect of angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonist on skeletal muscle glucose uptake may be attributable to MAP kinase activation or other mechanisms rather than phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation.


Antisense GLUT-1 protects mesangial cells from glucose induction of GLUT-1 and fibronectin expression.

A stable clone of rat mesangial cells expressing antisense GLUT-1 (i.e., MCGT1AS cells) was developed to protect them from high glucose exposure. GLUT-1 protein was reduced 50%, and the 2-deoxy-[(3)H]glucose uptake rate was reduced 33% in MCGT1AS. MCLacZ control cells and MCGT1 GLUT-1-overexpressing cells were used for comparisons. In MCLacZ, 20 mM D-glucose increased GLUT-1 transcription 90% vs. no increase in MCGT1AS. Glucose (8 mM) and 12 mM xylitol [a hexose monophosphate (HMP) shunt substrate] did not stimulate GLUT-1 transcription. An 87% replacement of the standard 8 mM D-glucose with 3-O-methylglucose reduced GLUT-1 transcription 80%. D-Glucose (20 mM) increased fibronectin mRNA and protein by 47 and 100%, respectively, in MCLacZ vs. no increases in MCGT1AS. Fibronectin synthesis was elevated 48% in MCGT1 and reduced 44% in MCGT1AS. We conclude that 1) transcription of GLUT-1 in response to D-glucose depends on glucose metabolism, although not through the HMP shunt, and 2) antisense GLUT-1 treatment of mesangial cells blocks D-glucose-induced GLUT-1 and fibronectin expression, thereby demonstrating a protective effect that could be beneficial in the setting of diabetes.

American Journal of Physiology, Renal Physiology


Identification of a cis-acting element and a novel trans-acting factor of the human insulin receptor gene in HepG2 and rat liver cells.

The liver is a major target organ of insulin and is important for glucose homeostasis. We analyzed the tissue specific regulation of the insulin receptor gene in the liver by studying the cis-acting element and trans-acting factor of the human insulin receptor gene in human hepatoma cell line, HepG2 cells. In the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) assay with chimeric plasmids containing various deletions and insertions of the human insulin receptor promoter/CAT gene, a HepG2 cell specific cis-acting element was identified between nt -592 to -577 of the promoter. In electrophoretic mobility shift assay and UV cross-link analysis, a 35-kDa nuclear protein that bound to 5'-TCCCTCCC-3' (nt -588 to -581) sequence was identified in HepG2 cells as well as in rat hepatocytes. This nuclear protein, designated as hepatocyte-specific transcription factor of the insulin receptor gene (HTFIR), might play an important role in tissue-specific expression of the insulin receptor gene in the liver.


AMP-Activated protein kinase is activated by the stimulations of G(q)-coupled receptors.

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a metabolic sensor that monitors cellular AMP and ATP levels. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) activates endogeneous AMPKalpha1 in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the PAF receptor coupled with both G(i) and G(q), but its activity was not inhibited after treatment with islet-activating protein. Norepinephrine and bradykinin also activated AMPKalpha1 in cells expressing the G(q)-coupled alpha(1b)-adrenergic receptor and bradykinin receptor, respectively. Stimulations of the G(i)-coupled alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor, fMet-Leu-Phe receptor, prostaglandin EP3alpha receptor, and G(s)-coupled beta(2)-adrenergic receptor did not activate AMPKalpha1. AMPKalpha1 thus is activated specifically by stimulation of G(q)-coupled receptors. G(q)-coupled receptors transmit the signal for GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake through an insulin-independent pathway. However, direct activation of AMPKalpha1 with treatment of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-d-ribofuranoside did not trigger GLUT4 translocation nor stimulate glucose uptake in our cells. Thus, activation of AMPKalpha1 via G(q) is not sufficient to trigger GLUT4 translocation or stimulate glucose uptake.


Gi-mediated translocation of GLUT4 is independent of p85/p110alpha and p110gamma phosphoinositide 3-kinases but might involve the activation of Akt kinase.

Activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K) is essential for insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 and glucose transport in insulin target tissues. A novel p110gamma PI-3K was reported to be activated by G(i)-coupled receptors via Gbetagamma subunits. We asked whether the stimulation of G(i)-coupled receptors would trigger GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake by the activation of Gbetagamma-dependent p110gamma PI-3K. We find that this translocation and glucose uptake can be induced by the ligand stimulation of G(i)-coupled alpha(2A) adrenergic receptor and fMet-Leu-Phe receptor in cells stably expressing these receptors. The noradrenaline ('noradrenaline')- and fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated GLUT4 translocations were abolished by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. Pretreatment with wortmannin or genistein also inhibited the G(i)-mediated GLUT4 translocation. On ligand stimulation of these two kinds of G(i)-coupled receptor, although there was a slight increase in PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) production, activation of either the p85/p110alpha PI-3K or Gbetagamma-dependent p110gamma PI-3K was not observed even in Chinese hamster ovary cells stably overexpressing exogenous p101/p110gamma. The G(i)-mediated GLUT4 translocation was accompanied by activation of the serine-threonine kinase Akt; the inhibitory effects of pertussis toxin, wortmannin and genistein on G(i)-mediated GLUT4 translocation paralleled their inhibitory effects on Akt activation. In contrast, the activation of some other G(i)-coupled receptors, such as prostaglandin EP3alpha receptor and platelet-activating factor receptor, did not cause either pertussis-toxin-sensitive translocation of GLUT4myc or activation of Akt kinase. These results indicate that the ligand stimulation of some G(i)-coupled receptors triggers GLUT4 translocation that occurs independently of p85/p110alpha-type and p110gamma-type PI-3Ks but might involve the activation of Akt kinase.


Overexpression of wild-type Akt1 promoted insulin-stimulated p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) activity and affected GSK3 beta regulation, but did not promote insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation or glucose transport in L6 myotubes.

We have developed a simple, direct and sensitive method to detect GLUT4 on the cell surface. Using this system, we found that PI3-kinase plays a key role in the signaling pathway of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. One of the down stream effectors of PI3-kinase is serine-threonine kinase Akt (protein kinase B, RAK-PK), but the involvement of Akt in insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation is controversial. To investigate whether Akt1 regulates insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake in L6 myotubes, we established L6 myotubes stably expressing c-myc epitope-tagged GLUT4 (GLUT4myc) and mouse wild type (WT) Akt1. We found that overexpression of WT Akt1 promoted insulin-stimulated p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) activity and increased the basal activity of GSK3 beta, but did not promote insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation or glucose uptake. These data supported the result that Akt is not a main signaling molecule to transmit the signal of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation or glucose uptake from insulin-activated PI3-kinase.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


Activation of G-protein coupled fMLP or PAF receptor directly triggers glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) translocation in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing fMLP or PAF receptor.

The chemoattractants, fMLP and PAF, stimulate glucose uptake in phagocytes to obtain an energy source for host defense. Glucose uptake in phagocytes is mainly regulated via glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1). To examine molecular mechanisms of facilitated glucose uptake in response to fMLP or PAF, we established CHO cells stably expressing fMLP or PAF receptor with c-myc epitope tagged GLUT1 which could immunologically detect GLUT1 on the cell surface. In the CHO cells, both fMLP and PAF directly triggered GLUT1 translocation from the intracellular pool to the cell surface, and stimulated glucose uptake. Therefore, in phagocytes, we propose that fMLP and PAF also trigger GLUT1 translocation to stimulate glucose uptake as an energy source for host defense.


Association of stomatin (band 7.2b) with Glut1 glucose transporter.

