Divergent insulin and platelet-derived growth factor regulation of focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation, and rearrangement of actin stress fibers

Insulin treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing high levels of the human insulin receptor resulted in the tyrosine dephosphorylation of the 125-kDa focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK). The decrease in pp125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation paralleled a decrease in the cellular content of actin stress fibers, and these changes were independent of the extracellular matrix on which the cells were grown. The reduction in both pp125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation and actin stress fibers occurred in an insulin concentration-dependent manner, with significant effects at approximately 0.3 nM and a maximal effect at 3 nM. However, in the continuous presence of insulin, the decreases in the tyrosine phosphorylation state of pp125FAK and actin stress fiber content were transient. Maximal reduction of pp125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation was observed following 15 min of insulin treatment, with a return to unstimulated control levels by 60 min. Similarly, actin stress fiber content was maximally reduced by 15 min of insulin treatment and fully recovered by 60 min. In contrast to insulin, platelet-derived growth factor stimulation increased actin stress fiber content and enhanced pp125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation. These data demonstrate a novel signaling role for insulin in inducing the tyrosine dephosphorylation of pp125FAK and a concomitant reorganization of actin stress fibers, which underlies at least one aspect of signaling divergence between the insulin and platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases.

Glycemic improvement in diabetic db/db mice by overexpression of the human insulin-regulatable glucose transporter (GLUT4)

The effects of increased GLUT4 (insulin-regulatable muscle/fat glucose transporter) expression on glucose homeostasis in a genetic model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were determined by expressing a human GLUT4 transgene (hGLUT4) in diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice. A genomic hGLUT4 construct was microinjected directly into pronuclear murine embryos of db/+ matings to maintain the inbred background. Four lines of hGLUT4 transgenic mice were bred to homozygosity at the db locus and all showed a marked reduction of both fasted and fed plasma glucose levels (to approximately 50 and 360 mg/dl, respectively) compared with age-matched nontransgenic db/db mice (approximately 215 and 550 mg/dl, respectively), as well as an enhanced disposal of an oral glucose challenge. In situ immunocytochemical localization of GLUT4 protein in muscle from hGLUT4 db/db mice showed elevated plasma membrane-associated GLUT4 protein in the basal state, which markedly increased after an insulin/glucose injection. In contrast, nontransgenic db/db mice had low levels of plasma membrane-associated GLUT4 protein in the basal state with a relatively small increase after an insulin/glucose challenge. Since the intracellular GLUT4 levels in db/db mice were similar to nontransgenic db/+ mice, the glucose transport defect in db/db mice is at the level of glucose transporter translocation. Together, these data demonstrate that GLUT4 upregulation overcomes the glucose transporter translocation defect and alleviates insulin resistance in genetically diabetic mice, thus resulting in markedly improved glycemic control.

Protein-tyrosine-phosphatase SHPTP2 is a required positive effector for insulin downstream signaling

SHPTP2 is a ubiquitously expressed tyrosine-specific protein phosphatase that contains two amino-terminal Src homology 2 (SH2) domains responsible for its association with tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. In this study, expression of dominant interfering mutants of SHPTP2 was found to inhibit insulin stimulation of c-fos reporter gene expression and activation of the 42-kDa (Erk2) and 44-kDa (Erk1) mitogen-activated protein kinases. Cotransfection of dominant interfering SHPTP2 mutants with v-Ras or Grb2 indicated that SHPTP2 regulated insulin signaling either upstream of or in parallel to Ras function. Furthermore, phosphotyrosine blotting and immunoprecipitation identified the 125-kDa focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK) as a substrate for insulin-dependent tyrosine dephosphorylation. These data demonstrate that SHPTP2 functions as a positive regulator of insulin action and that insulin signaling results in the dephosphorylation of tyrosine-phosphorylated pp125FAK.

