Insulin/insulin-like growth factor I hybrid receptors have different biological characteristics depending on the insulin receptor isoform involved

The insulin receptor (IR) and the insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) have a highly homologous structure, but different biological effects. Insulin and IGF-I half-receptors can heterodimerize, leading to the formation of insulin/IGF-I hybrid receptors (Hybrid-Rs) that bind IGF-I with high affinity. As the IR exists in two isoforms (IR-A and IR-B), we evaluated whether the assembly of the IGF-IR with either IR-A or IR-B moieties may differently affect Hybrid-R signaling and biological role. Three different models were studied: (a) 3T3-like mouse fibroblasts with a disrupted IGF-IR gene (R(-) cells) cotransfected with the human IGF-IR and with either the IR-A or IR-B cDNA; (b) a panel of human cell lines variably expressing the two IR isoforms; and (c) HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells predominantly expressing either IR-A or IR-B, depending on their differentiation state. We found that Hybrid-Rs containing IR-A (Hybrid-Rs(A)) bound to and were activated by IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin. By binding to Hybrid-Rs(A), insulin activated the IGF-I half-receptor beta-subunit and the IGF-IR-specific substrate CrkII. In contrast, Hybrid-Rs(B) bound to and were activated with high affinity by IGF-I, with low affinity by IGF-II, and insignificantly by insulin. As a consequence, cell proliferation and migration in response to both insulin and IGFs were more effectively stimulated in Hybrid-R(A)-containing cells than in Hybrid-R(B)-containing cells. The relative abundance of IR isoforms therefore affects IGF system activation through Hybrid-Rs, with important consequences for tissue-specific responses to both insulin and IGFs.     

Alanine scanning of a putative receptor binding surface of insulin-like growth factor-I

Current evidence supports a binding model in which the insulin molecule contains two binding surfaces, site 1 and site 2, which contact the two halves of the insulin receptor. The interaction of these two surfaces with the insulin receptor results in a high affinity cross-linking of the two receptor alpha subunits and leads to receptor activation. Evidence suggests that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) may activate the IGF-I receptor in a similar mode. So far IGF-I residues structurally corresponding to the residues of the insulin site 1 together with residues in the C-domain of IGF-I have been found to be important for binding of IGF-I to the IGF-I receptor (e.g. Phe(23), Tyr(24), Tyr(31), Arg(36), Arg(37), Val(44), Tyr(60), and Ala(62)). However, an IGF-I second binding surface similar to site 2 of insulin has not been identified yet. In this study, we have analyzed whether IGF-I residues corresponding to the six residues of the insulin site 2 have a role in high affinity binding of IGF-I to the IGF-I receptor. Six single-substituted IGF-I analogues were produced, each containing an alanine substitution in one of the following positions (corresponding insulin residues in parentheses): Glu(9) (His(B10)), Asp(12) (Glu(B13)), Phe(16) (Leu(B17)), Asp(53) (Ser(A12)), Leu(54) (Leu(A13)), and Glu(58) (Glu(A17)). In addition, two analogues with 2 and 3 combined alanine substitutions were also produced (E9A,D12A IGF-I and E9A,D12A,E58A IGF-I). The results show that introducing alanine in positions Glu(9), Asp(12), Phe(16), Leu(54), and Glu(58) results in a significant reduction in IGF-I receptor binding affinity, whereas alanine substitution at position 53 had no effect on IGF-I receptor binding. The multiple substitutions resulted in a 33-100-fold reduction in IGF-I receptor binding affinity. These data suggest that IGF-I, in addition to the C-domain, uses surfaces similar to those of insulin in contacting its cognate receptor, although the relative contribution of the side chains of homologous residues varies.     

