Evidence that insulin and concanavalin-A can co-bind to solubilized insulin receptors without inhibiting each other

Concanavalin A (Con A) precipitates detergent-solubilized insulin receptors (free of or bound to ${}^{125}\text{I}$]insulin) prepared from fat cell membranes resulting in a loss of ${}^{125}\text{I}$]insulin binding capacity (or bound hormone) in the soluble fraction. The losses can be recovered by redissolving the precipitates with methyl-α-D-mannoside; the sugar also inhibits precipitation. ${}^{125}\text{I}$]insulin also binds to insoluble Con A-occupied receptors. At all concentrations of Con A tested, the initial amounts of free or hormone-bound receptors were completely accounted for by their distribution between soluble and insoluble states. We conclude that Con A and insulin can co-bind to independent sites on the insulin receptor without inhibiting each other and that previously reported decreases in insulin binding to solubilized insulin receptors were likely due to precipitation by Con A of the receptors.