Insulin and IGF-I signaling through the insulin receptor substrate 1

The insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors are tyrosine kinases. Consequently, an approach to investigating signaling pathways from these receptors is to characterize proteins rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine in response to insulin and IGF-I. In many cell types the most prominent phosphotyrosine (Ptyr) protein, in addition to the receptors themselves, is a protein of ?160 kD, now known as the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1). We have purified IRS-1 from mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes, obtained the sequences of tryptic peptides, and cloned its cDNA based on this information. Mouse IRS-1 is a protein of 1,231 amino acids. It contains 12 tyrosine residues in sequence contexts typical for tyrosine phosphorylation sites. Six of these begin the sequence motif YMXM and two begin the motif YXXM. Recent studies have shown that the enzyme phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) binds tightly to the activated platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) receptors, through interaction of the src homology 2 (SH2) domains on the 85 kD subunit of PI 3-kinase with Ptyr in one of these motifs on the receptors. We have found that, upon insulin treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes, a portion of the Ptyr form of IRS-1 becomes tightly complexed with PI 3-kinase. Since IRS-1 binds to fusion proteins containing the SH2 domains of PI 3-kinase, association most likely occurs through this domain. The association of IRS-1 with PI 3-kinase activates the enzyme about fivefold. Thus, one signaling pathway from the insulin and IGF-I receptors probably proceeds as follows: tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, tight association of IRS-1 with PI 3-kinase with accompanying activation of the kinase, elevation of the PI 3-phosphates. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Role of SH-PTP2, a protein-tyrosine phosphatase with Src homology 2 domains, in insulin-stimulated Ras activation.

SH-PTP2 is a nontransmembrane human protein-tyrosine phosphatase that contains two Src homology 2 (SH2) domains and binds to insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) via these domains in response to insulin. The expression of a catalytically inactive mutant of SH-PTP2 (containing the mutation Cys-459-->Ser) in Chinese hamster ovary cells that overexpress human insulin receptors (CHO-IR cells) markedly attenuated insulin-stimulated Ras activation. Expression of mutant SH-PTP2 also inhibited MAP kinase activation in response to insulin but not in response to 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate. In contrast, the insulin-induced association of phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity with IRS-1 was not affected by the expression of inactive SH-PTP2. Furthermore, the expression of mutant SH-PTP2 had no effect on the binding of Grb2 to IRS-1, on the tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc, or on the formation of the complex between Shc and Grb2 in response to insulin. However, the amount of SH-PTP2 bound to IRS-1 in insulin-treated CHO-IR cells expressing mutant SH-PTP2 was greater than that observed in CHO-IR cells overexpressing wild-type SH-PTP2. Recombinant SH-PTP2 specifically dephosphorylated a synthetic phosphopeptide corresponding to the sequence surrounding Tyr-1172 of IRS-1, a putative binding site for SH-PTP2. Additionally, phenylarsine oxide, an inhibitor of protein-tyrosine phosphatases, inactivated SH-PTP2 in vitro and increased the insulin-induced association of SH-PTP2 with IRS-1. These results suggest that SH-PTP2 may regulate an upstream element necessary for Ras activation in response to insulin and that this upstream element may be required for the Grb2- or Shc-dependent pathway. Furthermore, these results are consistent with the notion that SH-PTP2 may bind to IRS-1 through its SH2 domains in response to insulin and dephosphorylate the phosphotyrosine residue to which it binds, thereby regulating its association with IRS-1.     