Insulin regulation of insulin-like growth factor action in rat hepatoma cells

We have reported previously that insulin causes a complete but reversible desensitization to insulin action in rat hepatoma HTC cells in tissue culture, and that this insulin resistance is mediated by postbinding mechanisms rather than receptor down-regulation (Heaton, J. H., and Gelehrter, T. D. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 12257-12262). We report here that insulin causes a similar desensitization to the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by the insulin-like growth factors IGF-I and IGF-II isolated from human plasma, and by multiplication-stimulating activity, the rat homologue of IGF-II. The results of both competition-binding studies and affinity cross-linking experiments indicate that insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) bind primarily to IGF receptors rather than to insulin receptors. The low concentrations at which these factors induce transaminase is consistent with their acting primarily via IGF receptors. This is confirmed by experiments utilizing anti-insulin receptor antibody which both inhibits 125I-insulin binding and shifts the concentration dependence of insulin induction of tyrosine aminotransferase to the right. This same immunoglobulin does not inhibit 125I-multiplication-stimulating activity binding and only minimally inhibits 125I-IGF-I binding. Anti-insulin receptor antibody also does not significantly shift the concentration dependence for the IGFs, suggesting that IGFs induce transaminase by acting via IGF receptors. Although insulin down regulates insulin receptors, it does not decrease IGF-I or IGF-II binding. We conclude that insulin causes desensitization of HTC cells to IGFs by affecting a postbinding step in IGF action, which may be common to the actions of both insulin and insulin-like growth factors.     

Effects of a single cleavage in insulin-like growth factors I and II on binding to receptors, carrier proteins and antibodies.

Two somatomedin-like peptides were extracted from Cohn fraction IV of human plasma and brought to homogeneity: one focused at pH 7.8 and the other at pH less than 5.6. Each consisted of two peptide chains interlinked by disulphide bonds. The basic peptide was identical to insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and had a single cleavage in the C-domain before Arg37 [IGF-I(Arg36cl)]. The acid peptide showed identity with IGF-II, with a cleavage in the B-domain before Arg30 [IGF-II(Ser29cl)]. The effects of these cleavages on the characteristics of binding to type I and type II receptor sites, to binding proteins and to antibodies was studied. Binding of IGF-I(Arg36cl) to antibodies directed against the B-domain or against the AD-domain of IGF-I was the same as IGF-I binding. Thus the cleavage does not influence these antigenic sites. In contrast, binding of IGF-I(Arg36cl) to the type I receptor on human and bovine placental cell membranes was markedly decreased compared with IGF-I binding. Binding to the insulin receptor on human placental cell membranes was slightly diminished, whereas the interaction with specific type II receptors on bovine placental cell membranes was unaffected. There was only a minor influence of the cleavage on the region involved in binding to binding proteins. The cleavage in IGF-II(Ser29cl) diminished binding to antibodies directed against the C-domain of IGF-II, compared with binding of IGF-II itself. Binding to receptors (type I and type II) was changed less profoundly. With 125I-labelled IGF-II(Ser29cl), less insulin was needed in order to obtain 50% displacement of the tracer compared with displacement of 125I-labelled IGF-II. The cleaved form of IGF-II probably has a greater affinity towards the common receptor population than does native IGF-II. Binding to binding proteins was not affected by the cleavage in IGF-II.     

Precise mapping of an IGF-I-binding site on the IGF-1R

The IGF-1R [type 1 IGF (insulin-like growth factor) receptor] is activated upon binding to IGF-I and IGF-II leading to cell growth, survival and migration of both normal and cancerous cells. We have characterized the binding interaction between the IGF-1R and its ligands using two high-affinity mouse anti-IGF-1R mAbs (monoclonal antibodies), 7C2 and 9E11. These mAbs both block IGF-I binding to the IGF-1R but have no effect on IGF-II binding. Epitope mapping using chimaeras of the IGF-1R and insulin receptor revealed that the mAbs bind to the CR (cysteine-rich) domain of IGF-1R. The epitope was finely mapped using single point mutations in the IGF-1R. Mutation of Phe241, Phe251 or Phe266 completely abolished 7C2 and 9E11 binding. The three-dimensional structure showed that these residues cluster on the surface of the CR-domain. BIAcore analyses revealed that IGF-I and a chimaeric IGF-II with the IGF-I C-domain competed for the binding of both mAbs with the IGF-1R, whereas neither IGF-II nor a chimaeric IGF-I with the IGF-II C-domain affected antibody binding. We therefore conclude the IGF-I C-domain interacts with the CR (cysteine-rich) domain of the receptor at the cluster of residues Phe241, Phe251 and Phe266. These results allow precise orientation of IGF-I within the IGF-I-IGF-1R complex involving the IGF-I C-domain binding to the IGF-1R CR domain. In addition, mAbs 7C2 and 9E11 inhibited both IGF-I- and IGF-II-induced cancer cell proliferation, migration and IGF-1R down-regulation, demonstrating that targeting the IGF-1R is an effective strategy for inhibition of cancer cell growth.     