Skeletal muscle glucose transport and metabolism are enhanced in transgenic mice overexpressing the Glut4 glucose transporter

Skeletal muscle glucose transport and metabolism were studied in a line of transgenic mice overexpressing the human Glut4 facilitative glucose transporter. Skeletal muscle Glut4 protein levels were increased 2-4-fold in transgenic animals relative to their nontransgenic litter mates. Glut4 overexpression increased total transport activity (measured with 1 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose) in the isolated extensor digitorum brevis muscle in the presence of insulin; this increase was due to 1) an increase in basal glucose transport (0.8 +/- 0.1 versus 0.5 +/- 0.1 mumol.ml-1.20 min-1 in transgenic and control mice, respectively) and 2) an increase in insulin-stimulated transport (1.5 +/- 0.1 versus 0.8 +/- 0.1 mumol.ml-1.20 min-1 above basal transport in transgenic and control mice, respectively). Glut4 overexpression also increased glucose transport stimulated by muscle contractions. In addition, glycolysis and glucose incorporation into glycogen were enhanced in muscle isolated from transgenic mice compared to controls. These data demonstrate that Glut4 overexpression in skeletal muscle increases insulin- and contraction-stimulated glucose transport activity and glucose metabolism. These findings are consistent with the role of Glut4 as the primary mediator of transport stimulated by insulin or contractions.

Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) and Shc compete for a limited pool of Grb2 in mediating insulin downstream signaling

Expression of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) or Shc cDNA resulted in both increased protein and insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS1 and Shc proteins, respectively. Although expression of Shc had no significant effect on insulin-stimulated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase gel shift or c-fos transcriptional activation, expression of IRS1 inhibited these responses. The effect of IRS1 expression on the formation of multisubunit signaling complexes was determined by a series of indirect co-immunoprecipitations. Grb2 immunoprecipitation from IRS1-transfected and insulin-treated cells demonstrated an increased coimmunoprecipitation of Syp and the p85 regulatory subunit of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Similarly, cell extracts immunoprecipitated with a p85 antibody displayed an increased co-immunoprecipitation of Syp and Grb2. However, expression of IRS1 increased the extent of Grb2 associated with IRS1 with a concomitant reduction in the amount of Grb2 associated with Shc. Furthermore, increased expression of Shc reduced the amount of Grb2 bound to IRS1 with a concomitant increase in Grb2 associated with Shc. Together, these data demonstrate that IRS1 and Shc compete for a limited cellular pool of Grb2, and insulin activation of MAP kinase and c-fos transcription predominantly occur through the Shc-Grb2 signaling pathway.

Enhanced peripheral glucose utilization in transgenic mice expressing the human GLUT4 gene

Human GLUT4 protein expression in muscle and adipose tissues of transgenic mice decreases plasma insulin and glucose levels and improves glucose tolerance compared with nontransgenic controls (Liu, M.-L., Gibbs, E. M., McCoid, S. C., Milici, A. J., Stukenbrok, H. A., McPherson, R. K., Treadway, J. L., and Pessin, J. E. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 11346-11350). We examined the basis of improved glycemic control in hGLUT4 transgenic mice by determining glucose homeostasis and metabolic profiles in vivo. Glucose turnover experiments indicated a 1.4-fold greater systemic glucose clearance in hGLUT4 mice relative to controls (p < 0.05), whereas hepatic glucose production was similar despite 26% lower (p < 0.05) glucose levels. Glucose infusion rate during an euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp was 2-fold greater (p < 0.05) in hGLUT4 mice versus controls, and skeletal muscle and heart glycogen content were increased 3-5-fold (p < 0.05). The increased peripheral glucose clearance in hGLUT4 mice was associated with increased (25-32%) basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport rate in soleus muscle (p < 0.01), and increased muscle plasma membrane-associated GLUT4 protein. Fed hGLUT4 mice displayed 20-30% lower plasma glucose and insulin levels (p < 0.05) and 43% elevated glucagon levels (p < 0.001) compared with controls. Triglycerides, free fatty acids, and beta-hydroxy-butyrate were elevated 43-63% (p < 0.05) in hGLUT4 mice due to hypoinsulinemia-induced lipolysis. Free fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels in hGLUT4 mice increased further upon fasting, and skeletal muscle glycogen levels decreased markedly compared with controls. The data demonstrate that high level expression of hGLUT4 increases systemic glucose clearance and muscle glucose utilization in vivo and also results in marked compensatory lipolysis and muscle glycogenolysis during a fast.

Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) binding site is essential for C2C12 myotube-specific expression of the rat GLUT4/muscle-adipose facilitative glucose transporter gene

We have cloned and characterized the rat GLUT4 gene in order to identify the cis-DNA elements responsible for tissue-specific GLUT4 expression. In this study, a variety of luciferase reporter gene constructs were transiently transfected into C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes as a model for skeletal muscle differentiation. These data identified a 103-base pair fragment, located from -522 to -420 relative to the transcription initiation site, that was sufficient to account for GLUT4 C2C12 myotube-specific expression. This fragment was operationally defined as an enhancer since it conferred myotube-specific expression in the context of both the minimal native GLUT4 or the heterologous thymidine kinase promoters in an orientation-independent manner. Further, mutagenesis of this fragment demonstrated that a sequence analogous to the muscle creatine kinase myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) binding site (-466 and -457) was required for transcriptional activation. Electrophoretic mobility gel shift assays demonstrated specific binding activity to the GLUT4 MEF2 sequences which directly correlated with functional expression. Although this element was capable of directing myotube-specific expression when cloned as multiple copies into luciferase reporter gene constructs, the MEF2 sequence alone was insufficient to enhance GLUT4 expression. These data demonstrated that GLUT4 muscle-specific expression is conferred by a 103-base pair DNA sequence located between -522 and -420 of rat GLUT4 gene. This region encompasses a MEF2 binding site which was necessary, but not sufficient, for transcriptional activation.

Enhancement or inhibition of insulin signaling by insulin receptor substrate 1 is cell context dependent

Insulin treatment of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing high levels of the insulin receptor (CHO/IR cells) activates both c-fos serum response element and activator protein 1 (AP-1) reporter genes approximately 10-fold. In contrast, parental CHO cells display only two- to threefold insulin stimulation of reporter gene activity. Transient transfection of parental CHO cells with an insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) expression plasmid enhanced insulin downstream signaling in a biphasic manner, whereas IRS1 transfection of CHO/IR cells inhibited insulin signaling in a dose-dependent fashion. Further, expression of Grb2 in parental CHO cells had no effect on insulin signaling, whereas Grb2 increased insulin activation of reporter gene expression in CHO/IR cells. These data suggest that the expression levels of various effector molecules can either enhance or inhibit insulin downstream signaling events. To assess the relative effects of various insulin receptor, IRS1, and Grb2 levels on insulin signaling, parental CHO cells were transiently transfected with various combinations of expression plasmids encoding these proteins. Although expression of IRS1 resulted in a biphasic increase of insulin signaling in parental CHO cells, coexpression of IRS1 with the insulin receptor resulted in inhibition of signaling. This inhibition of insulin signaling directly correlated with an increased association of Grb2 with IRS1 and a concomitant sequestration of Grb2 away from Shc. Consistent with the Shc-Grb2 pathway as the major route for insulin-stimulated c-Fos and AP-1 transcriptional activation, the IRS1-mediated inhibition was reversed by transfection with an expression plasmid for Grb2. These data demonstrate that the extent of insulin-stimulated downstream signaling was dependent not only on the levels of individual signaling molecules but also on the formation of multiprotein complexes with specific stoichiometries.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation is mediated by high-affinity interactions between distinct domains within the p110 and p85 subunits

Domains of interaction between the p85 and p110 subunits of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) were studied with the yeast two-hybrid expression system. A gene fusion between the GAL4 transactivation domain and p85 activated transcription from a GAL1-lacZ reporter gene when complemented with a gene fusion between the GAL4 DNA binding domain and p110. To define subdomains responsible for this interaction, a series of p85 deletion mutants were analyzed. A 192-amino-acid inter-SH2 (IS) fragment (residues 429 to 621) was the smallest determinant identified that specifically associated with p110. In analogous experiments, the subdomain within p110 responsible for interaction with p85 was localized to an EcoRI fragment encoding the amino-terminal 127 residues. Expression of these two subdomains [p85(IS) with p110RI] resulted in 100-fold greater reporter activity than that obtained with full-length p85 and p110. Although the p85(IS) domain conferred a strong interaction with the p110 catalytic subunit, this region was not sufficient to impart phosphotyrosine peptide stimulation of PI 3-kinase activity. In contrast, coexpression of the p110 subunit with full-length p85 or with constructs containing the IS sequences flanked by both SH2 domains of p85 [p85(n/cSH2)] or either of the individual SH2 domains [p85(nSH2+IS) or p85(IS+cSH2)] resulted in PI 3-kinase activity that was activated by a phosphotyrosine peptide. These data suggest that phosphotyrosine peptide binding to either SH2 domain generates an intramolecular signal propagated through the IS region to allosterically activate p110.

