The effect of iodination of particular tyrosine residues on the hormonal activity of insulin

Insulin dissolved in aqueous or methanolic buffer was iodinated to give preparations containing an average of between one and five iodine atoms per insulin monomer. The resultant preparations were fragmented in various ways and the ratio of tyrosine to monoiodotyrosine and di-iodotyrosine was determined in each fragment. This has allowed the distribution of iodine between the combined A-chain tyrosine residues and the individual B-chain tyrosine residues to be determined. The hormonal activity of each of these iodinated insulin preparations was measured from their effect on the production of (14)CO(2) from 1-(14)C]glucose by isolated adipose cells. The results were interpreted as meaning that the iodination of tyrosine residue A19 or B16 leads to the inactivation of insulin. Speculations are made about the nature of an interaction between insulin and a receptor site on the target tissue.