The natural occurrence of insulin receptors in groups on adipocyte plasma membranes as demonstrated with monomeric ferritin-insulin

Multivalent insulin receptor activation using insulin-DNA origami nanostructures

Insulin binds the insulin receptor (IR) and regulates anabolic processes in target tissues. Impaired IR signalling is associated with multiple diseases, including diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. IRs have been reported to form nanoclusters at the cell membrane in several cell types, even in the absence of insulin binding. Here we exploit the nanoscale spatial organization of the IR to achieve controlled multivalent receptor activation. To control insulin nanoscale spatial organization and valency, we developed rod-like insulin-DNA origami nanostructures carrying different numbers of insulin molecules with defined spacings. Increasing the insulin valency per nanostructure markedly extended the residence time of insulin-DNA origami nanostructures at the receptors. Both insulin valency and spacing affected the levels of IR activation in adipocytes. Moreover, the multivalent insulin design associated with the highest levels of IR activation also induced insulin-mediated transcriptional responses more effectively than the corresponding monovalent insulin nanostructures. In an in vivo zebrafish model of diabetes, treatment with multivalent-but not monovalent-insulin nanostructures elicited a reduction in glucose levels. Our results show that the control of insulin multivalency and spatial organization with nanoscale precision modulates the IR responses, independent of the insulin concentration. Therefore, we propose insulin nanoscale organization as a design parameter in developing new insulin therapies.

Molecular and biological interaction between major histocompatibility complex class I antigens and luteinizing hormone receptors or beta-adrenergic receptors triggers cellular response in mice

Purified IgG from BALB/c mouse anti-C3H serum exerts positive inotropic and chronotropic effects in C3H mouse atria and induces testosterone synthesis in C3H mouse Leydig cells. The effect depends on IgG concentration and can be abolished by beta-adrenergic-receptor and luteinizing hormone-receptor antagonists. IgG interferes with the binding of dihydroalprenolol and luteinizing hormone. Monoclonal antibodies against major histocompatibility complex class I antigens were active on the Leydig cells of C3H and BALB/c mice. There was a parallelism between the effect of each individual monoclonal antibody with specificity for a particular haplotype and the response of the target cell from the strains carrying such haplotypes. These antibodies could precipitate the soluble luteinizing hormone-receptor complex. The results suggested that bound hormone triggers the association of major histocompatibility class I antigen with the receptor, thereby activating the respective target cells.

Covalent coupling of bovine growth hormone to its receptor in bovine liver membranes

The structure of bovine somatotropin receptor was examined following covalent coupling of iodinated recombinant bovine growth hormone ([125I]rbGH) to bovine liver membrane receptors using ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate). Iodinated rbGH was incorporated into a complex of estimated Mr of 140,000 under reducing conditions. Excess unlabeled rbGH, but not bovine prolactin (bPRL), inhibited completely the incorporation of [125I]rbGH into the Mr = 140,000 species. In dairy bulls, the Mr = 140,000 complex was undetectable soon after birth but became predominant at 6 months of age. No evidence was found to support presence of bPRL receptors in steer liver membranes. Assuming a 1:1 stoichiometry of hormone binding to receptor, it appears that bGH binds to a major receptor subunit of Mr = 119,000 which does not recognize bPRL.

Insulin binding and processing by H4IIEC3 hepatoma cells: ultrastructural and biochemical evidence for a unique route of internalization and processing

Biochemical and ultrastructural studies of insulin binding and cellular processing by cultured H4IIEC3 hepatoma cells were performed. Insulin binding and intracellular accumulation were rapid and after 30 min at 37 degrees C, 65% of the total cell-associated 125I-insulin was in an acid-stable compartment. Chloroquine had no significant effect on the amount of total cell-associated insulin or the percentage of insulin in the acid-stable compartment or cell-associated insulin degradation under those conditions, but after 60-min incubations, it slightly decreased the rate of dissociation of internalized hormone. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that monomeric ferritin-insulin (Fm-I) initially bound to single or paired receptors on microvilli. Within 5 min occupied insulin receptors microaggregated and migrated to the intervillous cell surface. During the next 5-10 min occupied receptors aggregated into large clusters on the plasma membrane. Large amounts of insulin were internalized by macropinocytosis and the majority of internalized Fm-I was found in phagosomes. Less than 10% of the membrane-bound insulin was associated with pinocytotic invaginations or coated pits and less than 5% of the total cell-associated insulin was found in lysosomes. Chloroquine had no detectable effect on the amount of Fm-I or its distribution among the intracellular organelles. These studies demonstrated that, compared to previous studies with rat adipocytes or 3T3-L1 adipocytes, insulin interalization and intracellular processing in this hepatoma cell were unique. These differences provide further evidence that insulin binding and processing may be controlled by cell-specific mechanisms and that substantial heterogeneity exists in pathways previously presumed to be similar for all cell types.

