Involvement of glycoconjugates in insulin-receptor interactions. Studies in liver plasma membranes of control and diabetic mice

Lectin binding sites in normal and phenobarbitale/halothane treated rat liver. A histochemical study

The content of carbohydrate residues of both normal and phenobarbitale-halothane-hypoxia exposed rat liver has been examined by means of lectin histochemistry. Eight biotinylated lectins specific to galactose, N-acetyl-galactosamine, N-acetyl-glucosamine, fucose and mannose were applied to paraffin sections of rat liver at light microscopic level. The most distinct binding was observed at the structures of the "perisinusoidal functional unit": Kupffer cells are bound by S-WGA, SBA and PNA. Bile canaliculi display binding sites for RCA I and WGA. Cytoplasm of hepatocytes appears lectin-negative, except for PSA. The enhanced reaction of S-WGA, PNA and SBA after the preincubation of the sections with neuraminidase indicates the occurrence of sialic acid in Kupffer cells. The phenobarbitale-halothane-hypoxia exposed rat liver shows centrolobular degeneration of hepatocytes with a diminished amount of hepatocyte and Kupffer cells as well. The lectin binding pattern of sinusoidal walls, membranes of hepatocytes and bile canaliculi remains the same compared to that of normal rat liver. This finding suggests that at least the carbohydrate content of membranes in the liver resists severe destruction under phenobarbitale-halothane-hypoxia. It is assumed that there exists a connection between intact carbohydrate residues and the regeneration of liver parenchyma.

A quantitative analysis of lectin binding to adult rat hepatocyte cell surfaces

A quantitative evaluation of lectin binding to adult rat hepatocyte cell surfaces was done using cells isolated by two different collagenase perfusion methodologies and cultured as monolayers with two different tissue culture media formulations (protocol I vs. protocol II). The presence of alpha-D-mannosyl and alpha-D-glucosyl groups was detected by the binding of Concanavalin A (Con A), Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA), and Pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA) to freshly isolated cells. Furthermore, beta-D-galactose [Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA)] and sialic acid residues [wheat germ (WGA)] were also found. Protocols I and II served as models for evaluation of: a) the stripping effect of collagenase separation procedures, b) the restoration in culture of collagenase-stripped sugar residues, c) the effect of the culture environment on cell viability [as measured by lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage] and the protein content of hepatocytes, and d) the presence of cell surface sugar residues as a function of culture duration. The ultrastructural morphology of freshly isolated and cultured hepatocytes was also evaluated. These studies indicated that a decline in lectin binding invariably occurred earlier than a massive leakage of LDH and a decrease in the protein content of the cells in culture. Ultrastructurally, autophagocytosis was an early phenomenon in cells isolated and cultured by protocol I, which was also inferior to protocol II regarding the preservation of hepatocyte glycocalyces. Sugar residues lost due to the collagenase-stripping effect were restored, as shown by lectin binding, within the first 24 h of culture. This stripping effect was confirmed by quantitative evaluations of lectin binding to hepatocytes in culture after an incubation with collagenase. This study shows that the binding of peroxidase-labeled lectins is a useful tool for quantitative evaluation of the sugar composition of hepatocyte cultures.

Removal of sialic acids from the purified insulin receptor results in enhanced insulin-binding and kinase activities

Neuraminidase treatment of the purified insulin receptor resulted in an increase in both insulin-binding and kinase activities. Neuraminidase-treated alpha and beta subunits moved further than native subunits on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions. The enhancement of insulin-binding and kinase activities and increased mobility of the subunits on SDS-PAGE were not observed when the receptor was treated with neuraminidase in the presence of neuraminidase inhibitor. These results suggest that terminal sialic acid residues have a significant role in insulin-binding and kinase activities. The involvement of sialic acid residues in the activities of the receptor has not been detected by previous studies.

Further evidence for the involvement of a membrane proteolytic step in insulin action

