Surface receptors for pancreatic hormones in dog and rat hepatocytes: qualitative and quantitative differences in hormone-target cell interactions

Insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and glucagon: the evolution of their receptors

Insulin and glucagon, two of the most studied pancreatic hormones bind to specific membrane receptors to exert their biological actions. Insulin-like growth factors IGF-I and IGF-II are structurally related to insulin, although they are expressed ubiquitously. The biological functions of the IGFs are mediated by different transmembrane receptors, which includes the insulin, IGF-I and IGF-II receptors. The interaction of insulin, insulin related peptides and glucagon with the corresponding receptors has been studied extensively in mammals and continues to be so. At the same time, research on ectothermic animals has made enormous progress in the recent years. This paper summarizes current knowledge on insulin, IGF-I and glucagon receptors, from a comparative point of view with special attention to non-mammalian vertebrates. The review covers adult and mostly typical target tissues, and with very few exceptions, developmental aspects are not considered. Binding characteristics, tissue distribution and structure of insulin and IGF-I receptors will be considered first, because both ligands and receptors are structurally related and have overlapping functions. These sections will be followed by similar distribution of information on glucagon receptors. Readers interested in either structure or functions of insulin, IGFs and glucagon in nonmammalian vertebrates are referred to other reviews (Mommsen TP, Plisetskaya EM. Insulin in fishes and agnathans: history, structure and metabolic regulation. Rev Aquat Sci 1991;4:225-259; Mommsen TP, Plisetskaya EM. Metabolic and endocrine functions of glucagon-like peptides: evolutionary and biochemical perspectives. Fish Physiol Biochem 1993;11:429-438; Duguay SJ, Mommsen TP. Molecular aspects of pancreatic peptides. In: Sherwood NM, Hew CL, editors, Fish Physiology. vol 13. 1994:225-271; Plisetskaya EM, Mommsen TP. Glucagon and glucagon-like peptides in fishes. Int Rev Citol 1996;168:187-257.).

A spectroscopic investigation of the conformational dynamics of insulin in solution

A conformational change, termed the T --> R transition, which can be detected by visible, circular dichoric, and fluorescence spectroscopy, occurs in native insulin and tryptophan substituted insulin analogs ([TrpB25]-, [TrpB26]-, [GlyB24,TrpB25]-, and [GlyB24,TrpB26]insulin) upon binding specific alcohol ligands, including phenol and cyclohexanol. In these studies we have demonstrated that changes in the visible absorbance spectrum of an insulin6(Co2+)2 solution are not a definitive means of determining the occurrence of T --> R transitions in the presence of alcohol ligands. We also have presented evidence that fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) can be used to determine the aggregation state of insulin and that des-octapeptide(B23-30)insulin (DOI) forms Zn(2+)-coordinated hexamers that appear to be stabilized by the T --> R transformation. Using fluorescence spectroscopy, we have shown that in the presence of specific alcohol ligands the B-chain COOH-terminal residues, particularly position B25, of hexameric, as well as monomeric insulin undergo a conformational change which appears to be related to the T --> R transformation. Circular dichroic studies indicate that a conformation similar to the R-state of metal-coordinated hexameric insulin can be induced by binding cyclohexanol; however, this new conformational state (RI-state) exists independent of divalent metal ion coordination, and therefore of hexamer formation. We further show that monomeric insulin can be induced to assume the RI-state upon alcohol binding, therefore illustrating the first defined conformational change described for monomeric insulin. We suggest that this new conformation may be an intermediate state in the T --> R transformation in metal-coordinated hexameric insulin, such that T --> RI --> R. The model presented here of the structural adjustments undergone by insulin upon binding cyclohexanol provides further insight into the conformational flexibility of insulin in solution.

Implications of replacing peptide bonds in the COOH-terminal B chain domain of insulin by the psi (CH2-NH) linker

To evaluate more thoroughly the importance of main-chain structure and flexibility in ligand interactions with the insulin receptor, we undertook to synthesize analogues with reduced peptide bonds in the COOH-terminal B chain domain of the hormone (a stable, but adjustable beta-strand region). By use of solid-phase, solution-phase and semisynthetic methods, analogues were prepared in which ArgB22 of des-octapeptide(B23-B30)-insulin was extended by the sequences Gly-Phe-psi (CH2-NH)-Phe-NH2, Gly-Gly-psi(CH2-NH)-Phe-Phe-NH2, Gly-Phe-psi (CH2-NH)-Phe-Phe-Thr-Pro-Ala-Thr-OH, and Gly-Phe-Phe-psi (CH2-NH)-Phe-Thr-Pro-Ala-Thr-OH, and were studied with respect to their abilities both to interact with the hepatocyte insulin receptor and to form soluble anion-stabilized hexamers in the presence of Co2+ and phenol. Additional analogues of des-pentapeptide(B26-B30)-insulin were also examined. Overall, our results show that, whereas all analogues retain considerable ability to form organized metal ion-coordinated complexes in solution, the reduction of peptide bonds both proximal and distal to the critical side chain of PheB25 results in analogues with severely diminished receptor binding potency. We conclude that the peptide carbonyls from both PheB24 and PheB25 are important for insulin-receptor interactions and that the structural organization of the region when insulin is bound to its receptor differs from that occurring during simple monomer-monomer and higher-order interactions of the hormone.