The reversible receptor binding of insulin in isolated rat adipocytes measured at 37 degrees C. The binding is not rate limiting for cellular uptake

The bimolecular binding reaction between mono[TyrA14-125I]iodoinsulin and the insulin receptor was investigated at 37 degrees C in intact isolated rat adipocytes in which membrane traffic was inhibited by 1 mM KCN. This treatment decreased the fraction of cell-associated radioactivity resistant to treatment at pH 3 (usually regarded as internalized ligand) from 70% to 17%. The total amount of tracer being cell-associated at steady state was reduced to about half of the control value partly because of a decreased apparent binding affinity. The t1/2 for the forward reaction was reduced from 414 s in the control cell to 26 s in the KCN treated cell. Likewise, the t1/2 for the dissociation was reduced from 461 s to 67 s. Both rate constants were pH sensitive, the association rate constant being 7-8-fold more than the dissociation rate constant. Since both rate constants for the bimolecular reaction were one order of magnitude greater than those for the uptake and the release of label in the untreated cell, other processes than binding constitute the rate-limiting step(s) in the cellular reaction with insulin.

Colloidal gold-labeled insulin complex. Characterization and binding to adipocytes

Biologically active insulin gold complex was used as an ultrastructural marker to study insulin binding sites, uptake, and internalization in isolated rat adipocytes. The preparation conditions for monodispersed particles, ca. 16 nm in diameter and loaded with approximately 100 insulin molecules, are reported. The complex is stable for at least six weeks. Single particles or small clusters were scattered across the cell membrane. The distribution of unbound receptors seemed to be independent of the extensive system of pre-existing surface connected vesicles in adipocytes. The uptake of particles took place predominantly via non-coated pinocytotic invaginations; clathrin-coated pits did not seem to be important for this process. Lysosome-like structures contained aggregates of 10-15 particles. These data suggest that insulin gold complex is a useful marker for the specific labeling of insulin binding sites.

Ultrastructural analysis of the organization and distribution of insulin receptors on the surface of 3T3-L1 adipocytes: rapid microaggregation and migration of occupied receptors

Monomeric ferritin-insulin and high-resolution electron microscopic analysis were used to study the organization, distribution, and movement of insulin receptors on differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Analysis of the binding to prefixed cells showed that insulin initially occupied single and paired receptors preferentially located on microvilli. The majority of receptors (60%) were found as single molecules and 30% were pairs. In 1 min at 37% C, 50% of the receptors on nonfixed cells were found on the intervillous plasma membrane and more than 70% of the total receptors had microaggregated. By 30 min only 7% of the receptors were single or paired molecules on microvilli. The majority were on the intervillous membrane, with 95% of those receptors in groups. The receptor groups on the intervillous plasma membrane could be found in both noncoated invaginations and coated pits. The concentration of occupied receptors in the noncoated invaginations and the coated pits was similar; however, ten times more noncoated invaginations than coated pits contained occupied insulin receptors. The observations in this study contrast with those reported on rat adipocytes using identical techniques (Jarett and Smith, 1977). Insulin receptors on adipocytes were initially grouped and randomly distributed over the entire cell surface and did not microaggregate into larger groups. Insulin receptors on rat adipocytes were found in noncoated invaginations but were excluded from the coated pits. The differences in the organization and behavior of the insulin receptor between rat and 3T3-L1 adipocytes suggest that the mechanisms regulating the initial organization of insulin receptors and the aggregation of occupied receptors may be controlled by tissue-specific processes. Since both of these cell types are equally insulin sensitive, the differences in the initial organization and distribution of the insulin receptors on the cell surface may not be related to the sensitivity or biological responsiveness of these cells to insulin but may affect other processes such as receptor regulation and internalization. On the other hand, the microaggregates of occupied receptors on both cell types may relate to biological responsiveness.