The hypothesis that insulin action involves a membrane proteolytic step was further explored, by using isolated rat adipocytes and liver plasma membranes. (1) The maximal insulin stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose transport and lipogenesis in fat-cells was selectively inhibited (73-88%) by N alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (Tos-Lys-CH2Cl; active-site inhibitor of trypsin; 30-125 microM), p-nitrophenyl p'-guanidinobenzoate (active-site inhibitor of serine proteinases; 30-125 microM) and p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (arginine ester substrate analogue of proteinases; 1-2 mM), under conditions where neither the basal rate of each metabolic process nor insulin binding nor cellular ATP content were affected. In contrast, N-acetyl-L-alanyl-L-alanyl-L-alanine methyl ester (alanine ester substrate analogue of proteinases; 1-2 mM) was ineffective. (2) Endoproteinase Arg-C (0.25-40 micrograms/ml) exerted dose-dependent insulin-like effects on both 2-deoxyglucose transport and lipogenesis in fat-cells, whereas endoproteinase Lys-C (5-100 micrograms/ml) was ineffective. The maximal activation by endoproteinase Arg-C of both processes (200 and 177% of control values respectively) was shown to occur under conditions where membrane integrity (assessed by measurement of lactate dehydrogenase leakage and passive glucose diffusion) was preserved. This effect was inhibited by Tos-Lys-CH2Cl (125 microM) and was not additive with the maximal insulin effect. (3) Insulin (1-100 ng/ml) produced a dose-dependent increase in the trichloroacetic acid-soluble 125I radioactivity released after a 30 min incubation at 37 degrees C of 125I-labelled liver plasma membranes, but was ineffective on 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin. Insulin effects on both radio-labelled proteins were reproduced by wheat-germ agglutinin (20 micrograms/ml), an insulin mimicker shown to act through the insulin receptor. These data provide further evidence for the hypothesis that insulin bioeffects involve the activation of a membrane serine proteinase with arginine specificity.

Insulin receptors on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells: altered insulin binding to glycosylation mutants

We have identified and characterized insulin receptors on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Insulin binds in a time, temperature and pH dependent fashion and insulin analogues compete for 125I-insulin binding in order of their biological potencies. Furthermore, two CHO cell glycosylation mutants, B4-2-1, lacking high mannose containing glycoproteins, and Lec 1.3c, lacking complex carbohydrate containing glycoproteins, bind insulin with a much higher and lower affinity respectively than wild type cells. This is the first report of insulin receptors on CHO cells and the first to use glycosylation mutants to study the effects of abnormal carbohydrates on insulin binding.

Evidence for surface glycoprotein involvement in the intracellular bioactivity of insulin in rat adipocytes

Lectins specific for D-mannose (concanavalin A), N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (wheat-germ agglutinin) or D-galactose (Ricinus communis agglutinin I) inhibited insulin binding and activated glucose transport in rat adipocytes [Cherqui, Caron, Capeau & Picard (1982) Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 28, 627-643]. In the present investigation, the intracellular activities of insulin and lectins on lipogenesis and protein synthesis were studied under conditions where neither agent had an effect on membrane transport processes. (1) When glucose transport was rate-limiting (0.5 mM-glucose), insulin (0.8 ng/ml) and lectins (20 micrograms/ml) increased lipogenesis by 2.4-3-fold. (2) When passive diffusion of glucose was amplified (10 mM-glucose), insulin (0.8 ng/ml) and lectins (20 micrograms/ml) increased lipogenesis by 1.6-1.8-fold even in the presence of 50 microM-cytochalasin B, which completely blocked glucose transport. (3) Insulin (6 ng/ml), concanavalin A and wheat-germ agglutinin (40 micrograms/ml) stimulated the incorporation of L-[U-14C]leucine into fat-cell protein 1.5-fold but did not modify alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake or 14C-labelled protein degradation. (4) Peanut and soya-bean agglutinins (specific for O-glycosidically-linked oligosaccharides), known not to alter insulin binding, were ineffective. (5) Lectin effects were dose-dependent and were markedly inhibited by specific monosaccharides (50 mM). (6) Insulin and lectin maximal effects were not additive and were completely abolished by neuraminidase treatment of fat-cells (0.05 unit/ml). These data indicate involvement of surface sialylated glycoproteins of the complex N-linked type in the insulin stimulation of glucose and amino acid intracellular metabolic processes. They suggest, together with our previous results, that the transmission of the insulin signal for both membrane and intracellular effects occurs via glycosylated effector entities of, or closely linked to, the insulin-receptor complex.

Glycoprotein composition of psoriatic epidermis in relation to growth control

The composition of isolated [3H]-fucose- and [3H]-glucosamine-labeled glycopeptides from psoriatic lesion, psoriatic uninvolved, regenerating-normal, and normal epidermis (subdivided into basal and differentiated cells) has been analyzed according to molecular weight and affinity to concanavalin A. Basal cells from normal skin have a higher sialic acid content of their "biantennary" fucose-labeled glycoproteins than differentiated cells. Fucose-labeled glycoproteins from regenerating normal skin show an increased molecular weight of their carbohydrate moieties which precedes entrance of the cell into S-phase. In psoriatic uninvolved skin, glycoproteins with more highly branched carbohydrate structures are present in reduced quantity. The previously reported increase in percentage of high-molecular-weight fucose-labeled glycopeptides for psoriatic lesions appears to be specific in that its composition cannot be explained in terms of an increased growth fraction.