Mechanism of action of des-His1-[Glu9]glucagon amide, a peptide antagonist of the glucagon receptor system

We have investigated the mechanisms through which des-His1-[Glu9]glucagon amide functions as a peptide antagonist of the glucagon receptor/adenylyl cyclase system. Studies with radiolabeled peptides identified that (i) the antagonist bound to intact hepatocytes according to a single first-order process, whereas the rate of association of glucagon with the same preparation could be described only by the sum of two first-order processes; (ii) the interaction of the antagonist with saponin-permeabilized hepatocytes was not affected by the addition of GTP to the incubation medium or by the elimination of Mg2+, whereas the interaction of glucagon with the same cell preparation was modified significantly by the presence of the nucleotide or by the absence of the divalent metal ion; (iii) the dissociation of antagonist from intact hepatocytes incubated in buffer was complete, whereas that of agonist was not; and (iv) the antagonist bound to intact hepatocytes at steady state according to a single binding isotherm (as did both agonist and antagonist in permeabilized hepatocytes), whereas glucagon bound to the intact cell system with two clearly defined apparent dissociation constants. A model is presented for the mechanism of action of the glucagon antagonist in which the analog binds to glucagon receptors in a Mg(2+)- and GTP-independent fashion and in which resulting ligand-receptor complexes fail to undergo sequential adjustments necessary for the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase.

Structural requirements of pancreatic polypeptide receptor binding

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) receptors have been identified and characterized on the basolateral membranes (BLM) of canine intestinal mucosa. The present study was designed to ascertain the structural requirements of the PP molecule for binding to its receptor. A radioreceptor assay using purified BLM was employed to elucidate receptors specific to PPs of various mammalian species and to modified bovine PP (bPP) fragments. Receptor cross-reactivities (CR) to various PPs and bPP fragments were established. Results show that percent receptor CR by PPs of various species was as follows: bPP (100%) greater than human PP (68%) greater than porcine PP (50%) greater than canine PP (45%) greater than ovine PP (36%) greater than rat PP (3%). The fragments bPP-(1-15), bPP-(1-17), bPP-(1-26), bPP-(16-23), bPP-(18-30), bPP-(24-36), bPP-(27-35), and bPP-(31-36) at 500 nM did not significantly displace tracer from receptor (less than 0.1% CR). Des-COOH-terminal tyrosinamide [bPP-(1-35)] produced less than 0.1% CR. Oxidation of bPP methionine-30 residue to methionine sulfoxide decreased displacement to 67%. Modification of native amidated tyrosinamide to the free acid abolished receptor binding, whereas esterification to the methyl ester of COOH-terminal tyrosine restored binding to 60%. Additionally, percent CR decreased progressively as amino acid residues were deleted from the NH2-terminal region. We conclude that the molecular homologue of PP primary structure is necessary for full receptor binding. Both the NH2- and COOH-terminal residues are required for recognition, and the COOH-terminal tyrosinamide must be intact for PP binding to its receptor.

Characterization of specific pancreatic polypeptide receptors on basolateral membranes of the canine small intestine

We have identified specific binding sites for pancreatic polypeptide (PP) on the mucosal lining of canine small intestine. The present study was undertaken to further characterize these binding sites (receptors) on purified intestinal membranes and to establish their location on the brush border or basolateral surface of the intestinal enterocyte. Basolateral and brush border membranes were prepared by sorbitol density centrifugation. PP receptors were localized predominantly to the vascular surface, and thus binding of PP 125I-labeled on Tyr-27 to the basolateral preparation was used to evaluate receptor characteristics. Binding of PP was calcium, time, temperature, and pH dependent. Maximum specific binding of labeled PP occurred after an 8-hr incubation at 4 degrees C with 5 mM calcium at pH 6.8. Data analysis by Scatchard plot showed high- and low-affinity binding sites with relative affinities of 1.5 x 10(-9) M and 2.6 x 10(-8) M and with corresponding binding capacities of 0.23 pmol/mg and 0.84 pmol/mg of protein, respectively. This receptor was specific for PP since peptide YY and neuropeptide Y, peptides of the PP family, cross-reacted by less than 3%, as judged from comparisons of half-maximal displacement of label. Structurally dissimilar peptides, insulin and glucagon, did not compete for binding. Specific 125I-labeled PP binding was localized primarily to basolateral membranes (9.8 +/- 0.8%) with little binding by brush border membranes (0.8 +/- 0.2%). Thus, we have identified highly specific receptors for PP, located predominantly on the vascular surface of the small intestinal mucosa. These data suggest that the mucosal lining of the small intestine is a target tissue for PP and that PP participates in the hormonal regulation of fuel metabolism and substrate transport in the small intestinal mucosa.