Effects of lipids on the transport activity of the reconstituted glucose transport system from rat adipocyte

The glucose transport system, isolated from rat adipocyte membrane fractions, was reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. Vesicles composed of crude egg yolk phospholipids, containing primarily phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), demonstrated specific D-glucose uptake. Purified vesicles made of PC and PE also supported such activity but PC or PE by themselves did not. The modulation of this uptake activity has been studied by systematically altering the lipid composition of the reconstituted system with respect to: (1) polar headgroups; (2) acyl chains, and (3) charge. Addition of small amounts (20 mol%) of PS, phosphatidylinositol (PI), cholesterol, or sphingomyelin significantly reduced glucose transport activity. A similar effect was seen with the charged lipid, phosphatidic acid. In the case of PS, this effect was independent of the acyl chain composition. Polar headgroup modification of PE, however, did not appreciably affect transport activity. Free fatty acids, on the other hand, increased or decreased activity based on the degree of saturation and charge. These results indicate that glucose transport activity is sensitive to specific alterations in both the polar headgroup and acyl chain composition of the surrounding membrane lipids.

Immunofluorescent studies of the rat adipocyte cell surface

Antibodies against rat adipocyte plasma membranes have been shown to mimic insulin action in isolated adipocytes (Pillion & Czech, J. biol. Chem. Vol. 253, pp. 3761 - 3764, 1978). Immunofluorescent studies with antimembrane antibodies reveal capping on the adipocyte cell surface. Dose - response studies showed that the number of fat cells with obvious caps did not increase as the concentration of antimembrane antibodies was increased, whereas stimulation of glucose oxidation was proportional to the antibody concentration. At fairly high dilutions of antiserum there was no effect on rat adipocyte glucose oxidation, but caps were still visible, suggesting that there is not a direct correlation between capping and stimulation of adipocyte metabolism. At 15 degrees C, it was found that capping was not significantly impaired, while the basal rate of glucose oxidation was reduced considerably. Both insulin and antimembrane antibodies were still able to stimulate glucose oxidation at 15 degrees C, although the maximal rate of glucose oxidation which could be achieved at this temperature was considerably lower than that observed at 37 degrees C. Fat cells that were fixed with paraformaldehyde before being exposed to antimembrane antibodies showed a similar number of caps to unfixed cells, suggesting that some fat cells had a polarized distribution of membrane antigens even before exposure to antimembrane antibodies. These results demonstrate for the first time that antibodies against the rat adipocyte plasma membrane, which are known to mimic insulin action on rat fat cells, can associate with antigens arranged non-randomly on the cell surface, but it appears unlikely that capping plays a critical role in the expression of this biological activity.

Binding, internalization, and degradation of [125I]insulin by cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells: effects of serotonin

Cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells bind and internalize [125I]insulin and down regulate insulin receptors. Internalized insulin was not degraded significantly and diffused from the endothelial cells. Neither 5-hydroxytryptamine, methylamine, nor dansylcadaverine have any observable effect on insulin binding, internalization, metabolism, or down regulation of insulin receptors. Transglutaminase activity, however, is inhibited by 5-hydroxytryptamine and methylamine. These data indicate that transglutaminase is not required for insulin receptor-mediated endocytosis by bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture.

Quantitative ultrastructural analysis of receptor-mediated insulin uptake into adipocytes

Monomeric ferritin-insulin was used as an ultrastructural marker to determine by quantitative electron microscopy the time course and route of insulin uptake in rat adipocytes. To approximate steady state membrane binding conditions prior to any internalization, adipocytes were prefixed with glutaraldehyde and incubated for 30 min with 70 nM monomeric ferritin-insulin. Electron micrographs of these cells showed that the ferritin-insulin particles were predominantly in small groups of receptor sites on the plasma membrane and in pinocytotic-like invaginations of the plasma membrane. Significant amounts of ferritin-insulin were observed in cytoplasmic vesicles of unfixed cells as early as 2 min and in multivesicular bodies and lysosome-like structures within 5 to 10 min after the addition of the ligand. Ferritin-insulin accumulation reached steady state levels in the cytoplasmic vesicles in 5 to 10 min and in the lysosome-like structures in 15 min. Little ferritin-insulin was bound to coated pits, and the relative paucity of coated pits found in adipocytes suggested that these specialized endocytotic structures have a relatively insignificant role in insulin uptake in fat cells. Quantitative analysis of the uptake process suggested that a proportion of the insulin internalized by the cell may not be transported to lysosomes, but may be recycled along with the insulin receptor to the plasma membrane.