Employing a monoclonal antibody directed against the C-terminal peptide of glucose transporter molecule 1 (Glut1), we identified a approximately 30-kDa polypeptide which coimmunoprecipitated with Glut1 from sample of human red blood cells (RBC) membranes. The approximately 30-kDa polypeptide reacted with an antibody directed against stomatin, an integral plasma membrane protein which is also present at a high abundance in the human RBC plasma membrane. Likewise, employing anti-stomatin antibody, we found that Glut1 coimmunoprecipitated with stomatin from samples of RBC membranes. However, neither band 3, which is the most abundant integral membrane protein in the RBC, nor actin coimmunoprecipitated with Glut1, indicating a specific interaction between Glut1 and stomatin. Similar to the results obtained in the RBC, Glut1 and stomatin immunoprecipitated with each other in lysates of Clone 9 cells, a rat liver cell line in which Glut1 is expressed at approximately 1/200 the level present in RBC. Employing conditions that resulted in immunoprecipitation of approximately 10% of Glut1 in RBC membranes led to a approximately 3% coimmunoprecipitation of stomatin. A mixed population of Clone 9 cells stably transfected with a plasmid overexpressing the mouse stomatin exhibited 30 +/- 3% reduction in the basal rate of glucose transport compared to control cells or cells stably transfected with the empty vector. The above results suggest that stomatin is closely associated with Glut1 in the plasma membrane and that overexpression of stomatin results in a depression in the basal rate of glucose transport.


GLUT-4myc ectopic expression in L6 myoblasts generates a GLUT-4-specific pool conferring insulin sensitivity.

Insulin stimulates glucose uptake into muscle and fat cells via recruitment of the glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4) from intracellular store(s) to the cell surface. Robust stimulation of glucose uptake by insulin coincides with the expression of GLUT-4 during differentiation of muscle and fat cells, but it is not known if GLUT-4 expression suffices to confer insulin sensitivity to glucose uptake. We have therefore examined the effect of expression of a myc epitope-tagged GLUT-4 (GLUT-4myc) into L6 myoblasts, which do not express endogenous GLUT-4 until differentiated into myotubes. Ectopic expression of GLUT-4myc markedly improved insulin sensitivity of glucose uptake in L6 myoblasts. The GLUT-4myc protein distributed equally to the cell surface and intracellular compartments in myoblasts, and the intracellular fraction of GLUT-4myc further increased in myotubes. In myoblasts, the intracellular GLUT-4myc compartment contained the majority of the insulin-regulatable amino peptidase (IRAP) but less than half of the GLUT-1, suggesting segregation of GLUT-4myc and IRAP to a specific cellular locus. Insulin stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase B-alpha activities was similar for L6-GLUT-4myc myoblasts and myotubes. At both stages, GLUT-4myc responded to insulin by translocating to the cell surface. These results suggest that GLUT-4myc segregates into a specific compartment in L6 myoblasts and confers insulin sensitivity to these cells. L6-GLUT-4myc myoblasts, which are easily transfectable with various constructs, are a useful resource to study insulin action.


Fluoromicroscopic detection of myc-tagged GLUT4 on the cell surface. Co-localization of the translocated GLUT4 with rearranged actin by insulin treatment in CHO cells and L6 myotubes.

We earlier developed a novel method to detect translocation of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT 4) directly, quantitatively and simply using c-MYC epitope-tagged GLUT4 (GLUT4myc) Kanai F, Nishioka Y, Hayashi H, Kamohara S, Todaka M, Ebina Y: J Biol Chem 268: 14523-14526, 1993). We further developed the method to visualize GLUT4myc on the cell surface++ by fluorescence microscope using a highly sensitive immunochemical detection system in tissue culture cells stably expressing GLUT4myc. The translocation of GLUT4myc was observed on stimulation with insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, CHO cells and L6 myotubes stably expressing GLUT4myc. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), norepinephrine and bradykinin also triggered GLUT4 translocation in CHO-GLUT4myc cells stably expressing each receptor. To observe the distribution of GLUT4 and actin after insulin treatment, double staining for GLUT4myc and actin was performed. Translocated GLUT4myc on the cell surface was co-localized with rearranged actin in CHO cells and L6 myotubes. This result suggests that a correlation exists between GLUT4 translocation and actin rearrangement.


Transient effect of platelet-derived growth factor on GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

We earlier developed a novel method to detect translocation of the glucose transporter (GLUT) directly and simply using c-MYC epitope-tagged GLUT (GLUTMYC). To define the effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we investigated the PDGF- and insulin-induced glucose uptake, translocation of glucose transporters, and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity in 3T3-L1, 3T3-L1GLUT4MYC, and 3T3-L1GLUT1MYC adipocytes. Insulin and PDGF stimulated glucose uptake by 9-10- and 5.5-6.5-fold, respectively, in both 3T3-L1 and 3T3-L1GLUT4MYC adipocytes. Exogenous GLUT4MYC expression led to enhanced PDGF-induced glucose transport. In 3T3-L1GLUT4MYC adipocytes, insulin and PDGF induced an 8- and 5-fold increase in GLUT4MYC translocation, respectively, determined in a cell-surface anti-c-MYC antibody binding assay. This PDGF-induced GLUT4MYC translocation was further demonstrated with fluorescent detection. In contrast, PDGF stimulated a 2-fold increase of GLUT1MYC translocation and 2.5-fold increase of glucose uptake in 3T3-L1GLUT1MYC adipocytes. The PDGF-induced GLUT4MYC translocation, glucose uptake, and PI 3-kinase activity were maximal (100%) at 5-10 min and thereafter rapidly declined to 40, 30, and 12%, respectively, within 60 min, a time when effects of insulin were maximal. Wortmannin (0.1 microM) abolished PDGF-induced GLUT4MYC translocation and glucose uptake in 3T3-L1GLUT4MYC adipocytes. These results suggest that PDGF can transiently trigger the translocation of GLUT4 and stimulate glucose uptake by translocation of both GLUT4 and GLUT1 in a PI 3-kinase-dependent signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.


Mutation of tyrosine 960 within the insulin receptor juxtamembrane domain impairs glucose transport but does not inhibit ligand-mediated phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-2 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

CSF-1 is equipotent to insulin in its ability to stimulate 2-[3H]deoxyglucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes expressing the colony stimulating factor-1 receptor/insulin receptor chimera (CSF1R/IR). However, CSF-1-stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis is reduced by 50% in comparison to insulin in 3T3-L1 cells expressing a CSF1R/IR mutated at Tyr960 (CSF1R/IRA960). CSF-1-treated adipocytes expressing the CSF1R/IRA960 were impaired in their ability to phosphorylate insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) but not in their ability to phosphorylate IRS-2. Immunoprecipitation of IRS proteins followed by Western blotting revealed that the intact CSF1R/IR co-precipitates with IRS-2 from CSF-1-treated cells. In contrast, the CSF1R/IRA960 co-precipitates poorly with IRS-2. These observations suggest that Tyr960 is important for interaction of the insulin receptor cytoplasmic domain with IRS-2, but it is not essential to the ability of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase to use IRS-2 as a substrate. These observations also suggest that in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-2 by the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase is not sufficient for maximal stimulation of receptor-regulated glucose transport or glycogen synthesis.


Rapid stimulation of glucose transport by mitochondrial uncoupling depends in part on cytosolic Ca2+ and cPKC.