Further evidence for a role of carbohydrates in insulin binding: studies in lectin-purified receptors

Purification of liver membrane insulin receptors on concanavalin A- and ricin I-lectin columns gave a 15-fold enrichment in the insulin binding capacity per milligram of protein. Final receptor and protein recoveries were 53 and 3.8% respectively. Lectin-purification increased the receptor affinity for insulin, as indicated by a left-ward shift in the binding competition curve and a steeper slope in the Scatchard plot. Lectin-purification increased the receptor sensitivity towards the glycosidic probes. The maximal effects of beta-galactosidase, ricin I (galactose-binding lectin) and alpha-mannosidase were markedly amplified: 80, 90 and 60% inhibition, versus 45, 40 and 15% with particulate membranes. The limulus polyphemus (LPA) and wheat germ (WGA) agglutinins (sialic acid- and N-acetyl-glucosaminyl-binding lectins) became effective in modifying the insulin binding: 45 and 80% inhibition, respectively. The effects were dose-dependent, reversed by the monosaccharide competitors (lectin effects) and unrelated to the state of receptor occupancy. These findings indicate that, within the hormone recognition area, peptide chains containing galactose, mannose and N-acetyl-glucosamine are strictly required for insulin-receptor interaction and suggest that change in the receptor affinity is related to the role of carbohydrate in insulin binding.

Carbohydrate determinants involved in both the binding and action of insulin in rat adipocytes

The insulin receptor apparent affinity was markedly decreased in fat cells treated with lectins specific either for D-galactose (Ricinus communis agglutinin I, RCAI), D-mannose (concanavalin A, Con A, Lens culinaris agglutinin, LCA) or N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (wheat germ agglutinin, WGA), as indicated by a rightward shift of the binding competition curves and almost lineared Scatchard plots. Limulus polyphemus agglutinin (LPA), specific for sialic acid, was ineffective. All lectins enhanced 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake with relative bioactivities (maximal lectin effect/maximal insulin effect) of 68-86%. Insulin and lectin stimulatory effects were antagonized by specific carbohydrates used as competitors and inhibited by cytochalasin B (70 microM). Maximal effects of insulin and lectins were not additive and were completely abolished in neuraminidase-treated fat cells. Lectins did not affect insulin degradation. These data show that sialylated glycosidic moieties containing D-galactose, D-mannose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units are involved in both processes of insulin 'high affinity' binding and activation of glucose transport but are not implicated in hormone degradation. They suggest that N-linked carbohydrate chains of the complex type may be essential for functional insulin receptor and post-receptor systems.

Insulin receptors on isolated heart cells: effect of temperature and hydrolytic enzymes

Isolated muscle cells from adult rat heart have been used to study the effect of temperature and enzymic digestion on the binding of 125I-labelled insulin. Equilibrium binding studies were performed at both 4 and 37 degrees C, using insulin concentrations ranging from 2.5 X 10(-11) mol/l to 10(-6) mol/l. The empty site affinity constant decreased by 51% from 1.0 X 10(8) l/mol at 4 degrees C to 4.9 X 10(7) l/mol at 37 degrees C, whereas the total receptor concentration remained unaltered at both temperatures. The rate of dilution induced dissociation was enhanced by the presence of native insulin at 37 degrees C, confirming the presence of negative cooperativity among the receptor sites at physiological temperatures. Treatment of isolated heart cells with trypsin and beta-galactosidase led to a decrease in specific binding of 125I-labelled insulin. Myocytes treated with neuraminidase exhibited a significant increase in insulin binding, which was shown to be due to an increase in insulin-receptor affinity. These studies provide new information on the molecular characteristics of insulin receptors in the heart muscle.

Identification of liver cell membrane galactoglycoproteins involved in the process of insulin binding

The glycoproteinic nature of the insulin receptor was indicated using two different approaches: 1. [125I] insulin binding to soluble receptors from mouse liver was inhibited by digestion with beta-galactosidase or pretreatment with Ricinus communis I or concanavalin A. An other enzyme (neuraminidase) and lectins (wheat germ agglutinin, Dolichos biflorus) did not affect the binding reaction. These data confirmed that insulin directly interacts with the galactoglycoproteins of liver membranes. 2. The galactose oxidase-sodium boro[3H] hydride technique, previously used for labeling accessible membrane galactoglycoproteins, was again utilized to discern the components that interact with insulin. When liver membranes were equilibrated with 10-7 M insulin prior to labeling, the SDS gel radioactive profiles were specifically modified with two galactoglycoprotein of apparent molecular sizes 195 000 and 145 000, compatible with their participation in the insulin binding interaction. Membrane pretreatment with beta-galactosidase or Sophora japonica lectin reduced the labeling in most peaks, thus supporting the argument for labeling sensitivity. Preincubation of membranes with 10-7 M proinsulin slightly hindered labeling, while pretreatment with 10-7 M glucagon was ineffective, suggesting a specificity of the insulin effect. These data indicate that glycoprotein nature of the insulin receptor for two reasons: alteration of insulin binding after modification of the galactoglycoproteins, and alteration of galactoglycoprotein labeling after insulin binding. Two galactoglycoproteins, with apparent molecular weights 145 000 and 195 000, respectively, were identified and they are suggested to have insulin binding properties.

