Thomas A. Gustafson

Phosphotyrosine-dependent interaction of SHC and insulin receptor substrate 1 with the NPEY motif of the insulin receptor via a novel non- SH2 domain

The SHC proteins have been implicated in insulin receptor (IR) signaling. In this study, we used the sensitive two-hybrid assay of protein-protein interaction to demonstrate that SHC interacts directly with the IR. The interaction is mediated by SHC amino acids 1 to 238 and is therefore independent of the Src homology 2 domain. The interaction is dependent upon IR autophosphorylation, since the interaction is eliminated by mutation of the IR ATP-binding site. In addition, mutational analysis of the Asn-Pro-Glu-Tyr (NPEY) motif within the juxtamembrane domain of the IR showed the importance of the Asn, Pro, and Tyr residues to both SHC and IR substrate 1 (IRS-1) binding. We conclude that SHC interacts directly with the IR and that phosphorylation of Tyr-960 within the IR juxtamembrane domain is necessary for efficient interaction. This interaction is highly reminiscent of that of IRS-1 with the IR, and we show that the SHC IR-binding domain can substitute for that of IRS-1 in yeast and COS cells. We identify a homologous region within the IR-binding domains of SHC and IRS-1, which we term the SAIN (SHC and IRS-1 NPXY-binding) domain, which may explain the basis of these interactions. The SAIN domain appears to represent a novel motif which is able to interact with autophosphorylated receptors such as the IR.

Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Complexes with the Insulin Receptor in Vivo and Is Tyrosine-phosphorylated in the Presence of Insulin

In response to insulin, protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTPase 1B) dephosphorylates 95- and 160-180-kDa tyrosine phosphorylated (PY) proteins (Kenner, K. A., Anyanwu, E., Olefsky, J. M., and Kusari, J. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 19810-19816). To characterize these proteins, lysates from control and insulin-treated cells expressing catalytically inactive PTPase 1B (CS) were immunoadsorbed and subsequently immunoblotted using various combinations of phosphotyrosine, PTPase 1B, and insulin receptor (IR) antibodies. Anti-PTPase 1B antibodies coprecipitated a 95-kDa PY protein from insulin-stimulated cells, subsequently identified as the IR β-subunit. Similarly, anti-IR antibodies coprecipitated the 50-kDa PY-PTPase 1B protein from insulin-treated cells. To identify PTPase 1B tyrosine (Tyr) residues that are phosphorylated in response to insulin, three candidate sites (Tyr66, Tyr152, and Tyr153) were replaced with phenylalanine. Replacing Tyr66 or Tyr152 and Tyr153 significantly reduced insulin-stimulated PTPase 1B phosphotyrosine content, as well as its association with the IR. Studies using mutant IRs demonstrated that IR autophosphorylation is necessary for the PTPase 1B-IR interaction. These results suggest that PTPase 1B complexes with the autophosphorylated insulin receptor in intact cells, either directly or within a complex involving additional proteins. The interaction requires multiple tyrosine phosphorylation sites within both the receptor and PTPase 1B.

14-3-3 (ϵ) Interacts with the Insulin-like Growth Factor I Receptor and Insulin Receptor Substrate I in a Phosphoserine-dependent Manner

The 14-3-3 proteins have been implicated as potential regulators of diverse signaling pathways. Here, using two-hybrid assays and in vitro assays of protein interaction, we show that the ε isoform of 14-3-3 interacts with the insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGFIR) and with insulin receptor substrate I (IRS-1), but not with the insulin receptor (IR). Coprecipitation studies demonstrated an IGFI-dependent in vitro interaction between 14-3-3-glutathione S-transferase proteins and the IGFIR. In similar studies no interaction of 14-3-3 with the IR was observed. We present evidence to suggest that 14-3-3 interacts with phosphoserine residues within the COOH terminus of the IGFIR. Specifically, peptide competition studies combined with mutational analysis suggested that the 14-3-3 interaction was dependent upon phosphorylation of IGFIR serine residues 1272 and/or 1283, a region which has been implicated in IGFIR-dependent transformation. Phosphorylation of these serines appears to be dependent upon prior IGFIR activation since no interaction of 14-3-3 was observed with a kinase-inactive IGFIR in the two-hybrid assay nor was any in vitro interaction with unstimulated IGFIR derived from mammalian cells. We show that the interaction of 14-3-3 with IRS-1 also appears to be phosphoserine-dependent. Interestingly, 14-3-3 appears to interact with IRS-1 before and after hormonal stimulation. In summary, our data suggest that 14-3-3 interacts with phosphoserine residues within the COOH terminus of the IGFIR and within the central domain of IRS-1. The potential functional roles which 14-3-3 may play in IGFIR and IRS-1-mediated signaling remain to be elucidated.

