The effects of cycloheximide and chloroquine on insulin receptor metabolism. Differential effects on receptor recycling and inactivation and insulin degradation

The effects of protein synthesis inhibitors and the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine on the metabolism of the insulin receptor were examined. Through the use of the heavy-isotope density shift technique, cycloheximide was found to inhibit both the synthesis of new insulin receptor and the inactivation of old cellular insulin receptor. Upon investigation of the locus of this effect of protein synthesis inhibition, it was found that cycloheximide did not inhibit 1) the translocation of receptor from the cell surface to an intracellular site, 2) the recycling of receptor from the internal site back to the plasma membrane, nor 3) the degradation of insulin. Cycloheximide did, however, rapidly and completely inhibit the inactivation of the insulin receptor. In the presence of extracellular insulin, this effect of cycloheximide resulted in the long-term (6 h) accumulation of receptor in a trypsin-resistant intracellular compartment. Puromycin and pactamycin, protein synthesis inhibitors with mechanisms of action which differ from cycloheximide, produced the same effects on insulin receptor metabolism as cycloheximide, indicating that this effect on receptor metabolism is due to the inhibition of protein synthesis and not a secondary effect of cycloheximide. Actinomycin D also inhibited the inactivation of receptor. Chloroquine inhibited the receptor-mediated degradation of insulin, but had no effect on either the internalization or inactivation of the insulin receptor. The insulin-induced recycling of the internalized receptor was inhibited by chloroquine, possibly through the inhibition of the discharge of insulin from the insulin-receptor complex. From these observations, we suggest that 1) a protein factor is required to inactivate the insulin receptor, 2) this protein and the messenger RNA coding for the protein have short cellular half-lives, and 3) insulin degradation and insulin receptor inactivation are distinct, separable processes which not only occur at different rates, but possibly occur in distinct subcellular locations.     

Intracellular insulin-receptor dissociation and segregation in a rat fibroblast cell line transfected with a human insulin receptor gene

The cellular processing of insulin and insulin receptors was studied using a rat fibroblast cell line that had been transfected with a normal human insulin receptor gene, expressing approximately 500 times the normal number of native fibroblast insulin receptors. These cells bind and internalize insulin normally. Biochemical assays based on the selective precipitation by polyethylene glycol of intact insulin-receptor complexes but not of free intracellular insulin were developed to study the time course of intracellular insulin-receptor dissociation. Fibroblasts were incubated with radiolabeled insulin at 4 degrees C, and internalization of insulin-receptor complexes was initiated by warming the cells to 37 degrees C. Within 2 min, 90% of the internalized radioactivity was composed of intact insulin-receptor complexes. The total number of complexes reached a maximum by 5 min and decreased rapidly thereafter with a t 1/2 of approximately 10 min. There was a distinct delay in the appearance, rate of rise, and peak of intracellular free and degraded insulin. The dissociation of insulin from internalized insulin-receptor complexes was markedly inhibited by monensin and chloroquine. Furthermore, chloroquine markedly increased the number of cross-linkable intracellular insulin-receptor complexes, as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis autoradiography. These findings suggest that acidification of intracellular vesicles is responsible for insulin-receptor dissociation. Physical segregation of dissociated intracellular insulin from its receptor was monitored, based on the ability of dissociated insulin to rebind to receptor upon neutralization of acidic intracellular vesicles with monensin. The results are consistent with the view that segregation of insulin and receptor occurs 5-10 min after initiation of dissociation. These studies demonstrate the intracellular itinerary of insulin-receptor complexes, including internalization, dissociation of insulin from the internalized receptor within an acidified compartment, segregation of insulin from the receptor, and subsequent ligand degradation.     