Partial disruption of naturally occurring groups of insulin receptors on adipocyte plasma membranes by dithiothreitol and N-ethylmaleimide: the role of disulfide bonds

In this ultrastructural study, monomeric ferritin-insulin was used to further elucidate the role of disulfide bonds in maintaining the natural groups of insulin receptors on adipocyte plasma membranes. Dithiothreitol (1 mM) caused partial disruption of the occupied receptor groups with an increase in single receptors to greater than 50% of total occupied receptors. N-Ethylmaleimide (1 mM) disrupted the groups to the same extent as dithiothreitol and the effect was partly additive with the dithiothreitol effect. The magnitude of the disruption caused by dithiothreitol or N-ethylmaleimide was similar to that caused by cytochalasin B. Dithiothreitol, a reducing agent, caused a marked increase in binding of insulin to the plasma membranes while N-ethylmaleimide and cytochalasin B, both thiol reagents, had little if any effect on insulin binding. These data suggest that two different sets of disulfide bonds are involved. One set was susceptible to both reducing and thiol reagents and responsible for holding the receptor groups together, and the other set was susceptible to reducing agents only and related to the increased insulin binding caused by dithiothreitol. A proposed model is discussed.

Ultrastructural basis for chloroquine-induced increase in intracellular insulin in adipocytes: alteration of lysosomal function

A quantitative morphological analysis of insulin uptake into adipocytes was undertaken to determine the structural basis for chloroquine-induced increases in intracellular insulin. Adipocytes were incubated with ferritin-labeled insulin in the presence or absence of 50 microM chloroquine at 37 degrees C for 2-90 min and the uptake of the hormone conjugate was determined quantitatively. Quantitative morphometry of cellular organelles also was performed. Chloroquine treatment of adipocytes incubated with 70 nM ferritin-labeled insulin resulted in: (i) a 120% increase in the number of lysosomes in the cytoplasm; (ii) a 75% increase in the average concentration of ferritin-labeled insulin in a lysosome; and (iii) a 25% increase in the percentage of lysosomes containing ferritin-labeled insulin. The cumulative result of these effects was a substantial increase in the amount of intact intracellular hormone within the lysosomes. These morphological data are consistent with biochemical data concerning chloroquine-induced accumulation of 125I-labeled insulin in adipocytes.

Receptor mediated endocytosis of polypeptide hormones: mechanism and significance

Polypeptide hormones bind to specific receptors on the surface of cells. Under certain conditions they localize to specific microdomains of the membrane, i.e., microvilli and coated pits. At physiologic temperature the ligand is internalized by a process of adsorptive endocytosis. This process involves several intracellular membrane bounded structures including coated vesicles, non-coated vesicles and lysosomal structure. These events provide a simple and general mechanism for removal of the ligand from the cell surface in order to terminate its signal. Linked to this process is a mechanism for surface receptor regulation. Thus, the concentration of hormone receptors on the cell surface is a function of the synthetic rate, internalization rate and the rate of recycling of surface membrane.

Similarities between insulin, hydrogen peroxide, concanavalin A, and anti-insulin receptor antibody stimulated glucose transport: increase in the number of transport sites

Plasma membranes from insulin or insulin mimicker (hydrogen peroxide, anti-insulin receptor antibody, and concanavalin A) treated adipocytes showed an increase in glucose transport compared to control cells due to an increase in Vmax and not due to alteration in Km. Arrhenius plots showed no difference in the energy of activation between control and insulin or insulin mimicker stimulated glucose transport states. Glucose transport by plasma membranes from control or treated adipocytes was equally (percentage) inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, reduced glutathione, or cytochalasin B. The data indicate that the increased transport resulted from addition of new transport sites similar to the sites existing in the basal state.

