New pathways of phagocyte activation: the coupling of receptor-linked phospholipase D and the role of tyrosine kinase in primed neutrophils

Abstract Protein kinase C (PKC) appears to have a central role in the O₂⁻ response of neutrophils following stimulation of membrane receptors. The second messenger, diacylglycerol (DG), that activates PKC is derived from membrane phospholipids via activation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂)-phospholipase C (PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD), with the latter pathway being more prominent in primed cells. In resting cells receptor coupling of PLD is through a G-protein. Priming brings a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase into the transducer sequence which, through protein phosphorylation, increases the efficiency of coupling between membrane receptors and PLD. Phosphatidic acid (PA), the initial product of the PLD pathway, also appears to act as a second messenger by directly activating the NADPH oxidase responsible for generating O₂⁻. Interconversion of PA and DG by phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and DG kinase determines which of these second messengers has the dominant role.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of phosphatase inhibitor 2

Inhibitor 2 is a heat-stable protein that complexes with the catalytic subunit of type-1 protein phosphatase. The reversible phosphorylation of Thr 72 of the inhibitor in this complex has been shown to regulate phosphatase activity. Here we show that inhibitor 2 can also be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. Inhibitor 2 was ³²P-labeled by the insulin receptor kinase in vitro, in the presence of polylysine. Phosphorylation of inhibitor 2 was accompanied by decreased electrophoretic mobility. Dephosphorylation of inhibitor 2 by tyrosine phosphatase 1B, restored normal electrophoretic mobility. Phosphotyrosine in inhibitor 2 was detected by immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibodies and phosphoamino acid analysis. In addition, following tryptic digestion, one predominant phosphopeptide was recovered at the anode. The ability of inhibitor 2 to inhibit type-1 phosphatase activity was diminished with increasing phosphorylation up to a stoichiometry of 1 mole phosphate incorporated/mole of inhibitor 2, where inhibitory activity was completely lost. These data demonstrate that inhibitor 2 can be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues by the insulin receptor kinase, resulting in a molecule with decreased ability to inhibit type-1 phosphatase activity.     

Signalling aspects of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle: mechanisms induced by lipid oversupply

A reduced capacity for insulin to elicit increases in glucose uptake and metabolism in target tissues such as skeletal muscle is a common feature of obesity and diabetes. The association between lipid oversupply and such insulin resistance is well established, and evidence for mechanisms through which lipids could play a causative role in the generation of muscle insulin resistance is reviewed. While the effects of lipids may in part be mediated by substrate competition through the glucose-fatty acid cycle, interference with insulin signal transduction by lipid-activated signalling pathways is also likely to play an important role. Thus, studies of insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes, obesity, fat-fed animals and lipid-treated cells have identified defects both at the level of insulin receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation and at downstream sites such as protein kinase B (PKB) activation. Lipid signalling molecules can be derived from free fatty acids, and include diacylglycerol, which activates isozymes of the protein kinase C (PKC) family, and ceramide, which has several effectors including PKCs and a protein phosphatase. In addition, elevated lipid availability can increase flux through the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway which can also lead to activation of PKC as well as protein glycosylation and modulation of gene expression. The mechanisms giving rise to decreased insulin signalling include serine/threonine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1, but also direct inhibition of components such as PKB. Thus lipids can inhibit glucose disposal by causing interference with insulin signal transduction, and most likely by more than one pathway depending on the prevalent species of fatty acids.     

The phosphorylation of p68, a calcium-binding protein associated with the human syncytiotrophoblast submembranous cytoskeleton, is modulated by growth factors, activators of protein kinase C and cyclic AMP