Dynamics of intracellular movement and nucleocytoplasmic recycling of the ligand-activated androgen receptor in living cells

An expression construct containing the cDNA encoding a modified aequorea green fluorescent protein (GFP) ligated to the 5'-end of the rat androgen receptor (AR) cDNA (GFP-AR) was used to study the intracellular dynamics of the receptor movement in living cells. In three different cell lines, ie. PC3, HeLa, and COS1, unliganded GFP-AR was seen mostly in the cytoplasm and rapidly (within 15-60 min) moved to the nuclear compartment after androgen treatment. Upon androgen withdrawal, the labeled AR migrated back to the cytoplasmic compartment and maintained its ability to reenter the nucleus on subsequent exposure to androgen. Under the condition of inhibited protein synthesis by cycloheximide (50 microg/ml), at least four rounds of receptor recycling after androgen treatment and withdrawal were recorded. Two nonandrogenic hormones, 17beta-estradiol and progesterone at higher concentrations (10(-7)/10(-6) M), were able to both transactivate the AR-responsive promoter and translocate the GFP-AR into the nucleus. Similarly, antiandrogenic ligands, cyproterone acetate and casodex, were also capable of translocating the cytoplasmic AR into the nucleus albeit at a slower rate than the androgen 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). All AR ligands with transactivation potential, including the mixed agonist/antagonist cyproterone acetate, caused translocation of the GFP-AR into a subnuclear compartment indicated by its punctate intranuclear distribution. However, translocation caused by casodex, a pure antagonist, resulted in a homogeneous nuclear distribution. Subsequent exposure of the casodex-treated cell to DHT rapidly (15-30 min) altered the homogeneous to punctate distribution of the already translocated nuclear AR. When transported into the nucleus either by casodex or by DHT, GFP-AR was resistant to 2 M NaCl extraction, indicating that the homogeneously distributed AR is also associated with the nuclear matrix. Taken together, these results demonstrate that AR requires ligand activation for its nuclear translocation where occupancy by only agonists and partial agonists can direct it to a potentially functional subnuclear location and that one receptor molecule can undertake multiple rounds of hormonal signaling; this indicates that ligand dissociation/inactivation rather than receptor degradation may play a critical role in terminating hormone action.     

The effects of insulin and tunicamycin on insulin receptors of cultured fibroblasts

The effect of down-regulation on the intracellular pool of insulin receptors and the role of glycosylation in recovery from down-regulation have been studied in fibroblastic cultures from the skin of non-diabetic mice. In control cultures, 55% of the total specific [¹²⁵I]insulin-binding activity was in the intracellular compartment. Insulin caused a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in the number of cell surface insulin receptors, with no significant change in total insulin receptors. This decrease in surface receptors was accompanied by an increase in the specific binding of [¹²⁵I]insulin in the intracellular compartment. Removal of insulin from down-regulated cells resulted in a time-dependent increase in the binding of [¹²⁵I]insulin to surface receptors, reaching 90% of that in controls by 12 h. The recovery of surface insulin receptors after removal of insulin was blocked by incubation of cultures with tunicamycin, but not by cycloheximide. These results indicate that down-regulation of surface insulin receptors by insulin is associated with translocation of receptors into the intracellular pool and suggest that protein glycosylation is important in insulin receptor recycling and externalization.     

Internalization of insulin receptors and HLA antigens in human hepatoma cells.

Human HepG2 hepatoma cells express a high number of insulin receptors. Growing cells exhibit 70% of their insulin receptors on the plasma membrane. Moreover, cell-surface insulin receptors form molecular complexes with class I major histocompatibility antigens, as determined by co-immunoprecipitation of the receptors by anti-class I monoclonal antibodies. On exposure to saturating concentrations of insulin, the hormone is rapidly internalized into a Pronase-resistant compartment. Internalization of insulin is accompanied by a rapid (t1/2 = 2-3 min) redistribution of insulin receptors from the cell surface to an intracellular compartment. On removal of insulin from the medium, functional receptors recycle back to the plasma membrane, where they can bind insulin again. With chronic exposure of HepG2 cells to insulin, the initial redistribution of receptors is followed by a slow (t1/2 = 9 h) down-regulation of the receptors. Finally, notwithstanding their interaction at the cell surface, insulin receptors and class I major histocompatibility antigens are internalized at different rates and with independent regulation.     