Regulation of c-fos expression in adipose and muscle tissue of diabetic rats

Insulin treatment of control rats demonstrated a marked 8-fold transient increase (15 min) in c-fos mRNA in white adipose tissue, which returns to basal levels by 5 h. Similarly, insulin treatment resulted in a rapid 9-fold increase in cardiac muscle c-fos mRNA, which also returned to control values by 1 h. By contrast, insulin treatment resulted in only a small increase in c-jun mRNA levels in both adipose tissue and cardiac muscle. Similarly, the expression of c-jun mRNA was only slightly responsive to insulin in these tissues from streptozocin-induced insulin-deficient diabetic rats. However, insulin treatment of insulin-deficient diabetic rats resulted in a prolonged increase in c-fos message levels in adipose tissue without any significant change in the time course of c-fos mRNA induction/repression in cardiac muscle. These data demonstrate that in contrast to c-jun, c-fos is transiently increased in both cardiac muscle and adipose tissue by insulin treatment. Furthermore, transrepression of the c-fos gene is specifically attenuated in adipose tissue of insulin-deficient diabetic rats, but not in cardiac muscle.

Transgenic mice expressing the human GLUT4/muscle-fat facilitative glucose transporter protein exhibit efficient glycemic control

To examine the physiological role of the GLUT4/muscle-fat specific facilitative glucose transporter in regulating glucose homeostasis, we have generated transgenic mice expressing high levels of this protein in an appropriate tissue-specific manner. Examination of two independent founder lines demonstrated that high-level expression of GLUT4 protein resulted in a marked reduction of fasting glucose levels (approximately 70 mg/dl) compared to wild-type mice (approximately 130 mg/dl). Surprisingly, 30 min following an oral glucose challenge the GLUT4 transgenic mice had only a slight elevation in plasma glucose levels (approximately 90 mg/dl), whereas wild-type mice displayed a typical 2- to 3-fold increase (approximately 250-300 mg/dl). In parallel to the changes in plasma glucose, insulin levels were approximately 2-fold lower in the transgenic mice compared to the wild-type mice. Furthermore, isolated adipocytes from the GLUT4 transgenic mice had increased basal glucose uptake and subcellular fractionation indicated elevated levels of cell surface-associated GLUT4 protein. Consistent with these results, in situ immunocytochemical localization of GLUT4 protein in adipocytes and cardiac myocytes indicated a marked increase in plasma membrane-associated GLUT4 protein in the basal state. Taken together these data demonstrate that increased expression of the human GLUT4 gene in vivo results in a constitutively high level of cell surface GLUT4 protein expression and more efficient metabolic control over fluctuations in plasma glucose concentrations.

Functional expression of insulin receptor substrate-1 is required for insulin-stimulated mitogenic signaling

To examine the role of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in mediating insulin biological responsiveness, we generated Chinese hamster ovary cell lines expressing antisense IRS-1 RNA. These cells displayed morphological alterations as well as markedly reduced growth rates compared to the parental cells. Furthermore, the antisense IRS-1 cell lines had decreased insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, reduced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation, and decreased thymidine incorporation relative to the parental cell line. Insulin-dependent transcriptional regulation of a serum response element/luciferase reporter construct (SRE-Luc) was also reduced in the antisense IRS-1-expressing cell lines. However, co-transfection with a plasmid directing the expression of rat IRS-1 fully restored insulin-stimulated SRE-Luc activity in the IRS-1 antisense cell lines. Thus, the inhibition in insulin signaling was a specific effect of decreased IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that insulin regulation of mitogenic signaling requires the functional expression of IRS-1 and documents its central importance in the insulin intracellular signaling pathway.

Identification of a skeletal muscle-specific regulatory domain in the rat GLUT4/muscle-fat gene

To identify sequences responsible for the muscle-specific expression of the rat GLUT4/muscle-fat gene, we examined the transcriptional regulation of this gene in the differentiating murine C2C12 skeletal muscle cell line. Differentiated myofibers displayed a 4-5-fold increase in GLUT4 mRNA compared with undifferentiated myoblasts which paralleled the conversion from non-muscle beta-actin mRNA to muscle-specific alpha-actin mRNA expression. Transient transfection of progressive 5' and 3' deletions of the GLUT4 5'-flanking DNA identified a 281-base pair region located between -517 and -237 relative to the transcription start site which conferred myotube-specific expression. This region increased reporter activity in the context of the GLUT4 minimal promoter in an orientation-independent manner and, in addition, onto the heterologous thymidine kinase promoter. Myotube-specific expression of both GLUT4 reporter constructs and the endogenous mouse GLUT4 mRNA was also observed to be thyroid hormone-dependent. Further, cotransfection of reporter constructs containing the 281-base pair GLUT4 differentiation-specific enhancer with the thyroid hormone receptor specifically increased luciferase activity in myotubes approximately 12-fold. Thus, these data demonstrate the presence of a proximal skeletal muscle-specific activation domain that is necessary for both myotube-specific GLUT4 expression and thyroid hormone responsiveness.