The phosphorylation of the lipocortin-related protein, p68, found in Ca2+-dependent association with the submembranous cytoskeleton has been studied using isolated human placental syncytiotrophoblast plasma membrane vesicles. p68 undergoes rapid, cation-independent phosphorylation in unstimulated membrane vesicles which was inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, by insulin, platelet-derived growth factor, macrophage colony stimulating factor, protein kinase C-activating phorbol esters and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. Epidermal growth factor had no effect on overall p68 phosphorylation. Transferrin induced an increase in p68 phosphorylation. However, phosphotyrosine was detected in p68 after treatment with epidermal growth factor, macrophage colony stimulating factor or transferrin, whereas a reduction in p68 phosphorylation appeared to be restricted to serine. cAMP and both cholera and pertussis toxins inhibited p68 phosphorylation. Both toxins were synergistic with the effects of insulin and platelet-derived growth factor whilst being antagonistic to the effect of transferrin. Epidermal growth factor and both human and equine immunoglobulin G, all of which alone did not affect overall p68 phosphorylation, reduced cholera or pertussis toxin-induced inhibition of p68 phosphorylation. Several phosphatase inhibitors failed to prevent macrophage colony stimulating factor-induced reduction of p68 phosphorylation. These results indicate that (i) p68 is a potential substrate of receptor tyrosyl kinases, (ii) p68 is not phosphorylated by protein kinase C or cAMP-dependent kinase and (iii) p68 phosphorylation is inhibited by activation of multiple pathways including those employing diacylglycerol or cAMP as second messengers.     

Diacylglycerols modulate phosphorylation of the insulin receptor from human mononuclear cells

It has been found that 1,2- but not 1,3-diacylglycerols stimulated phosphorylation of the insulin receptor of cultured human monocyte-like (U-937) and lymphoblastoid (IM-9) cells both in the intact- and broken-cell systems. The stimulation of the receptor's beta-subunit phosphorylation was dose-dependent, with optimal effect at 100 micrograms/ml of diacylglycerol. The effects of insulin and 1,2-diacylglycerols on the phosphorylation of partially purified insulin receptors were additive. Phosphoamino acid analysis showed a major effect of diacylglycerols on phosphorylation of tyrosine residues. The diacylglycerols also stimulated tyrosine kinase activity of the partially purified U-937 and IM-9 insulin receptors 2.5-3.5-fold when measured by phosphorylation of an exogenous substrate, poly(Glu80Tyr20) in the absence of any added insulin, calcium or phospholipid. Since this diacylglycerol effect could not be reproduced under conditions optimal for protein kinase C activation and the purified protein kinase C did not stimulate phosphorylation of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor in this system, it is unlikely that the diacylglycerol effect was mediated by protein kinase C. Since these exogenous 1,2-diacylglycerols at the same high concentration also inhibited 125I-insulin binding to the insulin receptor of the intact U-937 and IM-9 cells, diacylglycerols could modulate the function of the insulin receptor and insulin action in human mononuclear cells.     

Role of the aggregation factor in the regulation of phosphoinositide metabolism in sponges. Possible consequences on calcium efflux and on mitogenesis

The aggregation factor (AF) of the marine sponge Geodia cydonium recognizes the aggregation receptor (AR) which is inserted in the plasma membrane, under formation of species-specific aggregates. The specific cell-binding fragment of the AF was used to investigate for the first time the phosphoinositide metabolism in a lower avertebrate system. We found that after binding of the cell-binding fragment to the aggregation receptor a strong and rapid stimulation of the phosphate incorporation into phosphatidylinositol occurs followed by an increased turnover of phosphoinositides in the Geodia cells. The consequences of an increased degradation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate into the two second messengers inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol are 2-fold. First, after the addition of the extracellular stimulus the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration rises, resulting in a rapid increased Ca2+ efflux rate. The functional consequence of the increase of the extracellular Ca2+ level is an initiation of the aggregate formation that is mediated by the collagen assembly factor (= primary aggregation factor). Second, some experimental evidences are presented, showing that the other second messenger formed, diacylglycerol, causes a translocation of protein kinase C within the cell. Incubation of Geodia cells with the cell-binding fragment of the AF, or with the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, resulted within 5 min after treatment in a 70% decrease in protein kinase C activity in the cytosolic fraction and in a 700% increase in enzyme activity in the membrane fraction. It is proposed that by membrane association protein kinase C becomes activated. As a result of this event a series of cellular proteins are phosphorylated, a process which ultimately leads to an unusually strong induction of DNA polymerase alpha activity. From these data we conclude that inositol trisphosphate and protein kinase C also play a fundamental role in cellular signal transduction in lower eukaryotes.     