Recycling of the asialoglycoprotein receptor in isolated rat hepatocytes. Dissociation of internalized ligand from receptor occurs in two kinetically and thermally distinguishable compartments

We have examined the rate of dissociation of internalized 125I-asialo-orosomucoid-receptor complexes in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Cell suspensions were washed with ethylene glycol bis (beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid at 0 degrees C to remove surface-bound ligand and then assessed for the retention of radioactive glycoprotein in the presence of digitonin, which permeabilized the cells and released the internal soluble contents. In cells which initially contained only surface-bound ligand, about 50% of the internalized ligand dissociated from receptor very rapidly (t1/2 less than or equal to 2.5 min, k greater than or equal to 0.28 min-1), at 37 degrees C, whereas the other 50% dissociated more slowly with apparent first order kinetics (t1/2 = 50 min, k = 0.014 min-1). This equal distribution of internalized ligand into two compartments, from which dissociation occurred with very different kinetics, did not depend on the extent of surface receptor occupancy and also occurred under non-steady state conditions of continuous exposure to ligand. Ligand entering both the rapid and slow dissociation compartments was eventually degraded with apparent first order kinetics (k = 0.0047 min-1), suggesting that the intracellular routing of ligand to lysosomes after dissociation from either compartment was via the same pathway. The fast and slow dissociation of receptor-ligand complexes were also distinguished by different temperature sensitivities; the slow dissociation process ceased below 18 degrees C, whereas the fast dissociation process still proceeded. The equal partition of internalized complexes into the two kinetic compartments did not change as a function of temperature but did change as cells continued to endocytose asialo-orosomucoid at 37 degrees C. As the internal receptor pool approached a steady state level of occupancy, there was an increase in the average time for receptor recycling and an increase in the fraction of incoming receptor-ligand complexes which dissociated rapidly (approximately 75%). In addition, under steady state conditions, the rate of the slow dissociation process increased (k = 0.026 min-1, t1/2 = 27 min).     

The acute and chronic effects of glucocorticoids on insulin receptor and insulin responsiveness. Transient fluctuations in intracellular receptor level parallel transient fluctuations in responsiveness

The treatment of confluent embryonic Swiss mouse fibroblasts (3T3-C2 cells) with glucocorticoids has been shown to result in a time- and dose-dependent increase in the number of cellular insulin receptors (Knutson, V. P., Ronnett, G. V., and Lane, M. D. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 2822-2826). Cellular events relating to the insulin receptor and insulin responsiveness which occur over the time course of the transition to the "up-regulated" steady state are described. Over the 48-h transition from the basal to the up-regulated steady state, a transient increase in the level of intracellular receptor was detected with a 3-5-fold increase in intracellular receptor found 12 h after steroid administration. Through the use of the heavy isotope density shift, this increase in the intracellular receptor population was preceded by a decrease in the rate of receptor inactivation, with no change in receptor synthesis. Insulin-induced receptor down-regulation was abolished after 12 h of dexamethasone treatment, when the intracellular receptor level was elevated. Nevertheless, the cells maintained the ability to internalize receptor in response to insulin binding. The hormonal responsiveness of the cells over the glucocorticoid-induced transition was assessed by the ability of insulin to stimulate the cellular uptake of 2-deoxyglucose and aminoisobutyric acid. Glucose transport was transiently increased at a time when the intracellular population of receptor was transiently elevated. Glucocorticoid treatment ultimately led to a loss of insulin-sensitive glucose transport. Insulin-stimulated amino acid transport was transiently abolished when the intracellular population of receptor was high. With chronic steroid treatment, the sensitivity of the amino acid transporter was increased above control levels. These data would indicate that glucocorticoids have no short- or long-term effect on insulin receptor synthesis; the insulin-induced internalization of insulin receptor alone is not sufficient to induce a cellular response to insulin; and the cellular events leading to the transient accumulation of intracellular receptor are coupled to the cellular responsiveness of the cells to insulin.     

Kinetics of insulin receptor transit to and removal from the plasma membrane

The heavy isotope density shift method, in combination with a procedure for labeling cell surface insulin receptors, was used to determine the rate of transit of receptor to the cell surface from their site of synthesis and to follow the net rate of receptor removal from the plasma membrane in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. To label surface receptors, 125I-insulin was bound to cells at 4 degrees C and then covalently cross-linked to the receptors with disuccinimidyl suberate. The identity of the surface-labeled product as insulin receptor was established by immunoprecipitation with antireceptor antibody and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were shifted to medium containing heavy (greater than 95% 15N, 13C and 2H) amino acids. The rates of appearance of newly synthesized heavy receptor at the cell surface and the loss of previously synthesized light receptor from the cell surface were followed by resolving labeled heavy and light surface receptors in CsCl density gradients and quantitating labeled receptor subunits by gel electrophoresis. It was shown that 2.5-3.0 h are required for newly synthesized insulin receptor to reach and become functional in the plasma membrane. Insulin-induced down-regulation of cellular insulin receptor level had no effect on the time required for the newly synthesized receptors to reach the cell surface. Down-regulation, however, increased the first order rate constants for the inactivation of cell surface insulin receptors from 0.046 to 0.10 h-1. The fact that the rate constants for inactivation of cell surface and total cellular insulin receptors were identical in the up-regulated state (0.046 and 0.044 h-1, respectively) or in the down-regulated state (0.10 and 0.096 h-1, respectively) suggests that the rate-limiting step in the receptor inactivation pathway occurs at the cell surface.     