Molecular dynamics of insulin/IGF-I receptor transmembrane signaling

To examine the molecular basis of ligand-stimulated intramolecular beta-subunit autophosphorylation, hybrid receptors composed of wild-type and mutant insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) half-receptor precursors were characterized. Previous studies have demonstrated that assembly of the IGF-I wild-type half-receptor (alpha beta WT) with a kinase-defective half-receptor (alpha beta A/K) produced a substrate kinase-inactive holoreceptor in vitro [Treadway et al. (1991): Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:214-218]. To extend these studies, the vaccinia virus/bacteriophage T7 expression system was used to generate various hybrid receptor complexes in cultured cells. As was observed for hybrid receptors assembled in vitro, the wild-type/mutant hybrid receptors formed in situ were also incapable of phosphorylating several peptide substrates. However, ligand-stimulated beta-subunit autophosphorylation was still observed. To determine the molecular basis for this discrepancy, hybrid receptors were assembled from a truncated beta-subunit insulin half-receptor (alpha beta delta 43) and a kinase-defective half-receptor (alpha beta A/K). Under these conditions, insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation primarily occurred on the full-length kinase-inactive beta-subunit (alpha beta A/K) without significant labeling of the kinase-active truncated beta-subunit (alpha beta delta 43). A similar IGF-I hybrid receptor species was characterized, and the same pattern of autophosphorylation was observed in response to IGF-I. These data demonstrate that both insulin and IGF-I stimulate an intramolecular trans-autophosphorylation reaction between two adjacent beta-subunits within the holoreceptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase functions upstream of Ras and Raf in mediating insulin stimulation of c-fos transcription

Insulin treatment of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing high levels of the insulin receptor (CHO-IR) was found to markedly activate (10-20-fold) transcription of the luciferase reporter gene (Luc) driven by the serum response element (SRE) of the c-fos promoter. SRE-Luc expression was also strongly activated by co-transfection with expression plasmids encoding for either v-Ras or v-Raf. In contrast, insulin-stimulated SRE-Luc activity was inhibited by expression of a negative-dominant Ras (RasAsn-17)- or a negative-dominant Raf (p301-1)-encoding plasmid. Furthermore, the negative-dominant Raf mutant blocked v-Ras activation whereas the negative-dominant Ras mutant had no significant effect on v-Raf activation. Together, these data demonstrate that insulin utilizes the Ras and Raf signaling pathways and that Ras functions upstream of Raf in terms of transcriptional activation of the serum response element. To assess the role of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase in this insulin signaling pathway, CHO-IR cells were co-transfected with the p85 regulatory subunit of the PI 3-kinase. Expression of the p85 subunit inhibited the insulin stimulation of SRE-Luc activity without affecting v-Ras or v-Raf activation. Thus, these data demonstrate that the PI 3-kinase is necessary for insulin signaling of transcriptional events and that, in a linear model of intracellular signaling, the PI 3-kinase functions upstream of both Ras and Raf.

Hormonal/metabolic regulation of the human GLUT4/muscle-fat facilitative glucose transporter gene in transgenic mice

To examine the hormonal/metabolic as well as tissue-specific expression of the GLUT4/muscle-fat facilitative glucose transporter gene, we have generated several transgenic mouse lines expressing a human GLUT4 mini-gene which extends 5.3 kilobases (kb) upstream of transcription start and terminates within exon 10. This construct (hGLUT4-11.5) was expressed in a tissue-specific pattern identical to the endogenous mouse GLUT4 gene. The transcription initiation sites of the transgenic construct were similar to the GLUT4 gene expressed in human tissues. To investigate the hormonal/metabolic-dependent regulation of GLUT4, the transgenic animals were made insulin-deficient by streptozotocin (STZ) treatment. In these animals, STZ-induced diabetes resulted in a parallel decrease in endogenous mouse GLUT4 mRNA and the transgenic human GLUT4 mRNA in white adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue, and cardiac muscle. Similarly, insulin treatment of the STZ-diabetic animals restored both the endogenous mouse and transgenic human GLUT4 mRNA levels. To further define cis-regulatory regions responsible for this hormonal/metabolic regulation, the same analysis was performed on transgenic animals which carry 2.4 kb of the human GLUT4 5'-flanking region fused to a CAT reporter gene (hGLUT4[2.4]-CAT). This reporter construct responded similarly to the human GLUT4 mini-gene demonstrating that the element(s) controlling hormonal/metabolic regulation and tissue specificity all reside exclusively within 2.4 kb of the transcriptional initiation site.