Insulin-stimulated oocyte maturation requires insulin receptor substrate 1 and interaction with the SH2 domains of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Xenopus oocytes from unprimed frogs possess insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors but lack insulin and IGF-I receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), the endogenous substrate of this kinase, and fail to show downstream responses to hormonal stimulation. Microinjection of recombinant IRS-1 protein enhances insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase activity and restores the germinal vesicle breakdown response. Activation of PtdIns 3-kinase results from formation of a complex between phosphorylated IRS-1 and the p85 subunit of PtdIns 3-kinase. Microinjection of a phosphonopeptide containing a pYMXM motif with high affinity for the src homology 2 (SH2) domain of PtdIns 3-kinase p85 inhibits IRS-1 association with and activation of the PtdIns 3-kinase. Formation of the IRS-1-PtdIns 3-kinase complex and insulin-stimulated PtdIns 3-kinase activation are also inhibited by microinjection of a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the SH2 domain of p85. This effect occurs in a concentration-dependent fashion and results in a parallel loss of hormone-stimulated oocyte maturation. These inhibitory effects are specific and are not mimicked by glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins expressing the SH2 domains of ras-GAP or phospholipase C gamma. Moreover, injection of the SH2 domains of p85, ras-GAP, and phospholipase C gamma do not interfere with progesterone-induced oocyte maturation. These data demonstrate that phosphorylation of IRS-1 plays an essential role in IGF-I and insulin signaling in oocyte maturation and that this effect occurs through interactions of the phosphorylated YMXM/YXXM motifs of IRS-1 with SH2 domains of PtdIns 3-kinase or some related molecules.     

Rin1 regulates insulin receptor signal transduction pathways

Rin1 is a multifunctional protein containing several domains, including Ras binding and Rab5 GEF domains. The role of Rin1 in insulin receptor internalization and signaling was examined by expressing Rin1 and deletion mutants in cells utilizing a retrovirus system. Here, we show that insulin-receptor-mediated endocystosis and fluid phase insulin-stimulated endocytosis are enhanced in cells expressing the Rin1:wild type and the Rin1:C deletion mutant, which contain both the Rab5-GEF and GTP-bound Ras binding domains. However, the Rin1:N deletion mutant, which contains both the SH2 and proline-rich domains, blocked insulin-stimulated receptor-mediated and insulin-stimulated fluid phase endocytosis. In addition, the expression of Rin1:delta (429-490), a natural occurring splice variant, also blocked both receptor-mediated and fluid phase endocystosis. Furthermore, association of the Rin1 SH2 domain with the insulin receptor was dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor. Morphological analysis indicates that Rin1 co-localizes with insulin receptor both at the cell surface and in endosomes upon insulin stimulation. Interestingly, the expression of Rin1:wild type and both deletion mutants blocks the activation of Erk1/2 and Akt1 kinase activities without affecting either JN or p38 kinase activities. DNA synthesis and Elk-1 activation are also altered by the expression of Rin1:wild type and the Rin1:C deletion mutant. In contrast, the expression of Rin1:delta stimulates both Erk1/2 and Akt1 activation, DNA synthesis and Elk-1 activation. These results demonstrate that Rin1 plays an important role in both insulin receptor membrane trafficking and signaling.     

Role of IRS-1-GRB-2 complexes in insulin signaling.

GRB-2 is a small SH2- and SH3 domain-containing adapter protein that associates with the mammalian SOS homolog to regulate p21ras during growth factor signaling. During insulin stimulation, GRB-2 binds to the phosphorylated Y895VNI motif of IRS-1. Substitution of Tyr-895 with phenylalanine (IRS-1F-895) prevented the IRS-1-GRB-2 association in vivo and in vitro. The myeloid progenitor cell line, 32-D, is insensitive to insulin because it contains few insulin receptors and no IRS-1. Coexpression of IRS-1 or IRS-1F-895 with the insulin receptor was required for insulin-stimulated mitogenesis in 32-D cells, while expression of the insulin receptor alone was sufficient to mediate insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and activation of p21ras and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. The Shc-GRB-2 complex formed during insulin stimulation is a possible mediator of p21ras and MAP kinase activation in IRS-1-deficient 32-D cells. Interestingly, IRS-1, but not IRS-1F-895, enhanced the stimulation of MAP kinase by insulin in 32-D cells expressing insulin receptors. Thus, IRS-1 contributes to the stimulation of MAP kinase by insulin, probably through formation of the IRS-1-GRB-2 complex at Tyr-895. Our results suggest that the Shc-GRB-2 complex and the activation of p21ras-dependent signaling pathways, including MAP kinase, are insufficient for insulin-stimulated mitogenesis and that the essential function(s) of IRS-1 in proliferative signaling is largely unrelated to IRS-1-GRB-2 complex formation.     