Ligand-independent internalization and recycling of the insulin receptor. Effects of chronic treatment of 3T3-C2 fibroblasts with insulin and dexamethasone.

Upon binding insulin at the plasma membrane, the insulin receptor internalizes into the endosomal compartment of the cell with a half-time of approximately 10 min. Our earlier work demonstrated that receptor inactivation (loss of insulin binding capacity) is a regulated process. Long term treatment of cultured cells with insulin or the glucocorticoid dexamethasone increases or decreases, respectively, the rate constant for insulin receptor inactivation (Knutson, V. P., Ronnett, G. V., and Lane, M. D. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 2822-2826). In these studies, monolayer cultures of 3T3-C2 fibroblasts were chronically treated with insulin or dexamethasone. Subsequently, the surface receptors were labeled with the photoactivatable cross-linking agent 125I-labeled 2-(p-azidosalicylamido)ethyl-1,3'- dithiopropionate -insulin. Following equilibration of the radiolabeled receptor between the plasma membrane and internal pools, the steady-state rate constant for receptor recycling was determined by quantitating the rate at which internal radiolabeled receptor was inserted into the plasma membrane. The steady-state rate constant for this recycling process was the same in control, insulin-treated, or steroid-treated cells (t1/2 = 2h). In contrast, the rate constant for receptor internalization was regulated; the half-times were 10 h for control cells, 5 h for insulin-treated cells, and 19 h for dexamethasone-treated cells. These changes in rate constants for internalization and inactivation lead to changes in the relative numbers of receptor molecules undergoing recycling versus inactivation. Therefore, whereas the recycling of the insulin receptor is not a regulated process, the internalization of surface receptor in the absence of bound ligand is a metabolically controlled step in receptor processing.     

Vanadate down-regulates cell surface insulin and growth hormone receptors and inhibits insulin receptor degradation in cultured human lymphocytes

Insulin is able to down-regulate its specific cell surface receptor in cultured human lymphocytes. The effect of vanadate, a known insulinomimetic agent, was examined to determine whether it could mimic insulin to down-regulate the insulin receptor. Exposure of cultured human lymphocytes (IM-9) to vanadate (0-200 microM) resulted in a time- and dose-dependent decrease in cell surface insulin receptors to 60% of control, while insulin (100 nM) down-regulated to 40%. The vanadate effect, in contrast to the rapid effect of insulin, was slow to develop (4-6 h). Surface receptor recovery after 18 h exposure was rapid after vanadate removal (20 min), but it required hours after insulin suggesting the presence of an intracellular (cryptic) pool of receptors after vanadate treatment. Insulin binding to Triton X-100-solubilized whole cells after 18 h treatment revealed that total cell receptors had decreased to 50% of control after insulin but increased to 120 and 189% of control after 100 and 200 microM vanadate, respectively. Furthermore, vanadate inhibited the insulin-mediated loss of total cell receptors from 50 to 28%. Removal of cell surface receptors by trypsin before cell solubilization revealed that 100 microM vanadate increased insulin binding to 321% of control indicating an accumulation of intracellular receptors. Labeling of cell surface proteins with Na125I and lactoperoxidase followed by immunoprecipitation of solubilized receptors with anti-receptor antibody after incubation for various times up to 20 h and quantitation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that, while insulin shortened t1/2 from 7.3 to 5.3 h, vanadate prolonged receptor t1/2 to 14 h. No effect of vanadate was detected on insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity with up to 4 h incubation at the vanadate concentrations used in this study. Furthermore, human growth hormone surface receptors were similarly down-regulated by vanadate. We conclude that 1) vanadate has an apparent insulin-like effect to down-regulate cell surface insulin receptors in cultured human lymphocytes; 2) in contrast to insulin-induced down-regulation which is associated with receptor degradation vanadate causes an accumulation of intracellular (cryptic) receptors and inhibits insulin receptor degradation; and 3) these effects of vanadate may be exerted on other cell surface receptors.     