CHARACTERIZATION OF AN INTERACTION BETWEEN INSULIN RECEPTOR SUBSTRATE 1 AND THE INSULIN RECEPTOR BY USING THE TWO-HYBRID SYSTEM

Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) is a major substrate of the insulin receptor and has been implicated in insulin signaling. Although IRS-1 is thought to interact with the insulin receptor, the nature of the interaction has not been defined. In this study, we used the two-hybrid assay of protein-protein interaction in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study the interaction between human IRS-1 and the insulin receptor. We demonstrate that IRS-1 forms a specific complex with the cytoplasmic domain of the insulin receptor when both are expressed as hybrid proteins in yeast cells. We show that the interaction is strictly dependent upon receptor tyrosine kinase activity, since IRS-1 shows no interaction with a kinase-inactive receptor hybrid containing a mutated ATP-binding site. Furthermore, mutation of receptor tyrosine 960 to phenylalanine eliminates IRS-1 interaction in the two-hybrid assay. These data suggest that the interaction between IRS-1 and the receptor is direct and provide evidence that the juxtamembrane domain of the receptor is involved. Furthermore, we show that a 356-amino-acid region encompassed by amino acids 160 through 516 of IRS-1 is sufficient for interaction with the receptor in the two-hybrid assay. Lastly, in agreement with our findings for yeast cells, we show that the insulin receptor is unable to phosphorylate an IRS-1 protein containing a deletion of amino acids 45 to 516 when expressed in COS cells. The two-hybrid assay should provide a facile means by which to pursue a detailed understanding of this interaction.

Interaction of Insulin Receptor Substrate-2 (IRS-2) with the Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor I Receptors EVIDENCE FOR TWO DISTINCT PHOSPHOTYROSINE-DEPENDENT INTERACTION DOMAINS WITHIN IRS-2

Insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2) has recently been shown to be a substrate of the insulin receptor (IR). In this study we utilize the yeast two-hybrid system and assays of in vitro interaction to demonstrate that IRS-2 interacts directly with the IR and the insulin-like growth factor I receptor. We show that, like IRS-1, the region of IRS-2 that contains the putative phosphotyrosine binding and SAIN elements(188-591) is sufficient for receptor interaction and that this interaction is dependent upon the NPX(p)Y (where (p)Y is phosphotyrosine) motifs within the juxtamembrane domains of the receptors. In addition to this amino-terminal NPX(p)Y-binding domain, an additional domain of strong interaction was identified in the central region of IRS-2 and was localized between amino acids 591 and 733. This interaction was found to be dependent upon receptor phosphorylation but was NPX(p)Y-independent. This region does not appear to have either an SH2 or a phosphotyrosine binding domain. Both of the interactions could also be demonstrated in vitro using IRS-2 glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins. We conclude that IRS-2, unlike IRS-1, can interact with tyrosine-phosphorylated receptors such as the IR and insulin-like growth factor I receptor via multiple independent binding motifs. Our findings suggest the existence of a previously unidentified phosphotyrosine-dependent binding domain within the central region of IRS-2.

Halofenate Is a Selective Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor γ Modulator With Antidiabetic Activity

Halofenate has been shown previously to lower triglycerides in dyslipidemic subjects. In addition, significant decreases in fasting plasma glucose were observed but only in type 2 diabetic patients. We hypothesized that halofenate might be an insulin sensitizer, and we present data to suggest that halofenate is a selective peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR)-γ modulator (SPPARγM). We demonstrate that the circulating form of halofenate, halofenic acid (HA), binds to and selectively modulates PPAR-γ. Reporter assays show that HA is a partial PPAR-γ agonist, which can antagonize the activity of the full agonist rosiglitazone. The data suggest that the partial agonism of HA may be explained in part by effective displacement of corepressors (N-CoR and SMRT) coupled with inefficient recruitment of coactivators (p300, CBP, and TRAP 220). In human preadipocytes, HA displays weak adipogenic activity and antagonizes rosiglitazone-mediated adipogenic differentiation. Moreover, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, HA selectively modulates the expression of multiple PPAR-γ–responsive genes. Studies in the diabetic ob/ob mouse demonstrate halofenate’s acute antidiabetic properties. Longer-term studies in the obese Zucker (fa/fa) rat demonstrate halofenate’s comparable insulin sensitization to rosiglitazone in the absence of body weight increases. Our data establish halofenate as a novel SPPARγM with promising therapeutic utility with the potential for less weight gain.