2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) uncouples the mitochondrial oxidative chain from ATP production, preventing oxidative metabolism. The consequent increase in energy demand is, however, contested by cells increasing glucose uptake to produce ATP via glycolysis. In L6 skeletal muscle cells, DNP rapidly doubles glucose transport, reminiscent of the effect of insulin. However, glucose transport stimulation by DNP does not require insulin receptor substrate-1 phosphorylation and is wortmannin insensitive. We report here that, unlike insulin, DNP does not activate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase B/Akt, or p70 S6 kinase. However, chelation of intra- and extracellular Ca2+ with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N', N'-tetraacetic acid-AM in conjunction with EGTA inhibited DNP-stimulated glucose uptake by 78.9 +/- 3.5%. Because Ca2+-sensitive, conventional protein kinase C (cPKC) can activate glucose transport in L6 muscle cells, we examined whether cPKC may be translocated and activated in response to DNP in L6 myotubes. Acute DNP treatment led to translocation of cPKCs to plasma membrane. cPKC immunoprecipitated from plasma membranes exhibited a twofold increase in kinase activity in response to DNP. Overnight treatment with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate downregulated cPKC isoforms alpha, beta, and gamma and partially inhibited (45.0 +/- 3.6%) DNP- but not insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Consistent with this, the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I blocked PKC enzyme activity at the plasma membrane (100%) and inhibited DNP-stimulated 2-[3H]deoxyglucose uptake (61.2 +/- 2.4%) with no effect on the stimulation of glucose transport by insulin. Finally, the selective PKC-beta inhibitor LY-379196 partially inhibited DNP effects on glucose uptake (66.7 +/- 1.6%). The results suggest interfering with mitochondrial ATP production acts on a signal transduction pathway independent from that of insulin and partly mediated by Ca2+ and cPKCs, of which PKC-beta likely plays a significant role.


Impaired glucose tolerance in mice with a targeted impairment of insulin action in muscle and adipose tissue.

Type 2 diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by peripheral insulin resistance and impaired beta cell function. Insulin resistance is inherited as a non-mendelian trait. In genetically predisposed individuals, resistance of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue to insulin action precedes the onset of clinical diabetes, and is thought to contribute to hyperglycaemia by leading to impaired beta cell function and increased hepatic glucose production. It is not clear whether beta cell and liver defects are also genetically determined. To test the hypothesis that insulin resistance in muscle and fat is sufficient to cause type 2 diabetes in the absence of intrinsic beta cell and liver abnormality, we generated transgenic mice that were insulin-resistant in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. These mice developed all the prodromal features of type 2 diabetes but, despite the compounded effect of peripheral insulin resistance and a mild impairment of beta cell function, failed to become diabetic. These findings indicate the need for a critical re-examination of the primary site(s) of insulin resistance in diabetes.


Reconstitution of insulin signaling pathways in rat 3Y1 cells lacking insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1. Evidence that activation of Akt is insufficient for insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis or glucose uptake in rat 3Y1 cells.

Rat 3Y1 cells have endogenous insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2, but lack both insulin receptor (IR) and IRS-1. To investigate the role of IR and IRS-1 in effects of insulin, we transfected IR and IRS-1 expression plasmids into cells and reconstituted the insulin signaling pathways. 3Y1 cells stably expressing the c-myc epitope-tagged glucose transporter type 4 (3Y1-GLUT4myc) exhibit no effects of insulin, at physiological concentrations. The 3Y1-GLUT4myc-IR cells expressing GLUT4myc and IR responded to phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-trisphosphate (PI-3,4,5-P3) accumulation, Akt activation, the stimulation of DNA synthesis, and membrane ruffling but not to glycogen synthesis, glucose uptake, or GLUT4myc translocation. The further expression of IRS-1 in 3Y1-GLUT4myc-IR cells led to stimulation of glycogen synthesis but not to glucose uptake or GLUT4myc translocation in response to insulin, although NaF or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate did trigger GLUT4myc translocation in the cells. These results suggest that, in rat 3Y1 cells, (i) IRS-1 is essential for insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis but not for DNA synthesis, PI-3,4,5-P3 accumulation, Akt phosphorylation, or membrane ruffling, and (ii) the accumulation of PI-3,4,5-P3 and activation of Akt are insufficient for glycogen synthesis, glucose uptake or for GLUT4 translocation.


Effect of growth hormone on the translocation of GLUT4 and its relation to insulin-like and anti-insulin action.

To elucidate the effect of growth hormone (GH) on the insulin signal transduction pathway leading to the translocation of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4), we constructed Chinese hamster ovary cells that overexpressed GH receptor and GLUT4. Treatment with GH triggered GLUT4 translocation, and this translocation was completely inhibited by wortmannin. GH-induced GLUT4 translocation reached a maximum level after 30 min, and then gradually decreased and returned to the basal level after 2 h. Tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 also became maximal after 30 min and then gradually decreased. In contrast, GLUT4 translocation remained unchanged for 2 h after insulin treatment, and tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) also remained constant for up to 2 h. Chronic GH treatment had almost no effect on insulin-stimulated Akt kinase activation and GLUT4 translocation. These results suggest that GH and insulin translocate GLUT4 in a similar manner, at least in part, and the difference in translocation depends on the difference in the tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 and IRS-1. The anti-insulin action of GH after chronic GH treatment does not appear to be mainly due to the inhibition of GLUT4 translocation.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research


GLUT4 translocation by insulin in intact muscle cells: detection by a fast and quantitative assay.

We report a rapid and sensitive colorimetric approach to quantitate the amount of glucose transporters exposed at the surface of intact cells, using L6 muscle cells expressing GLUT4 containing an exofacial myc epitope. Unstimulated cells exposed to the surface 5 fmol GLUT4myc per mg protein. This value increased to 10 fmol/mg protein in response to insulin as 2-deoxyglucose (10 microM) uptake doubled. The results are substantiated by immunofluorescent detection of GLUT4myc in unpermeabilized cells and by subcellular fractionation. We further show that wortmannin and the cytoskeleton disruptors cytochalasin D and latrunculin B completely blocked these insulin effects. The rapid quantitative assay described here could be of high value to study insulin signals and to screen for potential anti-diabetic drugs.


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.


Bradykinin directly triggers GLUT4 translocation via an insulin-independent pathway.

Physical exercise induces translocation of GLUT4 from an intracellular pool to the cell surface in skeletal muscles and increases glucose uptake via an insulin-independent pathway. However, the molecular mechanism remains to be identified. Some studies have suggested that bradykinin is locally released from contracting muscles and may be responsible for GLUT4 translocation and the increase of glucose transport in skeletal muscles. To determine whether bradykinin directly triggers GLUT4 translocation, we established L6 myotubes, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing c-myc epitope-tagged GLUT4 (GLUT4myc) and bradykinin B2 receptors. We found that bradykinin directly triggered GLUT4myc translocation and increased the rate of glucose uptake in a dose-dependent manner in these cells. The translocation with bradykinin occurred even after pretreatment with an islet-activating protein, wortmannin, and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. The signaling pathway does not seem to be mediated by Gi, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, or protein kinase C. It is insulin-independent and via trimeric G-protein Gq. Bradykinin is probably one of the factors responsible for exercise-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscles.


Transcriptional activation of the Glut1 gene in response to oxidative stress in L6 myotubes.

Exposure of L6 myotubes to prolonged low grade oxidative stress results in increased Glut1 expression at both the protein and mRNA levels, leading to elevated glucose transport activity. To further understand the cellular mechanisms responsible for this adaptive response, the Glut1 transcription rate and mRNA stability were assessed. Nuclear run-on assays revealed 2.0- and 2.4-fold increases in Glut1 transcription rates in glucose oxidase- and xanthine/xanthine oxidase-pretreated cells, respectively. Glut1 mRNA stability was increased with both treatments compared with the control (t1/2 = 7.8 +/- 1.3, 6.0 +/- 2.0, and 2.4 +/- 0.5 h, respectively). The serum-responsive element and AP-1 (but not the cAMP-responsive element) showed increased binding capacity following oxidative stress. Both activation of AP-1 binding and elevation of Glut1 mRNA were prevented by cycloheximide. The involvement of enhancer 1 of the Glut1 gene was demonstrated using transfected 293 cells. Induction of Glut1 mRNA in response to oxidative stress differed from its activation by chronic insulin exposure as demonstrated by the ability of rapamycin to inhibit the latter without an effect on the former. In conclusion, oxidative stress increases the Glut1 transcription rate by mechanisms that may involve activation of AP-1 binding to enhancer 1 of the Glut1 gene.