In vitro effects of a sulfonylurea on insulin action in adipocytes. Potentiation of insulin-stimulated hexose transport

The mechanism(s) by which the oral sulfonylurea, tolazamide, exerts its extrapancreatic hypoglycemic effects was studied using rat epididymal adipose tissue maintained 20-44 h in the presence or absence of the drug. Insulin binding, hexose transport and glucose metabolism were compared in adipocytes isolated from the cultured tissue. In contrast to earlier reports that suggested that sulfonylureas alter the binding of insulin, neither receptor number nor affinity were changed by tolazamide treatment. The uptake of the glucose analogs 2-deoxyglucose and 3-0-methylglucose in the absence of insulin (i.e., basal) was also unchanged. However, exposure to tolazamide resulted in a potentiation of the stimulatory effects of insulin by approximately 30% at each hormone concentration assayed (0.4-40 ng/ml). This potentiation was dependent on the tolazamide concentration (0.003-0.30 mg/ml), with a maximal effect observed at therapeutic levels. A tolazamide analog hypoglycemic activity in vivo was found not to enhance either basal or insulin-stimulated uptake in vitro. Conversion of 0.1-5.0 mM glucose to CO2 and total lipids in the presence of insulin was also potentiated by tolazamide treatment. The inability of the drug to directly stimulate basal glucose uptake was paralleled by its lack of effect on glucose metabolism. At 50 mM glucose, where transport is no longer rate-limiting, tolazamide did not potentiate metabolism in the absence or the presence of insulin. These studies demonstrate that tolazamide in vitro alters postreceptor insulin action without influencing the receptor, and suggests insulin-stimulated hexose transport as the cellular process responsible for the hypoglycemic effect of sulfonyureas in adipose tissue.

Biological activity of an angiotensin II--ferritin conjugate on rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells

Specific binding sites for [Asp1,Ile5]angiotensin II (angiotensin) have been demonstrated in homogenates and subcellular fractions of aortic medial smooth muscle cells, but the localization of the angiotensin receptor responsible for contraction has not been determined [Devynck, M. A., & Meyer, P. (1976) Am. J. Med. 61, 758-767]. To establish the location of this receptor, we have prepared a membrane-impermeable analogue of angiotensin by acylating its N-terminal amino group with the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of succinylated ferritin. This angiotensin-ferritin conjugate possessed the same intrinsic activity as angiotensin but was approximately 200 times less potent in inducing contraction in rabbit aortic strips. The stability of the conjugate was investigated, and approximately 5% of the contractile activity of the angiotensin-ferritin conjugate was attributable to low molecular weight components that were present before or after exposure to aortic strips. The time required for aortic strips to reach a plateau of contraction in response to angiotensin-ferritin was significantly longer than that required by free angiotensin to produce the same level of contraction. With enzymatically dispersed aortic smooth muscle cells, however, the time taken to produce contractions by both angiotensin and angiotensin-ferritin was indistinguishable. [Sar1,-Ala8]angiotensin II, a competitive inhibitor of angiotensin, completely suppressed contractions induced by angiotensin or angiotensin-ferritin in aortic strips or dispersed aortic smooth muscle cells. These results suggest that angiotensin need not directly penetrate the plasma membrane to cause contraction and imply that the angiotensin receptor responsible for initiating contraction of aortic smooth muscle cells is located on the plasma membrane.

Computer assisted analysis of ferritin-insulin receptor sites on adipocytes and the effects of cytochalasin B on groups of insulin receptor sites

A computerized quantitative technique was used to analyze the distribution of ferritininsulin receptor sites on rat adipocytes and the effects of cytochalasin B on groups of receptor sites. Computer analysis of separation distances between receptor sites established that insulin receptor sites on adipocytes did not have a random distribution but have a distinct tendency to exist in groups with a maximum separation distance between particles of 400 A. A peak in the distribution of separation distances occurred at 100-200 A. Cytochalasin B, but not cytochalasin D, treatment of adipocytes resulted in a decrease in the number of large groups of receptor sites and a corresponding increase in single and paired receptor sites without affecting the separation distance between the remaining grouped receptors. This suggested that when cytochalasin B disrupted the bond holding receptor sites together, it caused complete disruption. These observations provided additional information on the ultrastructural characteristics of the insulin receptor. Further application of these techniques to the analysis of insulin receptors may provide the necessary structural correlates to the biochemically observed differences in insulin action in other tissues and diseased states.