YMXM motifs and signaling by an insulin receptor substrate 1 molecule without tyrosine phosphorylation sites.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) by the activated receptors for insulin, IGF-1, and various cytokines creates binding sites for signaling proteins with Src homology 2 domains (SH2 proteins). Determining the role of specific SH2 proteins during insulin signaling has been difficult because IRS-1 possesses as many as 18 potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites, several of which contain redundant motifs. Using 32D cells, which contain no endogenous IRS proteins, we compared the signaling ability of an IRS-1 molecule in which 18 potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites were replaced by phenylalanine (IRS-1(F18)) with two derivative molecules which retained three YMXM motifs (IRS-1(3YMXM)) or the two COOH-terminal SHP2-Fyn binding sites (IRS-1(YCT)). During insulin stimulation, IRS-1(F18) failed to undergo tyrosine phosphorylation or mediate activation of the phosphotidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinase or p70(s6k); IRS-1(YCT) was tyrosine phosphorylated but also failed to mediate these signaling events. Neither IRS-1(3YMXM) nor IRS-1(YCT) mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. IRS-1(F18) and IRS-1(YCT) partially mediated similar levels of insulin-stimulated mitogenesis at high insulin concentrations, however, suggesting that IRS-1 contains phosphotyrosine-independent elements which effect mitogenic signals, and that the sites in IRS-l(YCT) do not augment this signal. IRS-1(3YMXM) mediated the maximal mitogenic response to insulin, although the response to insulin was more sensitive with wild-type IRS-1. By contrast, the association of IRS-1(3YMXM) with PI 3'-kinase was more sensitive to insulin than the association with IRS-1. Thus, the binding of SH2 proteins (such as PI 3'-kinase) by YMXM motifs in IRS-1 is an important element in the mitogenic response, but other elements are essential for full mitogenic sensitivity.     

Functional trans-inactivation of insulin receptor kinase by growth-inhibitory angiotensin II AT2 receptor

The present study demonstrates negative intracellular cross-talk between angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) and insulin receptors. AT2 receptor stimulation leads to inhibition of insulin-induced extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK2) activity and cell proliferation in transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-hAT2) cells. We show that AT2 receptor interferes at the initial step of insulin signaling cascade, by impairing tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (IR) beta-chain. AT2-mediated inhibition of IR phosphorylation is insensitive to pertussis toxin and is also detected in neuroblastoma N1E-115 and pancreatic acinar AR42J cells that express endogenous receptors. We present evidence that AT2 receptor inhibits the autophosphorylating tyrosine kinase activity of IR, with no significant effect on insulin binding properties. AT2-mediated inactivation of IR does not mainly involve tyrosine dephosphorylation by vanadate-sensitive tyrosine phosphatases nor serine/threonine phosphorylation by protein kinase C. As a consequence of IR inactivation, AT2 receptor inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and signal-regulatory protein (SIRPalpha1) and prevents subsequent association of both IRS-1 and SIRPalpha1 with Src homology 2 (SH2)-containing tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2. Our results thus demonstrate functional trans-inactivation of IR kinase by G protein-coupled AT2 receptor, illustrating a novel mode of negative communication between two families of membrane receptors.     

Cellular effects of phosphotyrosine-binding domain inhibitors on insulin receptor signaling and trafficking.