Relationship between alpha subunit ligand occupancy and beta subunit autophosphorylation in insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 hybrid receptors

Insulin receptor beta subunit autophosphorylation occurs in an intramolecular trans-reaction in which one beta subunit phosphorylates the adjacent beta subunit within an alpha 2 beta 2 holoreceptor complex (Frattali, A. L., Treadway, J. L., and Pessin, J. E. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 19521-19528). To determine the spatial relationship between alpha subunit occupancy and beta subunit autophosphorylation, the vaccinia virus/bacteriophage T7 transient expression system was used to generate insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 hybrid receptors. The extent of hybrid receptor formation was proportional to the molar ratio of the insulin and IGF-1 receptor expression plasmids used for transfection of cultured fibroblasts. Insulin/IGF-1 hybrid receptors displayed high affinity binding for insulin and IGF-1 similar to that observed for homotypic insulin and IGF-1 receptors, respectively. As expected, insulin poorly competed for 125I-IGF-1 binding to the insulin/IGF-1 hybrid receptors compared with IGF-1. IGF-1, however, competed more efficiently than insulin for 125I-insulin binding, indicating interactions between the alpha subunit binding sites. Furthermore, insulin or IGF-1 stimulated the autophosphorylation of both beta subunits within wild type insulin/IGF-1 hybrid receptors. Ligand-stimulated autophosphorylation of two different mutant/wild type insulin/IGF-1 hybrid receptors also resulted in the labeling of each beta subunit independent of which alpha subunit was occupied with ligand. These data demonstrate that insulin/IGF-1 hybrid receptors bind both ligands with high affinity and that occupancy of either alpha subunit results in a series of intramolecular trans-autophosphorylation reactions between beta subunits.

Regulation of the GLUT4/muscle-fat glucose transporter mRNA in adipose tissue of insulin-deficient diabetic rats

Previous studies have documented that streptozotocin-induced insulin deficiency results in a marked decrease in adipose tissue GLUT4 glucose transporter mRNA levels (Sivitz, W.I., DeSautel, S.L., Kayano, T., Bell, G.I., and Pessin, J.E. (1989) Nature 340, 72-74). In this study, nuclear run-on analysis performed on diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats demonstrated that the decrease in GLUT4 mRNA occurs via a diabetes-induced decrease in GLUT4 transcription rate. The decrease in GLUT4 mRNA levels could be prevented by treatment of the diabetic animals with the adenosine receptor agonist phenylisopropyl-adenosine (PIA). Under these conditions, PIA completely blocked the elevation of intracellular cAMP levels associated with insulin deficiency. Surprisingly, isolation of primary rat adipocytes from control animals resulted in a rapid decrease (approximately 20-fold) in GLUT4 mRNA levels by 24 h with a concomitant increase (approximately 70-fold) in GLUT1 mRNA levels. This rapid loss of GLUT4 expression did not correlate with changes in adipocyte cAMP levels and was not prevented by treatment of the cells with either insulin and/or PIA. These data demonstrate that the decrease in GLUT4 transcription induced by insulin deficiency in vivo predominantly results from an increase in intracellular cAMP levels. In contrast, although GLUT4 transcription also decreases in adipocytes when removed from their normal physiological environment, this occurs independent of changes in cAMP levels.