Cooperativity of the N- and C-terminal domains of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein 2 in IGF binding

A family of six insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding proteins (IGFBP-1-6) binds IGF-I and IGF-II with high affinity and thus regulates their bioavailability and biological functions. IGFBPs consist of N- and C-terminal domains, which are highly conserved and cysteine-rich, joined by a variable linker domain. The role of the C-domain in IGF binding is not completely understood in that C-domain fragments have very low or even undetectable IGF binding affinity, but loss of the C-domain dramatically disrupts IGF binding by IGFBPs. We recently reported the solution structure and backbone dynamics of the C-domain of IGFBP-2 (C-BP-2) and identified a pH-dependent heparin binding site [Kuang, Z., Yao, S., Keizer, D. W., Wang, C. C., Bach, L. A., Forbes, B. E., Wallace, J. C., and Norton, R. S. (2006) Structure, dynamics and heparin binding of the C-terminal domain of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2), J. Mol. Biol. 364, 690-704]. Here, we have analyzed the molecular interactions among the N-domain of IGFBP-2 (N-BP-2), C-BP-2, and IGFs using cross-linking and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The binding of C-BP-2 to the IGF-I.N-BP-2 binary complex was significantly stronger than the binding of C-BP-2 to IGF-I alone, switching from intermediate exchange to slow exchange on the NMR time scale. A conformational change or stabilization of the IGF-I Phe49-Leu54 region and the Phe49 aromatic ring upon binding to the N-domains, as well as an interdomain interaction between N-BP-2 and C-BP-2 (which is also detectable in the absence of ligand), may contribute to this cooperativity in IGF binding. Glycosaminoglycan binding by IGFBPs can affect their IGF binding although the effects appear to differ among different IGFBPs; here, we found that heparin bound to the IGF-I.N-BP-2.C-BP-2 ternary complex, but did not cause it to dissociate.     

Differential activation of insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 by insulin-like growth factor-activated insulin receptors

The insulin-like growth factors (insulin-like growth factor I [IGF-I] and IGF-II) exert important effects on growth, development, and differentiation through the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) transmembrane tyrosine kinase. The insulin receptor (IR) is structurally related to the IGF-IR, and at high concentrations, the IGFs can also activate the IR, in spite of their generally low affinity for the latter. Two mechanisms that facilitate cross talk between the IGF ligands and the IR at physiological concentrations have been described. The first of these is the existence of an alternatively spliced IR variant that exhibits high affinity for IGF-II as well as for insulin. A second phenomenon is the ability of hybrid receptors comprised of IGF-IR and IR hemireceptors to bind IGFs, but not insulin. To date, however, direct activation of an IR holoreceptor by IGF-I at physiological levels has not been demonstrated. We have now found that IGF-I can function through both splice variants of the IR, in spite of low affinity, to specifically activate IRS-2 to levels similar to those seen with equivalent concentrations of insulin or IGF-II. The specific activation of IRS-2 by IGF-I through the IR does not result in activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway but does induce delayed low-level activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway and biological effects such as enhanced cell viability and protection from apoptosis. These findings suggest that IGF-I can function directly through the IR and that the observed effects of IGF-I on insulin sensitivity may be the result of direct facilitation of insulin action by IGF-I costimulation of the IR in insulin target tissues.     