Hyperinsulinemia but no diabetes in transgenic mice homozygously expressing the tyrosine kinase-deficient human insulin receptor.

We generated transgenic mice homozygous for the tyrosine kinase-deficient human insulin receptor (hIRK1030M(+/+)) under control of the insulin receptor promoter. Similar growth patterns and results of glucose tolerance tests were observed among normal, heterozygous, and homozygous mice. Insulin tolerance test indicated no significant difference in the hypoglycemic response to insulin among the three genotypes. However, the serum insulin levels of the homozygous mice before and after glucose loading (201.42 +/- 58.15 pg/ml to 578.57 +/- 49.03 pg/ml) were significantly higher than in the control mice (100.92 +/- 19.55 pg/ml to 356.36 +/- 55.08 pg/ml; p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively) and heterozygous mice (74.46 +/- 18.55 pg/ml to 352.33 +/- 52.43 pg/ml; p < 0.005 and p < 0.01, respectively). Immunohistological evidence of pancreatic islets showed no significant difference among the three genotypes. Taken together, these results suggest that the tyrosine kinase-deficient insulin receptor causes hyperinsulinemia but not diabetes in these homozygous transgenic mice.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications


Gq-coupled receptors transmit the signal for GLUT4 translocation via an insulin-independent pathway.

Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) induces the translocation of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) from an intracellular pool to the cell surface and increases glucose uptake in adipocytes. The GTP-binding protein(s) responsible for the translocation has remained to be identified. Using a sensitive and quantitative method to assess the translocation of c-MYC epitope-tagged GLUT4, we obtained evidence that the activation of receptor-coupled Gq (neither Gi nor Gs) triggered GLUT4 translocation in cells, independently of insulin signaling pathway(s). Platelet-activating factor (PAF) induced GLUT4 translocation in the cells expressing the Gi- and Gq-coupled PAF receptor, but the translocation was induced even after pretreatment with wortmannin, an islet-activating protein and phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate. Norepinephrine triggered GLUT4 translocation in cells expressing the Gq-coupled alpha1-adrenergic receptor, but prostaglandin E2 did not cause GLUT4 translocation in cells expressing the Gs-coupled EP4 receptor or the Gi-coupled EP3alpha receptor. The norepinephrine-stimulated GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake via Gq may possibly contribute to the fuel supply required for thermogenesis in brown adipocytes and for the enhanced contractility in cardiomyocytes, both of which have an abundant endogenous GLUT4.


Roles of insulin, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in signalling pathways of GLUT4 translocation.

Insulin, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S] and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) trigger the translocation of Gl UT4 (type 4 glucose transporter; insulin-sensitive glucose transporter) from an intracellular pool to the cell surface. We have developed a highly sensitive and quantitative method to detect GLUT4 immunologically on the surface of intact 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, using c-myc epitope-tagged GLUT4 (GLUT4myc). We examined the roles of insulin, GTP[S] and PMA in the signalling pathways of GLUT4 translocation in the CHO cell system. Among small molecular GTP-binding proteins, ras, rab3D, rad and rho seem to be candidates as signal transmitters of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. Overexpression of wild-type H-ras and the dominant negative mutant H-rass17N in our cell system respectively enhanced and blocked insulin-stimulated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, but did not affect insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. Overexpression of rab3D or rad in the cells did not affect GLUT4 translocation triggered by insulin, GTP[S] or PMA. Treatment with Botulinum C3 exoenzyme, a specific inhibitor of rho, had no effect on GLUT4 translocation induced by insulin, GTP[S] or PMA. Therefore these small molecular GTP-binding proteins are not likely to be involved in GLUT4 translocation. In addition, insulin, GTP[S] and PMA apparently stimulate GLUT4 translocation through independent pathways.


Cloning of a cDNA encoding a 190-kDa insulin receptor substrate-1-like protein of simian COS cells.


Frequency of Mutations of Insulin Receptor Gene in Japanese Patients with NIDDM

To examine the prevalence of abnormalities in the insulin receptor structure gene in Japanese with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), a population of 51 patients with NIDDM was screened for mutations in this gene. Patient genomic DNAs of both alleles corresponding to 22 exons of the gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products on pUC19 were sequenced. Three patients with heterozygous missense mutation Thr831-->Ala831 in exon 13 and one patient with heterozygous missense mutation Tyr1334-->Cys1334 in exon 22 of the beta-subunits were identified. Linkage analysis of one of the families plus statistical studies showed that the mutation Thr831-->Ala831 is possibly responsible for the onset of NIDDM. In COS cells transiently expressing both mutant receptor cDNAs and a cDNA of a M(r) 85,000 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), the mutation Tyr1334-->Cys1334 impaired binding of the receptor with the M(r) 85,000 subunit of PI 3-kinase, but linkage analysis of the family showed that the mutation did not cosegregate with NIDDM in the pedigree. Therefore, one missense mutation (Thr831-->Ala831) in the insulin receptor, as found in three patients, is possibly involved in the etiology of a subset of the 51 NIDDM patients.


Possible domains responsible for intracellular targeting and insulin-dependent translocation of glucose transporter type 4.

Translocation of the type 4 glucose transporter (GLUT4) to the cell surface from an intracellular pool is the major mechanism of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in insulin-target cells. We developed a highly sensitive and quantitative method to detect GLUT4 immunologically on the surface of intact cells, using c-myc epitope-tagged GLUT4 (GLUT4myc). We constructed c-myc epitope-tagged glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1myc) and found that the GLUT1myc was also translocated to the cell surface of Chinese hamster ovary cells, 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and NIH 3T3 cells, in response to insulin, but the degree of translocation was less than that of GLUT4myc. Since GLUT1 and GLUT4 have different intracellular distributions and different degrees of insulin-stimulated translocation, we examined the domains of GLUT4, using c-myc epitope-tagged chimeric glucose transporters between these two isoforms. The results indicated that, (1) all the cytoplasmic N-terminal region, middle intracellular loop and cytoplasmic C-terminal region of GLUT4 have independent intracellular targeting signals, (2) these sequences for intracellular targeting of GLUT4 were not sufficient to determine GLUT4 translocation in response to insulin, and (3) the N-terminal half of GLUT4 devoid both of cytoplasmic N-terminus and of middle intracellular loop seems to be necessary for insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation.


Platelet-derived growth factor triggers translocation of the insulin-regulatable glucose transporter (type 4) predominantly through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase binding sites on the receptor.

Insulin is the only known hormone which rapidly stimulates glucose uptake in target tissues, mainly by translocation to the cell surface of the intracellular insulin-regulatable glucose transporter (glucose transporter type 4, GLUT4). We have developed a cell line for direct, sensitive detection of GLUT4 on the cell surface. We have suggested that insulin-activated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase may be involved in the signaling pathway of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. We report that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which stimulates PI 3-kinase activity, triggers GLUT4 translocation in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably overexpressing the PDGF receptor and in 3T3-L1 mouse adipocytes. Using mutant PDGF receptors that cannot bind to Ras-GTPase-activating protein, phospholipase C-gamma, and PI 3-kinase, respectively, we obtained evidence that PI 3-kinase binding sites play a key role in the signaling pathway of PDGF-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in the CHO cell system.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America


Epidermal growth factor triggers the translocation of insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4).