Intramolecular subunit interactions between insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 alpha beta half-receptors induced by ligand and Mn/MgATP binding

We have previously demonstrated that isolated insulin and IGF-1 alpha beta half-receptors can be reconstituted into a functional alpha 2 beta 2 hybrid receptor complex [Treadway et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 21450-21453]. In the present study, we have examined this assembly process by determining the effect of ligand occupancy and Mn/MgATP binding on the dimerization of mutant and wild-type insulin and IGF-1 alpha beta half-receptors. IGF-1 or Mn/MgAMPPCP binding to wild-type IGF-1 alpha beta half-receptors resulted in the specific assembly of the alpha beta half-receptors into an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric IGF-1 holoreceptor complex. Similarly, insulin binding to the kinase-deficient mutant (A/K1018) insulin alpha beta half-receptor also resulted in the specific assembly into an alpha 2 beta 2 holoreceptor complex. In contrast, Mn/MgAMPPCP treatment of A/K1018 mutant insulin alpha beta half-receptors did not induce heterotetramer assembly, consistent with the inability of this mutant receptor to bind ATP. The ability of the insulin alpha beta receptors to assemble with the IGF-1 alpha beta half-receptors was used to examine the intermolecular subunit interactions responsible for dimerization. In the presence of Mn/MgAMPPCP, the wild-type insulin and wild-type IGF-1 alpha beta half-receptors were observed to assemble into an insulin/IGF-1 alpha 2 beta 2 hybrid receptor complex. Similarly, a combination of insulin and IGF-1 induced hybrid receptor formation between wild-type IGF-1 and A/K1018 mutant insulin alpha beta half-receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Human GLUT4/muscle-fat glucose-transporter gene. Characterization and genetic variation

Four overlapping DNA fragments spanning 32 kb containing the human GLUT4 facilitative glucose-transporter gene were isolated and characterized. The sequence of the GLUT4 gene (approximately 6.3 kb) and 2.0 kb of the promoter region was determined. The sequence of the promoter revealed potential binding sites for transcription factors known to regulate gene expression in muscle cells and adipocytes. However, transfection of constructs including 2 kb of the GLUT4 promoter fused to the bacterial CAT gene into 3T3-L1 adipocytes displayed only weak promoter activity. Because insulin resistance plays a prominent role in the development of NIDDM, genetic variation in the sequence of GLUT4 also was evaluated. Oligonucleotide primer pairs were selected that allowed the protein-coding region of the human GLUT4 gene to be amplified by PCR. The sequence of the protein-coding region of the GLUT4 gene and all intron-exon junctions was determined for a single diabetic Pima Indian and was identical to that of the cloned gene and cDNA. SSCP analysis was used to screen patients with diabetes mellitus and normal, healthy nondiabetic individuals for mutations at the GLUT4 locus. In addition to the silent substitution in the codon for Asn130 (AAC or AAT) and a Val383 (GTC)-->Ile(ATC) replacement described previously, two new variants were identified. One was a T-->A substitution in intron 1 that was found in 1 of 36 NIDDM patients who were typed for this variant. The second was a Ile385(ATT)-->Thr(ACT) replacement that occurred in 1 normal individual and was not found in any of 676 other normal and diabetic subjects. A large and racially diverse group of normal and diabetic individuals also was screened for the Ile383 polymorphism. It occurred in both diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. There is no indication from our data that these polymorphisms are associated with NIDDM.

Time-dependent regulation of rat adipose tissue glucose transporter (GLUT4) mRNA and protein by insulin in streptozocin-diabetic and normal rats

Streptozocin (STZ) administration (125 mg/kg) to normal rats resulted in a rapid (24-hour) decrease in circulating insulin levels, marked hyperglycemia, and weight loss. Adipose tissue glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) mRNA levels decreased approximately eightfold, whereas GLUT4 protein levels were unchanged. However, GLUT4 protein levels decreased approximately 30% by 48 hours and fivefold by 72 hours of insulin deficiency. Although GLUT4 mRNA levels were rapidly restored by insulin therapy (twofold above control levels within 12 hours), GLUT4 protein levels increased only gradually, reaching peak values of 1.5-fold control levels following 7 to 10 days of insulin treatment. Insulin treatment in normal rats increased adipose GLUT4 mRNA levels nearly 100% by 24 hours, while GLUT4 protein levels increased in a more gradual fashion. The delay in GLUT4 protein induction relative to its mRNA was shorter in normal rats treated with insulin than in insulin-treated diabetic rats. These data demonstrate that insulin-induced changes in adipose GLUT4 protein are considerably delayed relative to its mRNA, and that the diabetic state enhances this difference. The known in vivo time-dependent effects of insulin treatment on adipocyte glucose transport activity can be at least partly explained by altered specific expression of GLUT4 protein.