Binding properties of chimeric insulin receptors containing the cysteine-rich domain of either the insulin-like growth factor I receptor or the insulin receptor related receptor.

We constructed and expressed chimeric receptor cDNAs with insulin receptor exon 3 (residues 191-297 of the cysteine-rich region) replaced with either the comparable region of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) or the insulin receptor related receptor (IRR). Both chimeric receptors still could bind insulin with as high affinity as the wild-type receptor. In addition, chimeric receptors containing exon 3 of the IGF-IR could also bind with high affinity both IGF-I and IGF-II. In contrast, chimeric receptors containing exon 3 of IRR did not bind either IGF-I, IGF-II, or relaxin. These results indicate that (1) the high affinity of binding of insulin to its receptor can occur in the absence of insulin receptor specific residues encoded by exon 3, the cysteine-rich region; (2) the cysteine-rich region of the IGF-I receptor can confer high-affinity binding to both IGF-I and IGF-II; and 3) the IRR is unlikely to be a receptor for either IGF-I, IGF-II, or relaxin.     

A novel binding site for the human insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II)/mannose 6-phosphate receptor on IGF-II

The mammalian insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II/cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (IGF2R) binds IGF-II with high affinity. By targeting IGF-II to lysosomal degradation, it plays a role in the maintenance of correct IGF-II levels in the circulation and in target tissues. Loss of IGF2R function is associated with tumor progression; therefore, the IGF2R is often referred to as a tumor suppressor. The interaction between IGF2R and IGF-II involves domains 11 and 13 of the 15 extracellular domains of the receptor. Recently, a hydrophobic binding region was identified on domain 11 of the IGF2R. In contrast, relatively little is known about the residues of IGF-II that are involved in IGF2R binding and the determinants of IGF2R specificity for IGF-II over the structurally related IGF-I. Using a series of novel IGF-II analogues and surface plasmon resonance assays, this study revealed a novel binding surface on IGF-II critical for IGF2R binding. The hydrophobic residues Phe(19) and Leu(53) are critical for IGF2R binding, as are residues Thr(16) and Asp(52). Furthermore, Thr(16) was identified as playing a major role in determining why IGF-II, but not IGF-I, binds with high affinity to the IGF2R.     

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)/somatomedin receptor subtypes: structure, function, and relationships to insulin receptors and IGF carrier proteins

The insulin-like growth factors IGF-I and IGF-II are mitogenic polypeptides with a high degree of chemical homology. Two distinct subtypes of receptors for the IGFs have been identified on the basis of structure and binding specificity. Type I IGF receptors bind IGF-I with equal or greater affinity than IGF-II, and also bind insulin with a low but definite affinity. They are structurally homologous to insulin receptors, containing disulfide-linked a-subunits that bind the peptides and beta-subunits that have intrinsic tyrosine-specific kinase activity. Type II IGF receptors typically bind IGF-II with greater affinity than IGF-I, and do not interact with insulin. They consist of a single polypeptide and lack tyrosine kinase activity. Because of the extensive cross-reactivity of IGF-I and IGF-II with both type I and type II receptors, we believe that potentially either receptor may mediate the biological responses of either peptide. Type I IGF receptors have been shown to mediate the mitogenic effects of the IGFs in some cell types. Whether type II IGF receptors mediate the same or different functions remains to be elucidated.     

Structural determinants for high-affinity binding of insulin-like growth factor II to insulin receptor (IR)-A, the exon 11 minus isoform of the IR