Epidermal growth factor activates phosphoinositide turnover and protein kinase C in BALB/MK keratinocytes

BALB/MK is a nontransformed epithelial cell line derived from primary BALB/c mouse keratinocytes that requires epidermal growth factor (EGF) for growth. Using a defined-medium culture system, we investigated the role of physiological concentrations of EGF on phosphoinositide metabolism in these cells. The results show that EGF rapidly activates phospholipase-C mediated phosphoinositide metabolism resulting in the generation of the second messengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. These metabolites control intracellular Ca2+ levels and activate protein kinase C, respectively. Protein kinase C activation in response to EGF was evidenced by the phosphorylation of the acidic 80 kilodalton endogenous protein substrate (p80) specific for this kinase. In contrast, insulin, which acts in concert with EGF to cause BALB/MK cell proliferation, had no effect on phosphoinositide metabolism nor led to any additional stimulation when added in combination with EGF. Taken together, our results show that rapid alterations in phosphoinositide metabolism and protein kinase C activation are associated with the normal mitogenic response of keratinocytes to EGF.     

Guanine nucleotides induce tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the respiratory burst in neutrophils.

Activation of the NADPH oxidase was examined in electrically permeabilized human neutrophils exposed to non-hydrolysable guanine nucleotides. Guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) induced a marked increase in the rate of O2 consumption, which was partially resistant to staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, under conditions where the response to diacylglycerol was virtually abolished. The respiratory burst elicited by GTP[S] was dependent on the presence of ATP and Mg2+, suggesting involvement of phosphorylation reactions. Accordingly, phosphoprotein formation was greatly stimulated by the guanine nucleotide. The polypeptide phosphorylation pattern induced by GTP[S] was similar to, but not identical with, that observed with diacylglycerol, indicating the activation of kinases other than protein kinase C by the guanine nucleotide. The possible involvement of tyrosine kinases was assessed by immunoblotting using anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. Treatment of electroporated cells with GTP[S] stimulated the accumulation of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. This effect was not induced by diacylglycerol, indicating that tyrosine phosphorylation is not secondary to stimulation of protein kinase C. The results indicate that, in neutrophils, activated G-proteins can stimulate tyrosine kinase and/or inhibit tyrosine phosphatase activity. Changes in the amounts of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins may signal activation of the respiratory burst.     

Pertussis toxin activates protein kinase C and a tyrosine protein kinase in the human T cell line Jurkat

Pertussis toxin activates T lymphocytes by a mechanism that is independent of its ADP-ribosylation activity. The toxin stimulates increases in diacylglycerol and intracellular calcium apparently by interacting with a cell surface receptor. Consistent with the production of these second messengers we have found that pertussis toxin activates protein kinase C in the Jurkat cell line. The toxin was also found to activate a tyrosine protein kinase in these cells in a manner similar to that observed with phytohemagglutinin. These results provide evidence that the mechanism of activation of T cells by pertussis toxin involves stimulating the activity of protein kinase C and a tyrosine protein kinase.     

Phosphorylation of myocardial sarcolemma proteins during induction of the phosphatidylinositol cycle in isolated perfused rabbit heart]

Phosphorylation of cardiac sarcolemma proteins under stimulation of M-receptors by agonist carbacholine used to stimulate phosphatidylinositide cycle, was investigated in the isolated, rabbit heart perfused with 32Pi. Carbacholine (10(-7) stimulates the polyphosphoinositide metabolism which is expressed in the activated incorporation of 32P from [gamma-32P]ATP in polyphosphoinositide as well as in the increased content of the labelled inositol trisphosphate released through phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate break-down by phospholipase C. The diacylglycerol produced simultaneously with inositol triphosphate as a second messenger activates the protein kinase C. This was confirmed by considerable activation of phosphorylation sarcolemma proteins-substrates of protein kinase C, with Mr 94, 87, 78, 51 and 46 kDa.     