Receptors on phaeochromocytoma cells for two members of the PP-fold family--NPY and PP

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) belong to a family of regulatory peptides which hold a distinct tertiary structure, the PP-fold, even in dilute aqueous solution. High-affinity receptors, specific for both PP and NPY, are described on the rat phaeochromocytoma cell line, PC-12. The binding of [125I-Tyr36]PP to PC-12 cells was inhibited by concentrations of unlabeled PP which correspond to physiological concentrations of the hormone, 10(-11)-10(-9) mol/l. The affinity of the receptor for the neuropeptide, NPY, was 10(2)-times lower than that of the PP receptor. C-terminal fragments of both PP (PP24-36) and NPY (NPY13-36) were between 10(2)- and 10(3)-times less potent in displacing the radiolabeled 36-amino-acid peptides from their respective receptors. It is concluded that PC-12 cells are suited for structure-function studies of the PP-fold peptides and studies on the cellular events following cellular binding of PP-fold peptides.

Hepatic glucagon metabolism. Correlation of hormone processing by isolated canine hepatocytes with glucagon metabolism in man and in the dog

We have found that canine and rat hepatocytes convert (125I)iodoTyr10-glucagon to a peptide metabolite lacking the NH2-terminal three residues of the hormone. The peptide is released into the cell incubation medium and its formation is unaffected by a variety of lysosomotropic or other agents. Use of specific radioimmunoassays and gel filtration demonstrated in both normal subjects and in chronic renal failure patients a plasma peptide having the properties of the hormone fragment identified by cell studies. Studies of the dog revealed a positive gradient of the fragment across the liver and no differential gradient of the fragment and glucagon across the kidney. We conclude that the glucagon fragment arises from the cell-mediated processing of the hormone on a superficial aspect of the hepatocyte, the glucagon fragment identified during experiments in vitro represents the cognate of a peptide formed during the hepatic metabolism of glucagon in vivo, and measurement of the fragment by COOH-terminal radioimmunoassays could lead to an understimulation of hepatic glucagon extraction.

Identification of distinct receptor complexes that account for high-and low-affinity glucagon binding to hepatic plasma membranes

We have analyzed ligand-receptor complexes resulting from (i) the incubation of canine hepatic plasma membranes with [125I]iodoglucagon and (ii) subsequent gentle solubilization of receptor-bound ligand with digitonin. The complexes (molecular weight approximately equal to 500,000) retain the radiolabeled ligand during gel filtration and subsequent manipulation at 4 degrees C in the absence of covalent crosslinking. Affinity chromatography of the glucagon-receptor complexes on columns of wheat germ lectin linked to agarose resulted in two fractions, one of which was not bound by the column and the other of which was specifically eluted by N-acetylglucosamine. The presence of GTP during the incubation of plasma membranes with [125I]iodoglucagon caused about a 50% decrease in total ligand binding but affected only the ligand-receptor complexes that bound to wheat germ lectin. Moreover, it was found that the proportion of the two forms of ligand-receptor complexes identified by chromatography on wheat germ lectin depended on the degree of saturation of the membrane receptor. Thus, both the inhibition by glucagon of radiolabeled glucagon binding to membranes and the concomitantly decreased extent of association of the radiolabeled ligand with solubilized receptor complexes could be modeled in terms of two noninteracting receptor populations (having dissociation constants of about 0.35 and 4.94 X 10(-9) M). We conclude that (i) glucagon-receptor complexes formed on canine hepatic plasma membranes exist in two forms that differ after solubilization by digitonin in their avidities for wheat germ lectin, (ii) the high-and low-affinity binding of glucagon characteristic of hepatic plasma membranes arises from distinct receptor populations that probably differ in glycosylation, and (iii) the effect of GTP to decrease binding of glucagon to membranes arises from interactions of the nucleotide with the receptor complex that binds to wheat germ lectin.