Shc and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) are cytoplasmic substrates of tyrosine kinase receptors that engage, localize, and activate downstream SH2 enzymes. Each contains a phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain that is structurally unrelated to SH2 domains. We have designed high-affinity, cellular inhibitors of the Shc PTB domain by incorporating nonnatural, phosphatase-resistant amino acids into short peptides. None of the inhibitors bind the IRS-1 PTB domain, consistent with distinct specificities for domains. The best inhibitor of the Shc domain was introduced by electroporation into Rat1 fibroblasts that express human insulin receptors. Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Shc was inhibited, with no effect on IRS-1, and downstream effects on mitogen-activated protein kinase and DNA synthesis were both inhibited. The PTB domain inhibitor had less influence on epidermal growth factor-induced effects and essentially no impact on serum- or phorbol ester-induced effects. The inhibitor did not affect insulin internalization and its degradation. We conclude that the PTB domain of Shc is critical for its phosphorylation by the insulin receptor, that Shc is an important mediator of insulin's mitogenic effects, and that Shc is not central to insulin receptor cycling in these cells. PTB domains can be inhibited selectively in cells and represent potential targets for drug discovery.     

Pleiotropic insulin signals are engaged by multisite phosphorylation of IRS-1.

IRS-1 (insulin receptor substrate 1) is a principal insulin receptor substrate that undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation during insulin stimulation. It contains over 20 potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites, and we suspect that multiple insulin signals are enabled when the activated insulin receptor kinase phosphorylates several of them. Tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 binds specifically to various cellular proteins containing Src homology 2 (SH2) domains (SH2 proteins). We identified some of the tyrosine residues of IRS-1 that undergo insulin-stimulated phosphorylation by the purified insulin receptor and in intact cells during insulin stimulation. Automated sequencing and manual radiosequencing revealed the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues 460, 608, 628, 895, 939, 987, 1172, and 1222; additional sites remain to be identified. Immobilized SH2 domains from the 85-kDa regulatory subunit (p85 alpha) of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase bind preferentially to tryptic phosphopeptides containing Tyr(P)-608 and Tyr(P)-939. By contrast, the SH2 domain in GRB2 and the amino-terminal SH2 domain in SHPTP2 (Syp) specifically bind to Tyr(P)-895 and Tyr(P)-1172, respectively. These results confirm the p85 alpha recognizes YMXM motifs and suggest that GRB2 prefers a phosphorylated YVNI motif, whereas SHPTP2 (Syp) binds to a phosphorylated YIDL motif. These results extend the notion that IRS-1 is a multisite docking protein that engages various downstream regulatory elements during insulin signal transmission.     

Differential modulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation state of the insulin receptor by IRS (insulin receptor subunit) proteins.

In response to insulin, tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor is stimulated, leading to autophosphorylation and tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins including insulin receptor subunit (IRS)-1, IRS-2, and Shc. Phosphorylation of these proteins leads to activation of downstream events that mediate insulin action. Insulin receptor kinase activity is requisite for the biological effects of insulin, and understanding regulation of insulin receptor phosphorylation and kinase activity is essential to understanding insulin action. Receptor tyrosine kinase activity may be altered by direct changes in tyrosine kinase activity, itself, or by dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor by protein-tyrosine phosphatases. After 1 min of insulin stimulation, the insulin receptor was tyrosine phosphorylated 8-fold more and Shc was phosphorylated 50% less in 32D cells containing both IRS-1 and insulin receptors (32D/IR+IRS-1) than in 32D cells containing only insulin receptors (32D/IR), insulin receptors and IRS-2 (32D/IR+IRS-2), or insulin receptors and a form of IRS-1 that cannot be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues (32D/IR+IRS-1F18). Therefore, IRS-1 and IRS-2 appeared to have different effects on insulin receptor phosphorylation and downstream signaling. Preincubation of cells with pervanadate greatly decreased protein-tyrosine phosphatase activity in all four cell lines. After pervanadate treatment, tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptors in insulin-treated 32D/IR, 32D/ IR+IRS-2, and 32D/IR+IRS-1F18 cells was markedly increased, but pervanadate had no effect on insulin receptor phosphorylation in 32D/IR+IRS-1 cells. The presence of tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 appears to increase insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and potentially tyrosine kinase activity via inhibition of protein-tyrosine phosphatase(s). This effect of IRS-1 on insulin receptor phosphorylation is unique to IRS-1, as IRS-2 had no effect on insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Therefore, IRS-1 and IRS-2 appear to function differently in their effects on signaling downstream of the insulin receptor. IRS-1 may play a major role in regulating insulin receptor phosphorylation and enhancing downstream signaling after insulin stimulation.     