Further characterization of the insulin receptor glycosidic moiety in rat adipocytes

Simultaneous or sequential treatment of rat adipocytes with neuraminidase plus beta-galactosidase decreased insulin binding by 43%. No modification was observed with either enzyme individually. alpha-Mannosidase enhanced insulin binding (38%), whereas beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and alpha-L-fucosidase were ineffective. Lectins that interact with galactose (Ricinus communis I, RCAI), mannose, Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA), Concanavalin A (Con A) or N-acetylglucosamine (wheat-germ agglutinin, WGA) decreased insulin binding by 43, 57, 59 and 85% respectively. Lectin inhibition was dose-dependent, saturable and prevented by specific monosaccharides. RCAI, LCA, Con A and WGA decreased the insulin dissociation process by 45, 90, 78 and 84% respectively. Lectins specific for sialic acid, terminal galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine or fucose (Limulus polyphemus, peanut, soybean and Ulex I agglutinins) did not modify either insulin binding or dissociation. These results indicate involvement of penultimate D-galactose, internal N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-mannose residues in both processes. They suggest that, in rat adipocytes, a glycosidic moiety participates in the insulin-receptor interaction through N-linked oligosaccharides of the 'complex type'.

Hydrodynamic characterization of the photoaffinity-labeled insulin receptor solubilized in Triton X-100

The insulin receptor in isolated rat liver plasma membranes was covalently labeled with the photoreactive insulin analogue NB-29-[(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)acetyl]insulin and solubilized with the nondenaturing detergent Triton X-100. The resulting protein-detergent complex was characterized by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B, sedimentation rate determination in linear sucrose gradients, and equilibrium isopycnic centrifugation in NaBr and CsCl. The labeled insulin receptor was found in two forms. The Strokes radii and s20,w's of the two receptor-detergent complexes (R1 and R2) were (mean +/- SEM) 7.08 +/- 0.04 and 3.62 +/- 0.05 nm and 10.45 +/- 0.04 and 6.54 +/- 0.15 S, respectively. The two forms appeared to have the same buoyant density, 1.285 +/- 0.002 g cm-3. The dissociation of R2 from R1, or its reaggregation, either with itself or with other unlabeled proteins, to give R1 proceeded without chemical modification. Mild reduction of disulfide bonds (1 mM 1,4-dithiothreitol) increased the dissociation of R2 from R1. These results indicate that the solubilized receptor binds significant amounts of detergents, that the insulin binding component of the receptor binds to other receptor components by hydrophobic interactions, and that one or more components of the insulin receptor contain intrachain disulfide bonds.

Lectin-induced inhibition of nerve growth factor binding by receptors of sympathetic ganglia

Nerve growth factor (NGF) initiates a pleiotypic response in numerous tissues derived from the neural crest by binding to specific plasma membrane receptors. In sympathetic ganglia this receptor has been characterized as a highly asymmetric, minimally hydrophobic, intrinsic membrane protein with a molecular weight of 135,000 (Costrini et al., 1979b). To further characterize this moiety we assessed the effects of lectins on 125I-NGF specific binding to preparations of particulate and nonionic detergent-extracted microsomal receptors of rabbit superior cervical ganglia (SCG). Concanavalin A (Con A) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), but not soybean agglutinin or Ulex europaeus 1, induced a concentration-related, carbohydrate-specific decrease in 125I-NGF binding. Following Con A exposure, 125I-NGF specific decrease in 125I-NGF binding. Following Con A exposure, 125I-NGF specific binding to particulate SCG receptors was maximally reduced to 23% of control values. WGA similarly reduced NGF binding to particulate microsomal receptors to 37% of control values. Scatchard analysis of growth factor binding following Con A exposure indicated that this lectin effect was principally due to a sixfold reduction in maximum receptor affinity. Lectin-associated impairment of NGF binding was also demonstrated by using a Triton X-100 solubilized receptor preparation. These results provide evidence that the high-affinity-state NGF receptor of SCG is a glycoprotein containing N-acetylglucosamine and alpha-D-mannopyranoside residues. These residues are probably located in close proximity to the growth factor binding region of the NGF receptor.