Identification of the APS protein as a novel insulin receptor substrate.

In order to identify novel substrates involved in insulin receptor signaling, a yeast two-hybrid 3T3-L1 adipocyte cDNA library was screened with the cytoplasmic domain of the human insulin receptor as bait. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of an interacting protein, APS, which contains pleckstrin homology and Src homology 2 domains and several potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites. APS mRNA and protein are expressed primarily in skeletal muscle, heart, and adipose tissue, and in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We show that APS associates with phosphotyrosines situated within the activation loop of the insulin receptor via the APS Src homology 2 domain. Insulin stimulation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes resulted in rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous APS on tyrosine 618, whereas platelet-derived growth factor treatment resulted in no APS phosphorylation. In summary, we have identified a new insulin receptor substrate that is primarily expressed in insulin-responsive tissues and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes whose phosphorylation shows insulin receptor specificity. These findings suggest a potential role for APS in insulin-regulated metabolic signaling pathways.

The BPS domain of Grb10 inhibits the catalytic activity of the insulin and IGF1 receptors

Grb7, Grb10 and Grb14 comprise a family of adaptor proteins that interact with numerous receptor tyrosine kinases upon receptor activation. Between the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of these proteins is a region of approximately 50 residues known as the BPS (between PH and SH2) domain. Here we show, using purified recombinant proteins, that the BPS domain of Grb10 directly inhibits substrate phosphorylation by the activated tyrosine kinase domains of the insulin receptor and the insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1) receptor. Although inhibition by the BPS domain is dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation of the kinase activation loop, peptide competition experiments indicate that the BPS domain does not bind directly to phosphotyrosine. These studies provide a molecular mechanism by which Grb10 functions as a negative regulator of insulin‐ and/or IGF1‐mediated signaling.

Alternative splicing, gene localization, and binding of SH2-B to the insulin receptor kinase domain.

Abstract. The SH2-B protein is an SH2-domain-containing molecule that interacts with a number of phosphorylated kinase and receptor molecules including the insulin receptor. Two isoforms of the SH2-B have been identified and have been proposed to arise through alternate splicing. Here we have identified a third isoform of the SH2-B protein, SH2-Bγ, that interacts specifically with the insulin receptor. This interaction required phosphorylation of residue Y1146 in the triple tyrosine motif within the activation loop of the IR kinase and is one of only two signaling molecules shown to interact directly with this residue of the insulin receptor kinase domain. The intron/exon structure of the SH2-B gene was determined. Alternate splice sites utilized to generate the different isoforms of the SH2-B protein were identified in the 3′ end of the SH2-B gene immediately downstream of the exon encoding the core of the SH2 domain. Additionally, the chromosomal location of the SH2-B gene was determined to be the distal arm of mouse Chromosome (Chr) 7 in a region linked to obesity in mice.

Regulation of obese (ob) mRNA and Plasma Leptin Levels in Rhesus Monkeys EFFECTS OF INSULIN, BODY WEIGHT, AND NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS

We have cloned the rhesus monkey obese cDNA and have analyzed its expression in monkeys with a wide range of body weights (lean to very obese) and with or without non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus to examine the relationship of ob gene expression to obesity and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The sequence of monkey ob protein, excluding the signal peptide, showed 91% identity with the human protein. We observed a significant correlation between the level of ob mRNA and body weight. We also found a significant relationship between ob mRNA and fasting plasma insulin concentration; however, insulin stimulation during a 100-140-min euglycemic/hyperinsulinemic clamp did not result in any changes in ob mRNA levels. Circulating levels of the ob gene product leptin were also significantly correlated with body weight. These results show that ob gene expression is related to body weight and is not acutely regulated by insulin.