In a novel cell line we developed for direct, sensitive detection of insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4) on the cell surface, we considered that insulin-activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) may be involved in the signaling pathway of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. We report here evidence that epidermal growth factor (EGF), which stimulates PI 3-kinase activity, also triggers GLUT4 translocation in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably overexpressing the EGF receptor. The EGF-dependent GLUT4 translocation is possibly mediated by two independent pathways: one by PI 3-kinase and the other by protein kinase C (PKC); the PI 3-kinase-mediated pathway predominates. Triggering of the GLUT4 translocation is not specific for insulin, rather it may be a common property of growth factors which activate PI 3-kinase.


The role of insulin in activation of two enhancers in the mouse GLUT1 gene.

We identified two enhancer elements of the mouse GLUT1 gene responsive to serum, growth factor, and oncogenes; the first enhancer element (enhancer-1) is located 2.7 kilobases upstream of the cap site of the gene, and the second one (enhancer-2) is located in the second intron of the gene (Murakami, T., Nishiyama, T., Shirotani, T., Shinohara, Y., Kan, M., Ishii, K., Kanai, F., Nakazuru, S., and Ebina, Y. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 9300-9306). In the present work, we describe the role of insulin in activation of these two enhancers. NIH/3T3 HIR3.5 cells, which express a large number of insulin receptors, were stably transformed by hybrid genes containing the enhancer(s) and promoter of GLUT1 gene and the coding region of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene as a reporter gene. In stable transformants of the reporter gene without the enhancers, the CAT mRNA was not induced by insulin; however, in clones containing the reporter gene with enhancer-1, the CAT mRNA was induced by insulin at 30 min and reached a maximum at 1 h. In clones transfected by the reporter gene with enhancer-2, the CAT mRNA was induced at 1 h and reached a maximum at 3 h. To determine the early response element to insulin in enhancer-1, transformants of hybrid reporter genes containing truncated or mutated enhancer-1 were examined. The homologous sequence with the serum response element in enhancer-1 is essential for an early response to insulin.


Expressing of the gene encoding the tyrosine kinase-deficient human insulin receptor in transgenic mice

Defects in the insulin receptor (IR) in diabetic patients have been given much attention. To address the role of such defects, we generated a transgenic (TG) mouse carrying the cDNA encoding a tyrosine-kinase (TK)-deficient human IR (hIR), under the control of the native promoter. The TG mouse expressed the transgene (TG) mRNA in the liver, as identified in Northern blots. Analyses of various tissues by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that expressions of the TG mRNA in brain, heart, kidney, lung, stomach, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue were higher than those seen with the endogenous mouse IR (mIR), but expression in small intestine, colon, spleen, testis and ovary were approximately half those seen with the endogenous mIR. In the liver, the expression of the TG was about one tenth that of the endogenous mIR. In analyses of insulin binding and IR autophosphorylation, using a human-specific anti-IR antibody, the TK-deficient hIR was synthesized in the tissues of the TG mice. Despite the expression of TK-deficient hIRs in various tissues, including the major insulin-target tissues, muscle and adipose tissues, of the TG mice, no glucose intolerance was observed as assessed by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, before and after sucrose feeding for 55 weeks. Our results suggest that a higher expression of the mutated IR, especially in the liver which is another major insulin-target tissue, or additional pathogenic factors, environmental or genetic, might be required for glucose intolerance.


Site-directed mutagenesis studies on the iron-binding domain and the determinant for the substrate oxygenation site of porcine leukocyte arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase.

cDNA for arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase of porcine leukocytes was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant 12-lipoxygenase was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography to near homogeneity with a specific activity of about 1.5 mumol/min per mg protein. Each of eight histidine residues, which were well-conserved among various mammalian lipoxygenases and presumed as ligands for non-heme iron, was substituted with leucine by site-directed mutagenesis. Each mutant enzyme was immunoaffinity-purified to near homogeneity. Mutations of His-361, -366 and -541 caused a total loss of enzyme activity, and the iron content was much lower (0.10, 0.06 and 0.06 g atom/mol protein) than that of the wild-type enzyme (0.53). Mutations of His-128 and -356 gave 159% and 162% specific activity of the wild-type enzyme, and the iron contents were 0.55 and 0.52 g atom/mol protein. Substitution of His-426 decreased the activity to 5%, but the iron content was 0.4 g atom/mol protein. The expression level of mutants at His-384 and -393 was too low to precisely determine the iron content. Taken together, His-361, -366 and -541 may play important roles for iron-binding in catalytically active 12-lipoxygenase. Since a high homology of amino acid sequence was known between porcine leukocyte 12-lipoxygenase and mammalian 15-lipoxygenases, we attempted to convert the 12-lipoxygenase to a 15-lipoxygenase. A double mutation of Val-418 and -419 to Ile and Met increased the ratio of 15- and 12-lipoxygenase activities from 0.1 to 5.7.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Lipids and Lipid Metabolism


アラキドン酸12-リポキシゲナーゼ反応におけるヒスチジン残基の役割.

アラキドン酸12-リポキシゲナーゼ反応におけるヒスチジン残基の役割.


Insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation is relevant to the phosphorylation of IRS-1 and the activity of PI3-kinase.

We examined the role of 185-kDa insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) in the signaling pathway of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. We had already developed a novel cell line to detect GLUT4 on the cell surface, directly and sensitively (Kanai, F., Nishioka, Y., Hayashi, H., Kamohara, S., Todaka, M., and Ebina, Y. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 14523-14526). We stably expressed a mutant insulin receptor in which Tyr972 was replaced with phenylalanine. Insulin-stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of IRS-1 and GLUT4 translocation were decreased in cells expressing the mutant receptor, as compared to findings in cells expressing the normal receptor. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI3-kinase, inhibits the insulin-stimulated PI3-kinase activity and GLUT4 translocation at 50 nM, but not the NaF-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. These results suggest that the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and activation of PI3-kinase may be involved in the signaling pathway of the insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications


Direct demonstration of insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation to the surface of intact cells by insertion of a c-myc epitope into an exofacial GLUT4 domain.


ブタ白血球のアラキドン酸12-リポキシゲナーゼの部位特異的変異法による解析.

ブタ白血球のアラキドン酸12-リポキシゲナーゼの部位特異的変異法による解析.


The alpha-Type 85-kDa subunit of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase is Phosphorylatedat Tyrosines 368, 580, and 607 by the Insulin Receptor


Biochemical and molecular biological approaches to two types of arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase


Insulin treatment stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of the alpha-type 85-kDa subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in vivo.


Identification of two enhancer elements in the gene encoding the type 1 glucose transporter from the mouse which are responsive to serum, growth factor, and oncogenes.

The type 1 glucose transporter (GLUT1) gene encodes an integral membrane glycoprotein responsible for facilitating transfer of glucose across plasma membrane and is rapidly activated by serum, growth factors, and by oncogenic transformation. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of regulation of GLUT1 gene expression, we isolated and characterized the mouse GLUT1 gene. DNA elements regulating transcription of the gene were analyzed in transient expression assays after transfection of NIH/3T3 cells with a low background chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) vector system pSVOOCAT. We identified two enhancer elements; the first one is located 2.7 kilobases upstream of the cap site of the gene which contains the homologous sequences with two 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive elements (TREs), a serum response element, a cyclic AMP-responsive element (CRE) and three GC boxes, and the second one is located in the second intron of the gene which contains the homologous sequences with two TREs and one CRE. With the promoter alone the transcription of the gene is activated by src, only slightly activated by ras and is not activated by serum and platelet-derived growth factor. When the gene is accompanied by one of these enhancers, the transcription is activated by all these stimuli.


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 cluster of four Sp1 binding sites required for efficient expression of the human insulin receptor gene.