Cell-surface insulin receptor cycling and its implication in the glycogenic response in cultured foetal hepatocytes.

The insulin-receptor cycle was investigated in cultured foetal rat hepatocytes by determining the variations in insulin-binding sites at the cell surface after short exposure to the hormone. Binding of 125I-insulin was measured at 4 degrees C after dissociation of prebound native insulin. Two protocols were used: exchange binding assay and binding after acid treatment; both gave the same results. Cell-surface 125I-insulin-receptor binding decreased sharply (by 40%) during the first 5 min of 10 nM-insulin exposure (t1/2 = 2 min) and remained practically constant thereafter; subsequent removal of the hormone restored the initial binding within 10 min. This fall-rise sequence corresponded to variations in the number of insulin receptors at the cell surface, with no detectable change in receptor affinity. The reversible translocation of insulin receptors from the cell surface to a compartment not accessible to insulin at 4 degrees C was hormone-concentration- and temperature-dependent. SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis after cross-linking of bound 125I-insulin to cell-surface proteins with disuccinimidyl suberate showed that these variations were not associated with changes in Mr of binding components, in particular for the major labelled band of Mr 130,000. The insulin-receptor cycle could be repeated after intermittent exposure to insulin. Continuous or intermittent exposure to the hormone gave a similar glycogenic response, contrary to the partial effect of a unique short (5-20 min) exposure. A relationship could be established between the repetitive character of the rapid insulin-receptor cycle and the maximal expression of the biological effect in cultured foetal hepatocytes.     

Characterization of the stimulatory action of insulin on insulin-like growth factor II binding to rat adipose cells. Differences in the mechanism of insulin action on insulin-like growth factor II receptors and glucose transporters

Insulin is known to increase the number of cell surface insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) receptors in isolated rat adipose cells through a subcellular redistribution mechanism similar to that for the glucose transporter. The effects of insulin on these two processes, therefore, have now been directly compared in the same cell preparations. 1) Insulin increases the steady state number of cell surface IGF-II receptors by 7-13-fold without affecting receptor affinity; however, insulin stimulates glucose transport activity by 25-40-fold. 2) The insulin concentration required for half-maximal stimulation of cell surface IGF-II receptor number is approximately 30% lower than that for the stimulation of glucose transport activity. 3) The half-time for the achievement of insulin's maximal effect at 37 degrees C is much shorter for IGF-II receptor number (approximately 0.8 min) than for glucose transport activity (approximately 2.6 min). 4) Reversal of insulin's action at 37 degrees C occurs more rapidly for cell surface IGF-II receptors (t1/2 congruent to 2.9 min) than for glucose transport activity (t1/2 congruent to 4.9 min). 5) When the relative subcellular distribution of IGF-II receptors is examined in basal cells, less than 10% of the receptors are localized to the plasma membrane fraction indicating that most of the receptors, like glucose transporters, are localized to an intracellular compartment. However, in response to insulin, the number of plasma membrane IGF-II receptors increases only approximately 1.4-fold while the number of glucose transporters increases approximately 4.5-fold. Thus, while the stimulatory actions of insulin on cell surface IGF-II receptors and glucose transport activity are qualitatively similar, marked quantitative differences suggest that the subcellular cycling of these two integral membrane proteins occurs by distinct processes.     