Stimulation of protein synthesis, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E phosphorylation, and PHAS-I phosphorylation by insulin requires insulin receptor substrate 1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Insulin rapidly stimulates protein synthesis in a wide variety of tissues. This stimulation is associated with phosphorylation of several translational initiation and elongation factors, but little is known about the signaling pathways to these events. To study these pathways, we have used a myeloid progenitor cell line (32D) which is dependent on interleukin 3 but insensitive to insulin because of the very low levels of insulin receptor (IR) and the complete lack of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-signaling proteins (IRS-1 and IRS-2). Expression of more IR permits partial stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by insulin, and expression of IRS-1 alone mediates insulin stimulation of the 70-kDa S6 kinase (pp70S6K) by the endogenous IR. However, expression of both IR and IRS-1 is required for stimulation of protein synthesis. Moreover, this effect requires activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), as determined by wortmannin inhibition and the use of an IRS-1 variant lacking all Tyr residues except those which activate PI3K. Stimulation of general protein synthesis does not involve activation by IRS-1 of GRB-2-SOS-p21ras or SH-PTP2, since IRS-1 variants lacking the SH2-binding Tyr residues for these proteins are fully active. Nor does it involve pp70S6K, since rapamycin, while strongly inhibiting the synthesis of a small subset of growth-regulated proteins, only slightly inhibits total protein synthesis. Recruitment of mRNAs to the ribosome is enhanced by phosphorylation of eIF4E, the cap-binding protein, and PHAS-I, a protein that specifically binds eIF4E. The behavior of cell lines containing IRS-1 variants and inhibition by wortmannin and rapamycin indicate that the phosphorylation of both proteins requires IRS-1-mediated stimulation of PI3K and pp70S6K but not mitogen-activated protein kinase or SH-PTP2.     

A complex of GRB2-dynamin binds to tyrosine-phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 after insulin treatment.

Insulin drives the formation of a complex between tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 and SH2-containing proteins. The SH2-containing protein Grb2 also possesses adjacent SH3 domains, which bind the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor Sos. In this report, we examined the involvement of another SH3 binding protein, dynamin, in insulin signal transduction. SH3 domains of Grb2 as GST fusion proteins bound dynamin from lysates of CHO cells expressing wild-type insulin receptor (IR) (CHO-IR cells) in a cell-free system (in vitro). Immunoprecipitation studies using specific antibodies against Grb2 revealed that Grb2 was co-immunoprecipitated with dynamin from unstimulated CHO-IR cells. After insulin treatment of CHO-IR cells, anti-dynamin antibodies co-immunoprecipitated the IR beta-subunit and IRS-1, as tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and PI 3-kinase activity. However, purified rat brain dynamin did not bind directly to either the IR, IRS-1 or the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase in vitro. Together, these results suggest that in CHO-IR cells, insulin stimulates the binding of dynamin to tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 via Grb2 and that IRS-1 also associates with PI 3-kinase in response to insulin. This complex formation was reconstituted in vitro using recombinant baculovirus-expressed IRS-1, GST-Grb2 fusion proteins and dynamin peptides containing proline-rich sequences. Furthermore, dynamin GTPase activity was found to be stimulated when an IRS-1-derived phosphopeptide, containing the Grb2 binding site, was added to the dynamin-Grb2 complex in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The SH2/SH3 domain-containing protein GRB2 interacts with tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS1 and Shc: implications for insulin control of ras signalling.