Diacylglycerol modulates binding and phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor

Tumor promoters cause a variety of effects in cultured cells, at least some of which are thought to result from activation of the Ca2+-phospholipid-stimulated protein kinase C. One action of tumor promoters is the modulation of the binding and phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in A431 cells. To determine if these compounds act on the EGF receptor by substituting for the endogenous activator of C kinase, diacylglycerol, we compared the effects of the potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) with those of the synthetic diacylglycerol analog 1-oleyl 2-acetyl diglycerol (OADG). When A431 cells were treated with TPA, the subcellular distribution of C kinase activity shifted from a predominantly cytosolic location to a membrane-associated state; OADG also caused the disappearance of cytosolic C kinase activity. The shift in the subcellular distribution of C kinase, caused by TPA or OADG, correlated with changes in binding and phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. OADG, like TPA, caused loss of binding to an apparent high affinity class of receptors, blocked EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor, and stimulated phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at both serine and threonine residues. No difference between the phosphopeptide maps of receptors from cells treated with OADG or TPA was observed. Thus, it appears that tumor promoters can exert their effects on the EGF receptors by substituting for diacylglycerol, presumably by activating protein kinase C. Further, these results suggest that endogenously produced diacylglycerol may have a role in normal growth regulatory pathways.     

Regulation of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C

The Ca2(+)-mobilizing second messenger D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) is converted to the putative messenger D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate by Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase. We found that cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C phosphorylate, and thereby modulate, the activity of Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase. cAMP-dependent kinase introduced a stoichiometric amount of phosphate at serine 109 of the 53-kDa polypeptide and caused a 1.8-fold increase in Vmax, whereas the protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation reduced the Vmax to one-fourth of that of the unphosphorylated enzyme. Upon prolonged incubation, protein kinase C introduced phosphate at multiple sites in Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase, and the resulting inactivation of the enzyme appeared to be well-correlated with the simultaneous phosphorylation of two major sites, serine 109 and serine 175. The Km for Ins(1,4,5)P3 was not affected significantly after phosphorylation by either protein kinase. We propose, therefore, that the phosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase by cAMP-dependent kinase and protein kinase C constitutes mechanisms of cross-talk between cellular signaling pathways that use various second messengers such as inositol phosphates, diacylglycerol, Ca2+, and cAMP.     

The protein phosphatases involved in cellular regulation. 1. Classification and substrate specificities

The protein phosphatase activities involved in regulating the major pathways of intermediary metabolism can be explained by only four enzymes which can be conveniently divided into two classes, type-1 and type-2. Type-1 protein phosphatases dephosphorylate the beta-subunit of phosphorylase kinase and are potently inhibited by two thermostable proteins termed inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2, whereas type-2 protein phosphatases preferentially dephosphorylate the alpha-subunit of phosphorylase kinase and are insensitive to inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2. The substrate specificities of the four enzymes, namely protein phosphatase-1 (type-1) and protein phosphatases 2A, 2B and 2C (type-2) have been investigated. Eight different protein kinases were used to phosphorylate 13 different substrate proteins on a minimum of 20 different serine and threonine residues. These substrates include proteins involved in the regulation of glycogen metabolism, glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis, protein synthesis and muscle contraction. The studies demonstrate that protein phosphatase-1 and protein phosphatase 2A have very broad substrate specificities. The major differences, apart from the site specificity for phosphorylase kinase, are the much higher myosin light chain phosphatase and ATP-citrate lyase phosphatase activities of protein phosphatase-2A. Protein phosphatase-2C (an Mg2+-dependent enzyme) also has a broad specificity, but can be distinguished from protein phosphatase-2A by its extremely low phosphorylase phosphatase and histone H1 phosphatase activities, and its slow dephosphorylation of sites (3a + 3b + 3c) on glycogen synthase relative to site-2 of glycogen synthase. It has extremely high hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase phosphatase and HMG-CoA reductase kinase phosphatase activity. Protein phosphatase-2B (a Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent enzyme) is the most specific phosphatase and only dephosphorylated three of the substrates (the alpha-subunit of phosphorylase kinase, inhibitor-1 and myosin light chains) at a significant rate. It is specifically inhibited by the phenathiazine drug, trifluoperazine. Examination of the amino acid sequences around each phosphorylation site does not support the idea that protein phosphatase specificity is determined by the primary structure in the immediate vicinity of the phosphorylation site.     