Insulin receptors: differences in structural organization on adipocyte and liver plasma membranes

Comparison was made of the distribution of the insulin receptor sites on adipocyte and liver plasma membranes by using ferritin-insulin. Two-thirds of the occupied insulin receptors on adipocytes occurred in groups of two or more whereas up to two-thirds of the receptors on liver occurred as single receptors. Ferritin-insulin did not cause aggregation of the receptor sites in either tissue. The naturally occurring groups of receptors on adipocyte membranes may play a role in the greater sensitivity of adipocytes to insulin.

Differences in organizational structure of insulin receptor on rat adipocyte and liver plasma membranes: role of disulfide bonds

Binding of 125I-labeled insulin to rat liver and adipocyte plasma membranes has been investigated after treatment of the membranes with agents that modify disulfide bonds or sulfhydryl groups. Dithiothreitol, a disulfide-reducing agent, produced a bimodal response in adipocyte plasma membranes with dose-dependent increases in binding occurring over the range of 0-1 mM dithiothreitol; 5 mM dithiothreitol produced decreased binding. Insulin binding reached its maximal increase at 1 mM and was 3 times control values. Scatchard analysis of the 1 mM dithiothreitol effect revealed a straight line plot indicative of one class of sites with a Ka of 1.0 x 10(8) M-1 which is intermediate between the two Kas obtained from the curvilinear Scatchard plot of control membranes. There was a 20-fold increase in the number of intermediate-affinity receptors compared to high-affinity receptors. The increased 125I-labeled insulin binding after dithiothreitol treatment was reversed by oxidized glutathione in a dose-dependent manner. Interposition of treatment with N-ethylmaleimide, an alkylating agent, prevented oxidized glutathione from reversing the dithiothreitol effect. Reduced glutathione produced the same effect as dithiothreitol. Liver plasma membranes treated with up to 1 mM dithiothreitol exhibited a maximum increase in insulin binding of 20% compared to control. Dithiothreitol at 5 mM decreased insulin binding below that of control membranes. The results indicate that the dithiothreitol effect on insulin binding to adipocyte plasma membranes is due to disruption of disulfide bonds, and that the structural organization of the insulin receptor on the plasma membranes is different for liver and for adipose tissue. The data imply that the insulin receptors on the plasma membrane of adipocytes possess at least two functionally distinct subclasses of disulfide bond but liver insulin receptors do not.

Quantitative aspects of a unified model of diffusion mediated receptor--cyclase coupling

A quantitative model is presented of diffusion mediated coupling of adenylate cyclase to multivalent plasma membrane receptors which accounts for a wide range of phenomena including non linear occupation-activation plots with either positive or negative second derivatives, spare receptors, silent receptors, and negative and positive binding cooperativity. A non linear least square fit of the predicted equation for cyclase activation to available data predicts translational diffusion coefficients in the range of (10(-10) - 10(-11))cm2/s.

125I-insulin binding to cultured human lymphocytes. Initial localization and fate of hormone determined by quantitative electron microscopic autoradiography

Morphologic and biochemical studies indicate that the initial action of insulin is binding to a cell surface receptor. Whether further translocation of the hormone, or a product of the hormone, occurs is unclear and has not been investigated by direct means. To determine the fate of 125I-insulin bound to its receptor, we have examined the distribution of radioactivity by quantitative electron microscopic autoradiography. Cultured lymphocytes of the IM-9 cell line were incubated with 0.1 nM 125I-insulin at 15 degrees and 37 degreesC for incubation periods extending from 2 to 90 min. At 15 degreesC, grains localize to the plasma membane and there is no translocation as a function of time. At 37 degreesC, grains predominantly localize to the plasma membrane but there is a small shift in distribution to a distance of 300-700 nm from the plasma membrane. This small additional band component of irradiation extends to approximately to10--15% of the cell radius. When a morphometric analysis is applied to grains extending 300 nm and beyond from the plasma membrane, we find no preferential localization to any intracellular organelle. We interpret these data to indicate that in the cultured lymphocyte, labeled insulin initially localizes to the plasma membrane but as fuanction of time and increasing temperature there is a small but definite translocation of the hormone or a product of the hormone to a hihgly limited aea of the cell periphery.