Replacement of the human insulin receptor transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains by corresponding domains of the oncogene product v-ros leads to accelerated internalization, degradation, and down-regulation

Internalization, degradation, and insulin-induced down-regulation of insulin receptors were studied comparatively in transformed Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines, CHO.T and CHO.IR.ros, respectively expressing either the wild-type human insulin receptor (hIR) or a mutated hybrid receptor in which the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of hIR were replaced by corresponding domains of the transforming protein p68gag-ros (v-ros) of avian sarcoma virus UR2. At 37 degrees C, degradation of insulin receptors photoaffinity labeled on the cell surface (440 kDa) was most rapid for the hybrid hIR.ros (t1/2 1.0 +/- 0.1 h), intermediate for the wild-type hIR (t1/2 2.7 +/- 0.5 h), and slowest for the endogenous CHO insulin receptors (t1/2 3.7 +/- 0.7 h). Initial intracellular accumulation of the hIR.ros hybrid was also most rapid, reaching maximal amounts in 20 min following which the receptors disappeared rapidly from the intracellular compartment. In contrast, intracellular accumulation of the receptors in the CHO.T and CHO cells was slower, reaching maximal amounts in 60 min, and rapid disappearance of the receptors from the intracellular compartment did not occur. Chloroquine, a lysosomotropic agent, inhibited degradation of both the wild-type hIR and the chimeric hIR.ros and increased their intracellular accumulation. However, the chloroquine effect was much more marked for the hIR.ros receptors whose intracellular accumulation was increased by greater than 300% (in comparison with approximately 60% increase for the wild-type hIR), demonstrating marked intracellular degradation of the hybrid hIR.ros at chloroquine-sensitive sites. Insulin-induced down-regulation of the cell surface hIR.ros (52% loss in 3 h) was also more marked than the wild-type hIR (approximately 30% loss in 3 h). Thus, in the hybrid hIR.ros receptor, which was shown previously to exhibit insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation and kinase activity but not insulin-stimulated metabolic function, the capacity for internalization and down-regulation is not only preserved but is also markedly accelerated. These findings suggest that 1) the postreceptor coupling mechanisms mediating insulin-induced receptor internalization, degradation, and down-regulation are different from those mediating metabolic functions; and 2) v-ros may contain the structural information directing accelerated receptor catabolism.     

Vanadate modulates the activity of a subpopulation of asialoglycoprotein receptors on isolated rat hepatocytes: active surface receptors are internalized and replaced by inactive receptors

In the absence of ligand, sodium vanadate causes a time- and dose-dependent loss of up to approximately 50% of the surface galactosyl receptor (GalR) activity in rat hepatocytes at 37 degrees C. The effect on total (surface plus intracellular) GalR activity is also dependent on exposure time and vanadate concentration. At less than 1 mM, vanadate induces a transient decrease and then partial recovery of cell surface GalR activity. At greater than 3 mM vanadate, surface GalR activity decreases rapidly (t1/2 approximately 2 min). Lost surface activity is initially recovered in digitonin-permeabilized cells, indicating that active surface GalRs redistribute to the cell interior. However, an antibody assay for GalR protein showed that although surface activity decreased, there was no decrease in surface receptor protein. The active intracellular GalRs then slowly inactivate over 30-60 min. With 8 mM vanadate, the loss of both surface and total cellular GalR activity is more rapid and coincident; no lag is observed. Maximal activity loss, however, was still only approximately 50%. Again, no net change was seen in the distribution of GalR protein between the cell surface and the interior. These results indicate that vanadate causes active GalRs to move from the surface to the inside and be replaced by inactive receptors moving from the inside to the cell surface. The Gal receptor system is comprised of two functionally different receptor subpopulations that operate via two distinct intracellular pathways. Only the State 2 GalRs, which recycle constitutively, are sensitive to modulation by vanadate. Consistent with this, vanadate inhibits the endocytosis of 125I-asialoorosomucoid (ASOR) only partially. The rate of uptake and the steady state level of ASOR intracellular accumulation were maximally inhibited by 50 and 70%, respectively, at 0.2 mM vanadate. The rate and extent of degradation of 125I-ASOR were also inhibited by 50-70%. Residual ASOR uptake and degradation is accounted for by the minor vanadate-resistant State 1 Gal receptor pathway.     