The insulin receptor (IR) lacking the alternatively spliced exon 11 (IR-A) is preferentially expressed in fetal and cancer cells. The IR-A has been identified as a high-affinity receptor for insulin and IGF-II but not IGF-I, which it binds with substantially lower affinity. Several cancer cell types that express the IR-A also overexpress IGF-II, suggesting a possible autocrine proliferative loop. To determine the regions of IGF-I and IGF-II responsible for this differential affinity, chimeras were made where the C and D domains were exchanged between IGF-I and IGF-II either singly or together. The abilities of these chimeras to bind to, and activate, the IR-A were investigated. We also investigated the ability of these chimeras to bind and activate the IR exon 11+ isoform (IR-B) and as a positive control, the IGF-I receptor (IGF-1R). We show that the C domain and, to a lesser extent, the D domains represent the principal determinants of the binding differences between IGF-I and IGF-II to IR-A. The C and D domains of IGF-II promote higher affinity binding to the IR-A than the equivalent domains of IGF-I, resulting in an affinity close to that of insulin for the IR-A. The C and D domains also regulate the IR-B binding specificity of the IGFs in a similar manner, although the level of binding for all IGF ligands to IR-B is lower than to IR-A. In contrast, the C and D domains of IGF-I allow higher affinity binding to the IGF-1R than the analogous domains of IGF-II. Activation of IGF-1R by the chimeras reflected their binding affinities whereas the phosphorylation of the two IR isoforms was more complex.     

Receptor Binding, Endocytosis, and Mitogenesis of Insulin-Like Growth Factors I and II in Fetal Rat Brain Neurons

Cell surface binding, internalization, and biological effects of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) I and II have been studied in primary neuronal cultures from developing rat brain (embryonic day 15). Two types of IGF binding sites are present on the cell surface. The IGF-I receptor alpha-subunit (Mr 125,000) binds IGF-I with a KD of 1 nM and IGF-II with 10 times lower affinity. The mannose-6-phosphate (Man-6-P)/IGF-II receptor (Mr 250,000) binds IGF-II with a KD of 0.5 nM and IGF-I with 100 times lower affinity. Surface-bound IGF-I and IGF-II are internalized by their respective receptors binding and internalization of IGF-II but not those of IGF-I. Neuronal synthesis of RNA and DNA is increased twofold by IGF-I with 10 times higher potency than IGF-II. Antibody 3637, which blocks receptor binding of IGF-II, has no effect on the DNA response to IGF-I or IGF-II. Double immunocytochemical staining with antibodies to bromodeoxyuridine and neurofilament shows that greater than 80% of the bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells become neurofilament positive. It is concluded that IGF-I and IGF-II bind to two receptors on the surface of neuronal precursor cells that mediate endocytosis and degradation of IGF-I and IGF-II. Proliferation of neuronal precursor cells is stimulated by IGF-I and IGF-II via activation of the IGF-I receptor.     

Systematic evaluation of the metabolic to mitogenic potency ratio for B10-substituted insulin analogues

Background

Insulin analogues comprising acidic amino acid substitutions at position B10 have previously been shown to display increased mitogenic potencies compared to human insulin and the underlying molecular mechanisms have been subject to much scrutiny and debate. However, B10 is still an attractive position for amino acid substitutions given its important role in hexamer formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the receptor binding properties as well as the metabolic and mitogenic potencies of a series of insulin analogues with different amino acid substitutions at position B10 and to identify a B10-substituted insulin analogue without an increased mitogenic to metabolic potency ratio.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A panel of ten singly-substituted B10 insulin analogues with different amino acid side chain characteristics were prepared and insulin receptor (both isoforms) and IGF-I receptor binding affinities using purified receptors, insulin receptor dissociation rates using BHK cells over-expressing the human insulin receptor, metabolic potencies by lipogenesis in isolated rat adipocytes, and mitogenic potencies using two different cell types predominantly expressing either the insulin or the IGF-I receptor were systematically investigated. Only analogues B10D and B10E with significantly increased insulin and IGF-I receptor affinities as well as decreased insulin receptor dissociation rates displayed enhanced mitogenic potencies in both cell types employed. For the remaining analogues with less pronounced changes in receptor affinities and insulin receptor dissociation rates, no apparent correlation between insulin receptor occupancy time and mitogenicity was observed.