Fragments of 5'-flanking sequences of the human insulin receptor gene were analyzed in transient expression assays after transfection of cell lines with expression assays after transfection of cell lines with an improved low background chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase vector system pSVOOCAT (Araki, E., Shimada, F., Shichiri, M., Mori, M., and Ebina, Y. (1988) Nucleic Acids Res. 16, 1627). Transfection of chimeric chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmids containing various deletions and insertions of the promoter of HIR gene into CHO and COS cells indicated that the region between -629 and -1 (initiator ATG is +1) is sufficient for maximal promoter activity. The DNA element of the cluster of four G-C boxes (-593 to -618) enhanced the transcription, examined by the low background pSVOOCAT vector system in vivo. DNase I footprinting and gel retardation experiments using partially purified LacZ-Sp1 hybrid proteins showed that the transcription factor Sp1 can bind to the cluster of the four G-C boxes of the promoter. Thus, the efficient expression of the human insulin receptor gene possibly requires the binding of transcriptional factor Sp1 to four G-C boxes located -593 to -618 base pairs upstream of the ATG translation initiation codon.


Insulin-resistant diabetes associated with partial deletion of insulin-receptor gene.

The insulin-receptor genes from a 16-year-old girl with type A insulin resistance, who presented with fasting hyperinsulinaemia, acanthosis nigricans, and reduced insulin binding, and from her family were examined. One allele of her insulin-receptor gene inherited from her mother contained a 1.2 kb deletion arising from a recombination between two Alu elements. The deletion removed the 14th exon in the beta subunit and altered the reading frame, to produce a stop codon after aminoacid 867. Pedigree analysis indicated that this mutation alone will not cause diabetes, and the proband is possibly a compound heterozygote. 4 other members of her family were heterozygous for the same mutation; all 4 had a decrease in insulin binding and slight impairment of glucose tolerance. Perhaps the same mutation is an underlying feature of some cases of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.


Human diabetes associated with a deletion of the tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor.

The insulin receptor has an intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity that is essential for signal transduction. A mutant insulin receptor gene lacking almost the entire kinase domain has been identified in an individual with type A insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans. Insulin binding to the erythrocytes or cultured fibroblasts from this individual was normal. However receptor autophosphorylation and tyrosine kinase activity toward an exogenous substrate were reduced in partially purified insulin receptors from the proband's lymphocytes that had been transformed by Epstein-Barr virus. The insulin resistance associated with this mutated gene was inherited by the proband from her mother as an apparently autosomal dominant trait. Thus a deletion in one allele of the insulin receptor gene may be at least partly responsible for some instances of insulin-resistant diabetes.


Insulin receptor and altered glucose transport in a monensin-resistant mutant of Chinese hamster ovary cell.

A monensin-resistant mutant Monr-31, derived from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, has been shown to have a reduced number of insulin receptors and a reduction in glucose uptake in response to insulin. We have further investigated the possibility that altered glucose uptake in Monr-31 cells is related to an alteration in the activity of the insulin receptor. Uptake of glucosamine, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose in Monr-31 cells was one-half to one-third that of CHO cells. The cellular content of the glucose transporter in Monr-31 was reduced to about one-third that of CHO as assayed by use of an antiglucose transporter antibody. After transfection with the human insulin receptor cDNA, we obtained clones CIR-0 from CHO, and MIR-2 and MIR-15 from Monr-31; CIR-0 expressed a tenfold higher level of the insulin-binding activity than did CHO, and MIR-2 and MIR-15 expressed a 20-fold higher level than did Monr-31. Glucose uptake in both CHO and CIR-0 was significantly enhanced by exogenous insulin, but not in Monr-31, MIR-2, and MIR-15. The beta-subunits of insulin receptor in CHO, CIR-0, Monr-31, and MIR-2 were similarly phosphorylated. The decreased glucose transport activity in Monr-31 cells is discussed in relation to the absence or presence of insulin receptor expression.


Characterization of the promoter region of the human insulin receptor gene.


Reconstitution of mitochondrial protein transport with purified ornithine carbamoyltransferase precursor expressed in Escherichia coli.

Ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTC; subunit, 36,000 Da) is initially synthesized as a precursor (pOTC) with a transient NH2-terminal presequence of 32 amino acid residues and imported posttranslationally into the mitochondrial matrix. The rat pOTC was synthesized in Escherichia coli using an expression vector containing a thermoinducible lambda pL promoter. The recombinant pOTC represented 5-10% of the total bacterial protein and was present in the precipitate of the disrupted bacteria. The precipitate was washed and pOTC was extracted with 8 M urea or 0.1% cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The extracted pOTC was essentially homogeneous, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified pOTC was cleaved to the intermediate-sized product of 37,000 Da by a processing protease partially purified from the matrix fraction of rat liver mitochondria. The purified recombinant pOTC, but not the mature form of OTC synthesized in E. coli and purified, competed with the in vitro-synthesized, radiolabeled pOTC for uptake and processing by the isolated rat liver mitochondria. The radiolabeled and purified recombinant pOTC could be imported into the isolated mitochondria and processed to the mature form in an energy- and rabbit reticulocyte lysate-dependent manner. When the purified pOTC was subjected to sucrose gradient centrifugation, it sedimented as a large aggregate of greater than 60 S in the absence of reticulocyte lysate, whereas it sedimented as a complex of about 5 S in the presence of the lysate. These observations together with our previous results indicate that a protein factor(s) present in the lysate interacts with pOTC and holds it in an import-competent form.


A noncleavable signal for mitochondrial import of 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase.

Rat 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase, an enzyme of the fatty acid beta-oxidation cycle, is located in the mitochondrial matrix. Unlike most mitochondrial matrix proteins, the thiolase is synthesized with no transient presequence and possesses information for mitochondrial targeting and import in the mature protein of 397 amino acid residues. cDNA sequences encoding various portions of the thiolase were fused in frame to the cDNA encoding the mature portion of rat ornithine transcarbamylase (lacking its own presequence). The fusion genes were transfected into COS cells, and subcellular localization of the fusion proteins was analyzed by cell fractionation with digitonin. When the mature portion of ornithine transcarbamylase was expressed, it was recovered in the soluble fraction. On the other hand, the fusion proteins containing the NH2-terminal 392, 161, or 61 amino acid residues of the thiolase were recovered in the particulate fraction, whereas the fusion protein containing the COOH-terminal 331 residues (residues 62-392) was recovered in the soluble fraction. Enzyme immunocytochemical and immunoelectron microscopic analyses using an anti-ornithine transcarbamylase antibody showed mitochondrial localization of the fusion proteins containing the NH2-terminal portions of the thiolase. These results indicate that the NH2-terminal 61 amino acids of rat 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase function as a noncleavable signal for mitochondrial targeting and import of this enzyme protein. Pulse-chase experiments showed that the ornithine transcarbamylase precursor and the thiolase traveled from the cytosol to the mitochondria with half-lives of less than 5 min, whereas the three fusion proteins traveled with half-lives of 10-15 min. Interestingly, in the cells expressing the fusion proteins, the mitochondria showed abnormal shapes and were filled with immunogold-positive crystalloid structures.


Characterization of the promoter region of the human insulin receptor gene. Evidence for promoter activity.

Recombinant clones containing the promoter region of the human insulin receptor gene were isolated from genomic libraries derived from nondiabetic persons. A 1.5-kilobase pair fragment of the 5'-flanking region was sequenced. One transcriptional start site, located at 203 bases upstream from the start of translation was identified by nuclease S1 mapping and the primer extension experiment using the human insulin receptor mRNA. The bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay revealed that a 573-base pair fragment immediately preceding the ATG has promoter activity and that the transcript initiates from the normal start site of the insulin receptor gene in the COS cells. The promoter region contains neither a "TATA box" nor a "CAAT box," has an extremely high G + C content, and contains seven central components of potential Sp 1 binding sites (GGGCGG or CCGCCC). These features are common to those found in the regulatory regions of a class of constitutively expressed "housekeeping" genes. A comparison between the promoter sequence of the human insulin receptor and those of other "housekeeping" genes revealed the presence of homologous sequences among these genes, in addition to the potential Sp 1 binding sites.