Initial entry of IRAP into the insulin-responsive storage compartment occurs prior to basal or insulin-stimulated plasma membrane recycling

To examine the acquisition of insulin sensitivity after the initial biosynthesis of the insulin-responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP), 3T3-L1 adipocytes were transfected with an enhanced green fluorescent protein-IRAP (EGFP-IRAP) fusion protein. In the absence of insulin, IRAP was rapidly localized (1-3 h) to secretory membranes and retained in these intracellular membrane compartments with little accumulation at the plasma membrane. However, insulin was unable to induce translocation to the plasma membrane until 6-9 h after biosynthesis. This was in marked contrast to another type II membrane protein (syntaxin 3) that rapidly defaulted to the plasma membrane 3 h after expression. In parallel with the time-dependent acquisition of insulin responsiveness, the newly synthesized IRAP protein converted from a brefeldin A-sensitive to a brefeldin A-insensitive state. The initial trafficking of IRAP to the insulin-responsive compartment was independent of plasma membrane endocytosis, as expression of a dominant-interfering dynamin mutant (Dyn/K44A) inhibited transferrin receptor endocytosis but had no effect on the insulin-stimulated translocation of the newly synthesized IRAP protein.     

Degradative processing of internalized insulin in isolated adipocytes

Based on the distribution of 125I-insulin between the cell surface and the cell interior, it was found that insulin rapidly binds (t 1/2 = 0.4 min) to surface receptors at 37 degrees C, and after an initial lag period of about 1 min, accumulates intracellularly until steady state is reached (t 1/2 = 3.5 min). At this time about 40% of the total cell-associated 125I-insulin resides in the cell interior reflecting a dynamic equilibrium between the rate of insulin endocytosis and the rate at which internalized insulin is processed and extruded from cells. Since this percentage decreased to 15% at 16 degrees C, it appears that internalization is more temperative-sensitive than the intracellular processing of insulin. When 125I-insulin was preloaded into the cell interior, it was found that internalized insulin was rapidly released to the medium at 37 degrees C (t 1/2 = 6.5 min) and consisted of both degraded products and intact insulin (as assessed by trichloroacetic acid precipitability and column chromatography). Since 75% of internalized insulin was ultimately degraded, and 25% was released intact, this indicates that degradation is the predominant pathway. To determine when incoming insulin enters a degradative compartment, cells were continually exposed to 125I-insulin and the composition of insulin in the cell interior over time was assessed. After 2 min all endocytosed insulin was intact, between 2-3 min degradation products began accumulating intracellularly, and by 15 min equilibrium was reached with 20% of internalized insulin consisting of degraded products. Degraded insulin was then released from the cell interior within 4-5 min after endocytotic uptake, since this was the earliest time chloroquine was found to inhibit the release of degradation products. Moreover, the final release of degraded insulin was not inhibitable by the energy depleter dinitrophenol. Thus, within the degradative pathway, insulin enters lysosomes by 2.5-3 min and is released to the medium by simple diffusion after an additional 1.5-2 min.     

Oligomerized transferrin receptors are selectively retained by a lumenal sorting signal in a long-lived endocytic recycling compartment

Cross-linking of surface receptors results in altered receptor trafficking in the endocytic system. To better understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which receptor cross-linking affects the intracellular trafficking of both ligand and receptor, we studied the intracellular trafficking of the transferrin receptor (TfR) bound to multivalent-transferrin (Tf10) which was prepared by chemical cross- linking of transferrin (Tf). Tf10 was internalized about two times slower than Tf and was retained four times longer than Tf, without being degraded in CHO cells. The intracellular localization of Tf10 was investigated using fluorescence and electron microscopy. Tf10 was not delivered to the lysosomal pathway followed by low density lipoprotein but remained accessible to Tf in the pericentriolar endocytic recycling compartment for at least 60 min. The retained Tf10 was TfR-associated as demonstrated by a reduction in surface TfR number when cells were incubated with Tf10. The presence of Tf10 within the recycling compartment did not affect trafficking of subsequently endocytosed Tf. Retention of Tf10 within the recycling compartment did not require the cytoplasmic domain of the TfR since Tf10 exited cells with the same rate when bound to the wild-type TfR or a mutated receptor with only four amino acids in the cytoplasmic tail. Thus, cross-linking of surface receptors by a multivalent ligand acts as a lumenal retention signal within the recycling compartment. The data presented here show that the recycling compartment labeled by Tf10 is a long-lived organelle along the early endosome recycling pathway that remains fusion accessible to subsequently endocytosed Tf.     