GRB2, a small protein comprising one SH2 domain and two SH3 domains, represents the human homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans protein, sem-5. Both GRB2 and sem-5 have been implicated in a highly conserved mechanism that regulates p21ras signalling by receptor tyrosine kinases. In this report we show that in response to insulin, GRB2 forms a stable complex with two tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. One protein is the major insulin receptor substrate IRS-1 and the second is the SH2 domain-containing oncogenic protein, Shc. The interactions between GRB2 and these two proteins require ligand activation of the insulin receptor and are mediated by the binding of the SH2 domain of GRB2 to phosphotyrosines on both IRS-1 and Shc. Although GRB2 associates with IRS-1 and Shc, it is not tyrosine-phosphorylated after insulin stimulation, implying that GRB2 is not a substrate for the insulin receptor. Furthermore, we have identified a short sequence motif (YV/IN) present in IRS-1, EGFR and Shc, which specifically binds the SH2 domain of GRB2 with high affinity. Interestingly, both GRB2 and phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase can simultaneously bind distinct tyrosine phosphorylated regions on the same IRS-1 molecule, suggesting a mechanism whereby IRS-1 could provide the core for a large signalling complex. We propose a model whereby insulin stimulation leads to formation of multiple protein--protein interactions between GRB2 and the two targets IRS-1 and Shc. These interactions may play a crucial role in activation of p21ras and the control of downstream effector molecules.     

Human insulin receptor juxtamembrane domain independent insulin signaling

The exon 16-encoded juxtamembrane (JM) domain of human insulin receptor (hIR) harbors the NPEY motif which couples the insulin-activated hIR kinase to downstream signal transduction molecules. We sought to determine if signal transduction requires the entire exon 16-encoded 22-amino acid JM domain. Transfected CHO cells were generated stably expressing either the wild-type hIR (hIR-WT) or two mutant hIRs (hIRDeltaEx16 in which the JM domain was deleted, and hIRrosJM in which the deleted segment was replaced by the corresponding domain of v-ros protein). The mutant hIRDeltaEx16 and hIRrosJM exhibited similar insulin-binding as the hIRWT. Insulin internalization and insulin dose-response experiments toward activation of downstream signal transduction molecules demonstrated that: i) the presence of intact hIR-JM domain which harbors the NPEY motif is essential for Shc phosphorylation but not for IRS-1 phosphorylation; ii) insulin signal transduction can occur independent of the JM domain of hIR and without participation of the NPEY motif; iii) engagement of this putative alternative downstream signal transduction is Shc independent and is dependent on insulin concentration; and iv) insulin internalization does not necessarily require the hIR specific aa sequence of the JM domain which can be partially substituted by the JM domain of the v-ros tyrosine kinase.     

Reduction of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by peroxynitrite is concurrent with tyrosine nitration of insulin receptor substrate-1

Inducible nitric oxide synthetase plays an essential role in insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet. The reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide leads to the formation of peroxynitrite (ONOO-), which can modify several proteins. In this study, we investigated whether peroxynitrite impairs insulin-signalling pathway. Our experiments showed that 3-(4-morpholinyl)sydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1), a constitutive producer of peroxynitrite, dose-dependently inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. While SIN-1 did not affect the insulin receptor protein level and tyrosine phosphorylation, it reduced the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) protein level, and IRS-1 associated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase) activity. Although SIN-1 did not induce Ser307 phosphorylation of IRS-1, tyrosine nitration of IRS-1 was detected in SIN-1-treated-Rat1 fibroblasts expressing human insulin receptors. Mass spectrometry showed that peroxynitrite induced at least four nitrated tyrosine residues in rat IRS-1, including Tyr939, which is critical for association of IRS-1 with the p85 subunit of PI-3 kinase. Our results suggest that peroxynitrite reduces the IRS-1 protein level and decreases phosphorylation of IRS-1 concurrent with nitration of its tyrosine residues.     