Conclusions/Significance

Several B10-substituted insulin analogues devoid of disproportionate increases in mitogenic compared to metabolic potencies were identified. In the present study, receptor binding affinity rather than insulin receptor off-rate appears to be the major determinant of both metabolic and mitogenic potency. Our results also suggest that the increased mitogenic potency is attributable to both insulin and IGF-I receptor activation.     

Insulin-like growth factor I and its binding proteins: a study of the binding interface using B-domain analogues

The biological activity of the insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) is regulated by six IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs 1-6). To examine the surface of IGF-I that associates with the IGFBPs, we created a series of six IGF-I analogues, [His(4)]-, [Gln(9)]-, [Lys(9)]-, [Ser(16)]-, [Gln(9),Ser(16)]-, and [Lys(9),Ser(16)]IGF-I, that contained substitutions for residues Thr(4), Glu(9), or Phe(16). Substitution of Ser for Phe(16) did not affect secondary structure but significantly decreased the affinity for all IGFBPs by between 14-fold and >330-fold, indicating that Phe(16) is functionally important for IGFBP association. While His(4) or Gln(9) substitutions had little effect on IGFBP affinity, changing the negative charge of Glu(9) to a positive Lys(9) selectively decreased the affinities of IGFBP-2 and -6 by 140- and 30-fold, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of mutations to both residues 9 and 16 appear to be additive. The analogues are biologically active in rat L6 myoblasts and they retain native structure as assessed by their far-UV circular dichroism (CD) profiles. We propose that Phe(16) and adjacent hydrophobic residues (Leu(5) and Leu(54)) form a functional binding pocket for IGFBP association.     

Hybrid receptors formed by insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) have low insulin and high IGF-1 affinity irrespective of the IR splice variant

Insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) are both from the same subgroup of receptor tyrosine kinases that exist as covalently bound receptor dimers at the cell surface. For both IR and IGF-IR, the most described forms are homodimer receptors. However, hybrid receptors consisting of one-half IR and one-half IGF-IR are also present at the cell surface. Two splice variants of IR are expressed that enable formation of two isoforms of the IGF-IR/IR hybrid receptor. In this study, these two splice variants of hybrid receptors were studied with respect to binding affinities of insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). Unlike previously published data, in which semipurified receptors have been studied, we found that the two hybrid receptor splice variants had similar binding characteristics with respect to insulin, IGF-I, and IGF-II binding. We studied both semipurified and purified hybrid receptors. In all cases we found that IGF-I had at least 50-fold higher affinity than insulin, irrespective of the splice variant. The binding characteristics of insulin and IGF-I to both splice variants of the hybrid receptors were similar to classical homodimer IGF-IR.     

The binding of insulin-like growth factor II to the erythroleukemia cell line K562

The erythroleukemia cell line K562 was previously shown to have specific binding sites for insulin but not for insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). In this study the presence of specific receptors for insulin-like growth factor II (IGFqI) is established. Scatchard analysis of the competition curve for IGF-II disclosed a non-cooperative binding kinetic with a calculated affinity constant of 2.4×108 M^–1 and a receptor number of 4.8×l0⁴ sites/cell. IGF-I displayed 10% crossreactivity over the IGF-II receptor but insulin did not crossreact at all. Instead insulin, present in high concentrations, enhanced the binding of IGF-II. The presence of IGF II but not IGF-I receptors makes t h e K562 cell line suitable for studying properties of the type-2 receptor.     

Expression and characterization of a functional human insulin-like growth factor I receptor