Insulin receptor recycling in vascular endothelial cells. Regulation by insulin and phorbol ester

Endothelial cell insulin receptors mediate the transcytosis of insulin from luminal to abluminal cell surface. We have investigated the kinetics of insulin receptor translocation by immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled receptors at various times before and after trypsin treatment of intact endothelial cells. Insulin receptors were constitutively internalized with t1/2 = 18 +/- 2 min and were recycled to the cell surface. Insulin stimulated receptor internalization and externalization rates 2.6- and 2.4-fold, respectively. Changes in cell-surface binding of 125I-insulin were consistent with the receptor translocation rates observed in surface-labeling experiments. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) treatment increased the rate of insulin-stimulated receptor externalization 1.7-fold. PMA treatment increased the constitutive externalization rate 3.5-fold without affecting the constitutive internalization rate, suggesting that recycling might occur via a mobilization of receptors from intracellular sites in a manner independent of internalization rate. Analysis of the intracellular distribution of receptors by 125I-insulin binding and immunogold electron microscopy revealed that less than one-third of the total insulin receptor pool resided on the cell surface. In summary, endothelial cell insulin receptors are constitutively recycled, and internalization and externalization rates are increased by receptor occupancy and PMA treatment.     

Fractionation of endocytic vesicles and glucose-transporter-containing vesicles in rat adipocytes.

We subfractionated intracellular vesicles from rat adipocytes in order to examine the subcellular distribution of endocytic vesicles or endosomes with respect to insulin-regulatable glucose-transporter (GT)-containing vesicles [James, Lederman & Pilch (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 11817-11824]. Vesicles mediating fluid-phase endocytosis sedimented as a single major peak of greater density than the single distinct peak of GT-containing vesicles. This difference was also apparent during cellular insulin exposure and after insulin removal. Endocytosis of insulin and IGF (insulin-like growth factor) II was also examined. In sucrose gradients, IGF II-containing vesicles were less dense than those containing internalized insulin. Receptor-mediated endocytic vesicles were distinct from fluid-phase endocytic vesicles, but overlapped with the GT-containing vesicles. Vesicles containing internalized ligand were further fractionated by agarose-gel electrophoresis after various times of internalization. At least three different vesicle subpopulations containing the iodinated ligands were resolved after 5 min of internalization. Endocytic vesicles containing rapidly internalized insulin (1.5 min at 37 degrees C) consistently co-migrated with GT-containing vesicles. These data indicate that fluid-phase and receptor-mediated endocytosis occur via different pathways in adipocytes. Furthermore, whereas the intracellular GT-containing vesicles are distinct from fluid-phase vesicles, a rapidly labelled pool of insulin-containing vesicles consistently co-fractionated with GT-containing vesicles when separation techniques based on size, density and charge were used. This suggests that the insulin receptor may directly interact with the intracellular GT-containing vesicles after insulin-induced endocytosis.     

ATP-dependent inactivation and reactivation of constitutively recycling galactosyl receptors in isolated rat hepatocytes

Isolated rat hepatocytes depleted of ATP with NaN3 without ligand lose galactosyl (Gal) receptors from the cell surface and accumulate inactive receptors within the cell [McAbee, D. D., & Weigel, P. H. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 1942-1945]. Here, we describe the kinetics of receptor redistribution and inactivation after ATP depletion with NaN3 and of receptor redistribution and reactivation after ATP recovery. Only intact cells (greater than 98% viable) isolated from Percoll gradients were assayed. Gal receptor activity and protein were measured by the binding of 125I-asialoorosomucoid (125I-ASOR) and 125I-anti-Gal receptor IgG (125I-IgGR), respectively, at 4 degrees C. Surface and total (surface and intracellular) cellular Gal receptors were measured in the absence or presence, respectively, of digitonin. Following ATP depletion, 60-70% of Gal receptor activity and protein were lost from cell surfaces with first-order kinetics (t1/2 = 6.5 min, k = 0.107 min-1) at an initial rate of 11,000 125I-ASOR binding sites cell-1 min-1. Lost cell-surface Gal receptors were transiently recovered still active inside the cell. After a short lag, total cellular receptor inactivation then proceeded with first-order kinetics (t1/2 = 13 min, k = 0.053 min-1) at an initial rate of 14,000 125I-ASOR binding sites cell-1 min-1. Up to half of all cellular Gal receptors were inactivated by 40 min. 125I-IgGR binding to NaN3-treated, permeable cells, however, was virtually constant. The distribution of total cellular receptors changed from 35% on the cell surface initially to 10% after 40 min of ATP depletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)