Replacement of lysine residue 1030 in the putative ATP-binding region of the insulin receptor abolishes insulin- and antibody-stimulated glucose uptake and receptor kinase activity.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America


Cloning of a Drosophila cDNA encoding a polypeptide similar to the human insulin receptor precursor.

A Drosophila cDNA clone was obtained using the human insulin receptor cDNA sequence as a probe. The 3586 bp nucleotide sequence predicted a single polypeptide of 1095 amino acid residues which showed considerable homology (35.2%) with the human insulin receptor precursor. Although the cDNA was incomplete at its 5'-terminal region, it encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein as a single precursor of a two subunit molecule having a structural architecture similar to that of the human insulin receptor precursor. The presumptive beta subunit carries a well conserved Tyr kinase domain which showed 63.5% homology with that of human insulin receptor; however the protein of the alpha subunit is only weakly conserved (25%).

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications


Expression of a functional human insulin receptor from a cloned cDNA in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

We have placed human insulin receptor cDNA into a vector under the control of the simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoter and tested its function by transient expression in microinjected Xenopus oocytes and by expression in stably transformed CHO cells. The precursor and the alpha and beta subunits of the receptor were detected by immunoprecipitation from extracts of these cells. The human insulin receptor expressed in CHO cells specifically binds 125I-labeled insulin but not insulin-like growth factor I, displays insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the beta subunit, and mediates insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake. We conclude that the human insulin receptor is synthesized, processed normally, and functional in this heterologous cell system.


Positive regulation of the colicin E1 gene by cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP receptor protein.


The Human Insulin Receptor cDNA: The structural Basis for Hormone-Activated Transmembrane Signalling

A cloned approximately 5 kb cDNA (human placenta) contains the coding sequences for the insulin receptor. The nucleotide sequence predicts a 1382 amino acid precursor. The alpha subunit comprises the N-terminal portion of the precursor and contains a striking cysteine-rich "cross-linking" domain. The beta-subunit (the C-terminal portion of the precursor) contains a transmembrane domain and, in the intracellular region, the elements of a tyrosine phosphokinase: an ATP-binding site and a possible tyrosine autophosphorylation site or sites. The overall structure is reminiscent of the EGF receptor; the cross-linking domain of the alpha subunit and several regions of the beta subunit exhibit sequence homology with the EGF receptor. The phosphokinase domain also exhibits homology with some oncogenic proteins that have tyrosine phosphokinase activity, in particular, a striking homology with v-ros. Southern blotting experiments suggest that the coding region spans more than 45 kb. The insulin receptor gene is located on chromosome 19.


Nucleotide sequence surrounding transcription initiation site of xylABC operon on TOL plasmid of Pseudomonas putida.


Transcription analysis of the lexA gene of Escherichia coli: attenuation and cotranscription with the neighboring region.

The lexA gene of Escherichia coli encodes a repressor of the genes whose expression is induced by the agents that result in DNA damage. In vivo transcripts of the lexA gene consisted of two species; mRNA-1 of 673 bases and mRNA-2 of approximately 3,000 bases. The transcription in vivo started at a site which was two-base pairs downstream from the in vitro initiation site reported previously. The majority of the transcription stopped at a series of T residues preceeded by a dyad symmetry located immediately after the lexA gene. A small fraction of the transcription passed through the termination site to form the mRNA of downstream gene(s) which would be related to the "SOS functions".


Resistance of human cells to tumorigenesis induced by cloned transforming genes.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983 Dec;80(24):7601-5.


LexA protein is a repressor of the colicin E1 gene.

LexA protein is a repressor of several chromosomal genes involved in the SOS response in Escherichia coli. In previous experiments, we found that LexA protein may also be a repressor of the colicin E1 gene. We now present evidence that the purified LexA protein strongly repressed the in vitro transcription of the colicin E1 gene. As determined in DNase I protection experiments, LexA protein bound with a high affinity to the approximately 40-base pair long sequence between the Pribnow box and the start codon of the colicin E1 gene. The sequence of the binding site was composed of two overlapped "SOS boxes" to which the LexA protein bound in a cooperative manner.


Plasmid-encoded regulation of colicin E1 gene expression.

A plasmid-encoded factor that regulates the expression of the colicin E1 gene was found in molecular cloning experiments. The 2,294-base-pair AvaII fragment of the colicin E1 plasmid (ColE1) carrying the colicin E1 structural gene and the promoter-operator region had the same information with respect to the repressibility and inducibility of colicin E1 synthesis as the original ColE1 plasmid. An operon fusion was constructed between the 204-bp fragment containing the colicin E1 promoter-operator and xylE, the structural gene for catechol 2,3-dioxygenase encoded on the TOL plasmid of Pseudomonas putida. The synthesis of the dioxygenase from the resulting plasmid occurred in recA+, but not in recA- cells and was derepressed in the recA lexA(Def) double mutant. These results indicate that the ColE1 plasmid has no repressor gene for colicin E1 synthesis and that the lexA protein functions as a repressor. Colicin E1 gene expression was adenosine 3',5'-phosphate (cAMP) dependent. Upon the removal of two PvuII fragments (2,000 bp in length) from the ColE1 plasmid, the induced synthesis of colicin E1 occurred in the adenylate-cyclase mutant even without cAMP. The 3,100-bp Tth111I fragment of the ColE1 plasmid cloned on pACYC177 restored the cAMP dependency of the deleted ColE1 plasmid. Since the deleted fragments correspond to the mobility region of ColE1, the cAMP dependency of the gene expression should be somehow related to the plasmid mobilization function.


Cyclic AMP-dependent initiation and rho-dependent termination of colicin E1 gene transcription.

We have analyzed the initiation and termination sites of transcription in vivo of the colicin E1 gene in Escherichia coli cells by S1-mapping assay and RNA blot hybridization. According to the S1-mapping assay, the transcription was initiated at about 75 base pairs upstream from the NH2-terminal codon of the gene. The initiation site corresponded with one of the two promoters which were previously determined by in vitro transcription experiments (Ebina, Y., Kishi, F., Miki, T., Kagamiyama, H., Nakazawa, T., and Nakazawa, A. (1981) Gene 15, 119-126). Transcription in vivo of the colicin E1 gene was stimulated by cyclic AMP in the adenylate cyclase-defective mutant cells. Two transcripts of the colicin E1 gene, approximately 1700 and 2200 nucleotides, were detected by the blot hybridization. Since initiation of the transcription started at one site in vivo, these results indicated two termination sites. The location of the termination sites were approximately 60 and 560 base pairs downstream from the COOH-terminal codon of the gene as judged by S1-mapping assay. In vitro transcription experiments with rho-factor strongly suggested that the termination in the proximal terminator was rho-dependent. In the terminator structure, there is the sequence CAAACAAA which is homologous to a common sequence CAATCAA found in other rho-dependent terminators.


Complete nucleotide sequence of the metapyrocatechase gene on the TOI plasmid of Pseudomonas putida mt-2.