Role of phosphoinositide-derived second messengers in mediating anti-IgM-induced growth arrest of WEHI-231 B lymphoma cells

Anti-IgM irreversibly inhibits the growth of WEHI-231 B lymphoma cells and induces phosphoinositide hydrolysis--producing diacylglycerol, which activates protein kinase C, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, which induces the release of calcium from intracellular storage sites into the cytoplasm, and other inositol polyphosphates. The roles of two of the possible second messengers, cytoplasmic free calcium and diacylglycerol, in mediating the action of anti-IgM on WEHI-231 cells were assessed by elevating [Ca2+]i with ionomycin and by activating protein kinase C with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PdBu). The combination of 250 nM ionomycin and 4 to 7 nM PdBu was found to cause growth arrest and cell volume decrease responses in WEHI-231 cells which were similar to those caused by anti-IgM, although clearly slower. Both anti-IgM and the combination of mimicking reagents induced growth arrest of WEHI-231 cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. In both cases, this growth arrest was mitigated by addition of bacterial LPS. Moreover, 250 nM ionomycin plus 4 to 7 nM PdBu did not inhibit the growth of two other murine B lymphoma cell lines, each of which did exhibit increased phosphoinositide hydrolysis but not growth arrest in response to anti-Ig. Taken together, these results suggest that ionomycin and PdBu, at the concentrations used, did not inhibit WEHI-231 growth by general toxicity, but rather by mimicking the effects of the natural second messengers generated from Ag receptor cross-linking. Thus, the phosphoinositide-derived second messengers Ca2+i and diacylglycerol are capable of playing important roles in mediating the action of anti-IgM on WEHI-231 B lymphoma cells. However, the response of WEHI-231 cells to anti-IgM could not be fully reproduced with ionomycin and phorbol diester. These results suggest that another second messenger induced by anti-IgM may also play an important role in mediating the growth arrest of these cells.     

Glucose regulates diacylglycerol intracellular levels and protein kinase C activity by modulating diacylglycerol kinase subcellular localization

Although chronic hyperglycemia reduces insulin sensitivity and leads to impaired glucose utilization, short term exposure to high glucose causes cellular responses positively regulating its own metabolism. We show that exposure of L6 myotubes overexpressing human insulin receptors to 25 mm glucose for 5 min decreased the intracellular levels of diacylglycerol (DAG). This was paralleled by transient activation of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) and of insulin receptor signaling. Following 30-min exposure, however, both DAG levels and DGK activity returned close to basal levels. Moreover, the acute effect of glucose on DAG removal was inhibited by >85% by the DGK inhibitor R59949. DGK inhibition was also accompanied by increased protein kinase C-alpha (PKCalpha) activity, reduced glucose-induced insulin receptor activation, and GLUT4 translocation. Glucose exposure transiently redistributed DGK isoforms alpha and delta, from the prevalent cytosolic localization to the plasma membrane fraction. However, antisense silencing of DGKdelta, but not of DGKalpha expression, was sufficient to prevent the effect of high glucose on PKCalpha activity, insulin receptor signaling, and glucose uptake. Thus, the short term exposure of skeletal muscle cells to glucose causes a rapid induction of DGK, followed by a reduction of PKCalpha activity and transactivation of the insulin receptor signaling. The latter may mediate, at least in part, glucose induction of its own metabolism.     

Regulation of the Protein Kinase Activity of the Human Insulin Receptor

Abstract

The insulin receptor is a hormone-dependent protein tyrosine kinase that belongs to the family of tyrosine kinases associated with growth factor receptors and oncogene products. The activity of the insulin receptor kinase is regulated by the phosphorylation state of specific domains of the protein. Phosphorylation of the receptor on tyrosine residues activates its kinase activity whereas phosphorylation on serine and/or threonine residues inhibits it. In this review, we discuss the evidence that supports a role of the kinase activity of the receptor in the molecular mechanism of insulin action.     

Insulin stimulates a novel Mn2+-dependent cytosolic serine kinase in rat adipocytes