Stable transfectants of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were developed that expressed the protein encoded by a human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptor cDNA. The transfected cells expressed approximately 25,000 high affinity receptors for IGF-I (apparent Kd of 1.5 X 10(-9) M), whereas the parental CHO cells expressed only 5,000 receptors per cell (apparent Kd of 1.3 X 10(-9) M). A monoclonal antibody specific for the human IGF-I receptor inhibited IGF-I binding to the expressed receptor and immunoprecipitated polypeptides of apparent Mr values approximately 135,000 and 95,000 from metabolically labeled lysates of the transfected cells but not control cells. The expressed receptor was also capable of binding IGF-II with high affinity (Kd approximately 3 nM) and weakly recognized insulin (with about 1% the potency of IGF-I). The human IGF-I receptor expressed in these cells was capable of IGF-I-stimulated autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of endogenous substrates in the intact cell. This receptor also mediated IGF-I-stimulated glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, and DNA synthesis. The extent of these responses was comparable to the stimulation by insulin of the same biological responses in CHO cells expressing the human insulin receptor. These results indicate that the isolated cDNA encodes a functional IGF-I receptor and that there are no inherent differences in the abilities of the insulin and IGF-I receptors to mediate rapid and long term biological responses when expressed in the same cell type. The high affinity of this receptor for IGF-II also suggests that it may be important in mediating biological responses to IGF-II as well as IGF-I.     

Isolation of a biologically active fragment from the carboxy terminus of the fetal rat binding protein for insulin-like growth factors

We have purified a 14 kDa fragment of the 30 kDa binding protein for insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) from BRL-3A cell conditioned medium. The fragment binds IGF-I and IGF-II with similar specificity to the 30 kDa binding protein, but with lower affinity. It corresponds to the carboxy terminus of the native binding protein (residues 148-270), and is thought to arise by proteolysis. We infer that this region of the native binding protein contains, at least in part, the IGF binding domain.     

Expression of IGF receptors on alveolar macrophages: IGF-induced changes in InsPi formation, [Ca2+]i, and pHi

Expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors and insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate (IGF-II/Man6P) receptors in cultured bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) was demonstrated by competitive binding studies and crosslinking experiments. Western blotting of protein extracts from cultured BAM using an anti bovine IGF-II/Man6P receptor antiserum (#66416) confirmed the presence of IGF-II/Man6P receptors on BAM. The effects of IGFs and Man6P on generation of inositol phosphates was measured by HPLC analysis of perchloric acid extracts from myo-[³H]inositol-labelled cultured BAM. IGF-I at nanomolar concentrations and Man6P (10^-8–10³ M) stimulated the accumulation of both Ins(1,4,5)P₃ and Ins(1,3,4,5)P₄ after 30 sec. IGF-II (up to 2.3 × 10^-8M) had no significant effect on inositol phosphate accumulation under the same conditions. Both IGFs and Man6P induced a rise in [Ca²⁺]_iin cultured BAM. In addition, using the fluorescent dye SNARF-1/AM we could demonstrate rapid but small IGF-II (10^-9 M) triggered acidification (0.07 pH units) of cultured BAM. Taken together, our results indicate not only the presence of both IGF-I and IGF-II/Man6P receptors on BAM, but also provide evidence of the linkage of the IGF-I receptor to the inositol phosphate system.     

IGF-I, IGF-II and insulin promote differentiation of spermatogonia to primary spermatocytes in organ culture of newt testes.

Recombinant human insulin-like growth factors (rhIGF-I and rhIGF-II) and human insulin promoted the differentiation of spermatogonia into primary spermatocytes in newt testes fragments cultured in a chemically defined medium. The biological potency for promoting differentiation was dose-dependent for all the ligands with the highest potency displayed by IGF-I, followed by IGF-II, and the least by insulin. The difference in potency was larger between IGF-II and insulin than that between IGF-I and IGF-II. This order of biological potency was in good accordance with the order of affinity in binding specificity of [125I]IGF-I to the testicular membrane fractions: IGF-II and insulin competed the binding of [125I]IGF-I only at concentrations 20-fold and 100-fold higher, respectively, than IGF-I. Specific binding was observed in both somatic cells (mostly Sertoli cells) and germ cells (spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes), though the binding to somatic cells was about 2.7 times higher than that to germ cells. These results indicate that (1) specific binding sites for IGF-I are present in the newt testes, (2) IGF-II and insulin also bind to these receptors but to a lesser degree, and (3) IGF-II and insulin as well as IGF-I promote spermatogonial differentiation into primary spermatocytes by binding to the IGF-I receptor.