Metapyrocatechase which catalyzes the oxygenative ring cleavage of catechol to form alpha-hydroxymuconic epsilon-semialdehyde is encoded by the xylE gene on the TOL plasmid of Pseudomonas putida mt-2. We have cloned the xylE region in Escherichia coli and determined the nucleotide sequence of the DNA fragment of 985 base pairs around the gene. The fragment included only one open translational frame of sufficient length to accommodate the enzyme. The predicted amino acid sequence consisted of 307 residues, and its NH2- and COOH-terminal sequences were in perfect agreement with those of the enzyme recently determined (Nakai, C., Hori, K., Kagamiyama, H., Nakazawa, T., and Nozaki, M. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 2916-2922). A mutant plasmid was isolated which did not direct the synthesis of the active enzyme. This plasmid had a DNA region corresponding to the NH2-terminal two-thirds of the polypeptide. From the deduced amino acid sequence, the secondary structure was predicted. Around 10 base pairs upstream from the initiator codon for metapyrocatechase, there was a base sequence which was complementary to the 3'-end of 16 S rRNAs from both E.coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A preferential usage of C- and G-terminated codons was found in the coding region xylE, which contributed to the relatively high G + C content (57%) of this gene.


Purification and characterization of a protein from Escherichia coli which forms complexes with superhelical and single-stranded DNAs.

From the cells of an Escherichia coli K-12 strain, a 22,000-dalton protein which has an affinity for the superhelical DNA molecule was purified to apparent homogeneity by monitoring the DNA-binding activity using the filter binding assay. In the sedimentation analysis of the DNA-protein complex, the protein has an affinity for the superhelical or single-stranded DNA molecule but neither for the open-circular nor for the linear DNA molecule. The amino acid composition of the protein resembled those of the other prokaryotic histone-like proteins and also to eukaryotic histones H2A and H2B. The protein precipitated upon heating, which is in contrast to the heat-stable feature of the other histone-like proteins. Furthermore, DNA and RNA syntheses in vitro were not affected by the presence of the protein. In view of these characteristics, this protein may play a role in maintaining the bacterial nucleoid structure.


Direct participation of lexA protein in repression of colicin E1 synthesis.


Nucleotide sequence of the structural gene for colicin E1 and predicted structure of the protein.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America


The nucleotide sequence surrounding the promoter region of colicin E1 gene.

The nucleotide sequence of 570 bp, covering the N-terminal portion of the colicin E1 gene, was determined. The sequence of the N-terminal four amino acids of the colicin E1 protein, determined by manual Edman degradation, agreed with that predicted from the nucleotide sequence. From analysis of the 5'-terminal sequences of RNAs synthesized in vitro, the promoter and operator regions of the colicin E1 gene were assigned. These data indicate the existence of two promoters, one of which is located in the coding region for colicin E1. DNA sequence homology of 16 bp was found between the putative operator regions of the colicin E1 and recA genes.


Organization of the lexA gene of Escherichia coli and nucleotide sequence of the regulatory region.

The product of the lexA gene of Escherichia coli has been shown to regulate expression of the several cellular functions (SOS functions) induced by treatments which abruptly inhibit DNA synthesis. We have cloned and mapped the lexA gene on a small segment of approximately 600 base pairs. The lexA promotor was located by transcription R-loop analysis, and the lexA product of 22,000 daltons was identified by protein synthesis in vitro. An unknown gene was found which directed the synthesis of a protein of 35,000 daltons in a region downstream from the lexA gene. Nucleotide sequence of the regulatory region of the lexA gene was determined. The sequence contained inverted repeats homologous to that of the recA regulatory region. These inverted repeats may be recognized by the lexA protein, because the protein is considered to repress both the genes as a common repressor.


Puromycin-insensitive catabolic effect of glucocorticoid in mice.

Cellular and Molecular Biology, Including Cyto-Enzymology


Gene expression in vitro of colicin El plasmid.

Among eighteen polypeptides synthesized in vitro from colicin El plasmid, one of the major products with a molecular weight of 59,000 was identified as colicin El by its immunological property, molecular size, and biological activity. In addition to this polypeptide, seven other polypeptides reacted with colicin El antiserum. Using EcoRI-cleaved colicin El DNA, a 56,000 dalton polypeptide of truncated colicin El was synthesized, but no polypeptide that reacted with colicin El antiserum was produced from SmaI-cleaved colicin El DNA. This fact indicates that the direction of transcription of colicin El structural gene is from SmaI site to EcoRI site in vitro. The immunity protein of a molecular weight of 14,300 and a component of relaxation proteins of a molecular weight of 64,000 were deduced by comparing the results of the gene expression in vitro of one-half (pAO100) and a quarter (pAO2) of colicin El plasmid. The directions of transcription-translation in the genes on the plasmid were discussed. The colicin El plasmid appears to have at least three transcriptional units.


Isolation of TOL and RP4 recombinants by integrative suppression.

We obtained genetic and molecular evidence of non-thermosensitive recombinants of RP4 (Kmr Tcr Cbr/Apr) and the thermosensitive TOL plasmid. As first isolated in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO, the recombinant plasmid pTN1 specified noninducible synthesis of TOL enzymes and was transmissible to Escherichia coli on selection for the transfer of kanamycin resistance. The phenotypic expression of TOL genes of pTN1 in E. coli was low and also noninducible. A spontaneous segregant, pTN2, appearing from pTN1, conferred inducible synthesis of TOL enzymes. These plasmids carry all of the TOL determinants as evidenced by the ability of Pseudomonas putida carrying recombinant plasmids to grow on toluene, xylene, and m-toluate. In E. coli the expression of TOL genes with normal regulation (pTN2) appears to be extremely low without induction, and the induced expression is comparable to that with defective regulation (pTN1). The measurement of the molecular weight of pTN2 by electron microscopy gave a value of about 74 X 10(6).


Prereplicative enzymic changes in regenerating rat liver.

After partial hepatectomy in rats, the following changes in enzymic activities were observed in the remnant liver during the prereplicative period. In the initial period of the prereplicative process, soon after removal of part of the liver, ornithine decarboxylase [EC 4.1.1.17] and IMP dehydrogenase [EC 1.2.1.14] increase. Subsequently, for entry into the S period, thymidine kinase [EC 2.7.1.75] increases simultaneously with increase in the intracellular cyclic AMP level and decrease in its phosphodiesterase [EC 3.1.4.17].


Development of the Diabetic Risk Evaluation using Resistin and Insulin Receptor-alpha in Urine and the Application to Exercise/Nutrition Education

尿中レジスチン及び遊離インスリン受容体αによる糖尿病リスク指標の構築

Aim: We want to be able to detect diabetic risky subjects early, and to prevent the onset of diabetes mellitus by performing exercise guidance and offering nutritional education to them. Methods: Two ultrasensitve immunoassays (immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay; ICT-EIA) for resistin and soluble insulin receptor-a (sIRα) were developed. Urine samples from the patients of diabetes mellitus (DM; n=70), the non-diabetes obese subjects (NDMO; n=43) and the non-diabetes non-obese subjects (NDMNO; n=78) were measured resistin and sIRα using ICT-EIAs. Results: Detection limits of ICT-EIA for resistin and sIRa were 2pg/ml and 0.05pg/ml, respectively. It is possible to measure resistin and sIRa in the urine directly. Resistin in the urine from DM, NDMO and NDMNO were 30.0±36.2, 15.4±17.2 and 17.8±17.4 ng/mg of creatinine, respectively. The urine concentrations of resistin in DM were significantly higher than in the non-diabetes subjects (NDMO and NDMNO) (P<0.05). sIRa in the urine from DM, NDMO and NDMNO were 11.4±21.8, 1.9±1.1 and 1.3±0.8 pg/mg of creatinine, respectively. The urine concentrations of sIRa in DM were significantly higher than in NDM and NDMNO (P<0.001 and P<0.001), respectively. Furthermore, resistin in the urine was positively correlated to sIRa, in the urine. Conclusion: Both resistin and sIRoc in the urine are good markers for the risk of diabetes mellitus. As a result, these markers will be effective for the evaluation of exercise guidance and nutritional education.

Research bulletin of Tokushima Bunri University