Insulin receptor signal transduction tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins

Our consideration of the signal-transduction cascades initiated by epinephrine and insulin included examples of how components of signal-transduction pathways are poised for action, ready to be activated by minor modifications. For example, G-protein a subunits require only the binding of GTP in exchange for GDP to transmit a signal. This exchange reaction is thermodynamically favorable, but it is quite slow in the absence of an appropriate activated 7TM receptor. Similarly, the tyrosine kinase domains of the dimeric insulin receptor are ready for phosphorylation and activation but require the presence of insulin bound between two a subunits to draw the activation loop of one tyrosine kinase into the active site of a partner tyrosine kinase to initiate this process. 

Signal transduction The binding of insulin to the a-subunits of the insulin receptor induces conformational changes that are transduced to the 3-subunits. This promotes a rapid autophosphorylation of a specific tyrosine residue on each 3-subunit (see Figure 23.7). Autophosphorylation initiates a cascade of cellsignaling responses, including phosphorylation of a family of pro teins called insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins. At least four... 

Vanadate stimulates protein kinases in the cytosol, as demonstrated in adipose cells and extracts. The activation of a membrane and cytosolic protein tyrosine kinase have been demonstrated in adipocytes, and the membranous enzyme has been postulated to be a way to involve PI-3K actions without activation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in the insulin signal transduction pathway [140], It is always difficult to determine if protein kinase activation is direct or the result of stimulation of a protein phosphatase. The fact that kinase stimulation was seen in isolated extracts after cell disintegration in this adipocyte cell system supports the idea that vanadium addition to cells could directly stimulate kinases via an as-yet-undetermined mechanism. In other experiments with 3T3-L1 adipocytes bis(acetylacetonato)oxovana-dium (IV) BMOV and bis(l-N-oxide-pyridine-2thiolato)oxovanadium (TV) caused increased tyrosine phosphorylation of both the insulin receptor and IRS-1 in a synergistic way with insulin, as measured by antibodies to phosphotyrosine residues [141]. 

When feeding has finished, insulin secretion stops and insulin signal transduction within the cell must be terminated. Dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor by protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) occurs, which inactivates the insulin receptor and insulin signalling ceases. However, there is evidence that some diabetic patients have a form of PTPase that is inappropriately active and opposes normal activation of the receptor by phosphorylation. Currently, there is a major research effort to develop drugs that inhibit PTPase and provide a new treatment for type 2 diabetes. 

A case in point is the structure determination of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). Insulin binds to a membrane-bound receptor that is a ligand-activated protein tyrosine kinase. Upon insulin binding there is an autophosphorylation of several tyrosine residues on the cytosolic side of the receptor. This enhances the tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor towards other substrates and is required for signal transduction. A cascade of events is initiated, the first of which is the phosphorylation of IRS-1. This occurs when IRS-1 binds to the insulin receptor via a specific domain of the protein that is termed the phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain. 

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