Differences in signaling properties of the cytoplasmic domains of the insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor receptor in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) elicit distinct but overlapping biological effects in vivo. To investigate whether differences in intrinsic signaling capacity of receptors contribute to biological specificity, we constructed chimeric receptors containing the extracellular portion of the neurotrophin receptor TrkC fused to the intracellular portion of the insulin or IGF-I receptors. Chimeras were stably expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes at levels comparable to endogenous insulin receptors and were efficiently activated by neurotrophin-3. The wild-type insulin receptor chimera mediated approximately 2-fold greater phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), association of IRS-1 with phosphoinositide 3-kinase, stimulation of glucose uptake, and GLUT4 translocation, compared with the IGF-I receptor chimera. In contrast, the IGF-I receptor chimera mediated more effective Shc phosphorylation, association of Shc with Grb2, and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase compared with the insulin receptor chimera. The two receptors elicited similar activation of protein kinase B, p70S6 kinase, and glycogen synthesis. We conclude that the insulin receptor mediates some aspects of metabolic signaling in adipocytes more effectively than the IGF-I receptor, as a consequence of more efficient phosphorylation of IRS-1 and greater recruitment/activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase.     

Phosphotyrosine binding domains of Shc and insulin receptor substrate 1 recognize the NPXpY motif in a thermodynamically distinct manner

Phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains of the adaptor protein Shc and insulin receptor substrate (IRS-1) interact with a distinct set of activated and tyrosine-phosphorylated cytokine and growth factor receptors and play important roles in mediating mitogenic signal transduction. By using the technique of isothermal titration calorimetry, we have studied the thermodynamics of binding of the Shc and IRS-1 PTB domains to tyrosine-phosphorylated NPXY-containing peptides derived from known receptor binding sites. The results showed that relative contributions of enthalpy and entropy to the free energy of binding are dependent on specific phosphopeptides. Binding of the Shc PTB domain to tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides from TrkA, epidermal growth factor, ErbB3, and insulin receptors is achieved via an overall entropy-driven reaction. On the other hand, recognition of the phosphopeptides of insulin and interleukin-4 receptors by the IRS-1 PTB domain is predominantly an enthalpy-driven process. Mutagenesis and amino acid substitution experiments showed that in addition to the tyrosine-phosphorylated NPXY motif, the PTB domains of Shc and IRS-1 prefer a large hydrophobic residue at pY-5 and a small hydrophobic residue at pY-1, respectively (where pY is phosphotyrosine). These results agree with the calculated solvent accessibility of these two key peptide residues in the PTB domain/peptide structures and support the notion that the PTB domains of Shc and IRS-1 employ functionally distinct mechanisms to recognize tyrosine-phosphorylated receptors.     

Cdc42Hs facilitates cytoskeletal reorganization and neurite outgrowth by localizing the 58-kD insulin receptor substrate to filamentous actin

Cdc42Hs is involved in cytoskeletal reorganization and is required for neurite outgrowth in N1E-115 cells. To investigate the molecular mechanism by which Cdc42Hs regulates these processes, a search for novel Cdc42Hs protein partners was undertaken by yeast two-hybrid assay. Here, we identify the 58-kD substrate of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase (IRS-58) as a Cdc42Hs target. IRS-58 is a brain-enriched protein comprising at least four protein-protein interaction sites: a Cdc42Hs binding site, an Src homology (SH)3-binding site, an SH3 domain, and a tryptophan, tyrptophan (WW)-binding domain. Expression of IRS-58 in Swiss 3T3 cells leads to reorganization of the filamentous (F)-actin cytoskeleton, involving loss of stress fibers and formation of filopodia and clusters. In N1E-115 cells IRS-58 induces neurite outgrowth with high complexity. Expression of a deletion mutant of IRS-58, which lacks the SH3- and WW-binding domains, induced neurite extension without complexity in N1E-115 cells. In Swiss 3T3 cells and N1E-115 cells, IRS-58 colocalizes with F-actin in clusters and filopodia. An IRS-58(1267N) mutant unable to bind Cdc42Hs failed to localize with F-actin to induce neurite outgrowth or significant cytoskeletal reorganization. These results suggest that Cdc42Hs facilitates cytoskeletal reorganization and neurite outgrowth by localizing protein complexes via adaptor proteins such as IRS-58 to F-actin.