The cytosolic fraction of insulin-treated adipocytes exhibits a 2-fold increase in protein kinase activity when Kemptide is used as a substrate. The detection of insulin-stimulated kinase activity is critically dependent on the presence of phosphatase inhibitors such as fluoride and vanadate in the cell homogenization buffer. The cytosolic protein kinase activity exhibits high sensitivity (ED50 = 2 X 10(-10) M) and a rapid response (maximal after 2 min) to insulin. Kinetic analyses of the cytosolic kinase indicate that insulin increases the Vmax of Kemptide phosphorylation and ATP utilization without affecting the affinities of this enzyme toward the substrate or nucleotide. Upon chromatography on anion-exchange and gel filtration columns, the insulin-stimulated cytosolic kinase activity is resolved from the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and migrates as a single peak with an apparent Mr = 50,000-60,000. The partially purified kinase preferentially utilizes histones, Kemptide, multifunctional calmodulin-dependent protein kinase substrate peptide, ATP citrate-lyase, and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase as substrates but does not catalyze phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6, casein, phosvitin, phosphorylase b, glycogen synthase, inhibitor II, and substrate peptides for casein kinase II, protein kinase C, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphoamino acid analyses of the 32P-labeled substrates reveal that the insulin-stimulated cytosolic kinase is primarily serine-specific. The insulin-activated cytosolic kinase prefers Mn2+ to Mg2+ and is independent of Ca2+. Unlike ribosomal protein S6 kinase and protease-activated kinase II, the insulin-sensitive cytosolic kinase is fluoride-insensitive. Taken together, these results indicate that a novel cytosolic protein kinase activity is activated by insulin.     

Insulin activates the kinase activity of the Raf-1 proto-oncogene by increasing its serine phosphorylation

Insulin was found to stimulate the serine/threonine kinase activity of the proto-oncogene product Raf-1. This stimulation was observed in HeLa, NIH 3T3, and Chinese hamster ovary cells, all overexpressing the human insulin receptor. In the HeLa cells, 100 pM insulin gave a significant increase in Raf-1 kinase activity, and 100 nM insulin caused a maximal 2-5-fold increase in activity. The increase in activity was detected after 2 min of insulin treatment and peaked after 5 min. In addition to stimulating Raf-1 kinase activity, insulin caused a shift in the electrophoretic mobility of the Raf-1 protein and an increase in the amount of serine phosphorylation of Raf-1. Moreover, a serine/threonine-specific phosphatase, phosphatase 1, but not two tyrosine-specific phosphatases, was found to deactivate the insulin-activated Raf-1 kinase activity. These findings indicate that insulin activates the serine/threonine kinase activity of the Raf-1 proto-oncogene by increasing its content of phosphoserine.     

Conformation and mode of organization of amphiphilic membrane components: a conformational analysis.

The insulin receptor is an integral membrane glycoprotein (Mr approximately 300,000) composed of two alpha-subunits (Mr approximately 130,000) and two beta-subunits (Mr approximately 95,000) linked by disulphide bonds. This oligomeric structure divides the receptor into two functional domains such that alpha-subunits bind insulin and beta-subunits possess tyrosine kinase activity. The amino acid sequence deduced from cDNA of the single polypeptide chain precursor of human placental insulin receptor revealed that alpha- and beta-subunits consist of 735 and 620 residues, respectively. The alpha-subunit is hydrophilic, disulphide-bonded, glycosylated and probably extracellular. The beta-subunit consists of a short extracellular region which links the alpha-subunit through disulphide bridges, a hydrophobic transmembrane region and a longer cytoplasmic region which is structurally homologous with other tyrosine kinases like the src oncogene product and EGF receptor kinases. The cellular function of insulin receptors is dual: transmembrane signalling and endocytosis of hormone. The binding of insulin to its receptor on the cell membrane induces transfer of signal from extracellular to cytoplasmic receptor domains leading to activation of cell metabolism and growth. In addition, hormone-receptor complexes are internalized leading to intracellular proteolysis of insulin, whereas receptors are recycled to the membrane. These phenomena are kinetically well-characterized, but their molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Insulin receptor in different tissues and animal species are homologous in their structure and function, but show also significant differences regarding size of alpha-subunits, binding kinetics, insulin specificity and receptor-mediated degradation. We suggest that this heterogeneity of receptors may be linked to the diversity in insulin effects on metabolism and growth in various cell types. The purified insulin receptor phosphorylates its own beta-subunit and exogenous protein and peptide substrates on tyrosine residues, a reaction which is insulin-sensitive, Mn2+-dependent and specific for ATP. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta-subunit activates receptor kinase activity, and dephosphorylation with alkaline phosphatase deactivates the kinase. In intact cells or impure receptor preparations, a serine kinase is also activated by insulin. The cellular role of two kinase activities associated with the insulin receptor is not known, but we propose that the tyrosine- and serine-specific kinases mediate insulin actions on metabolism and growth either through dual-signalling or sequential pathways.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)