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Direct demonstration of insulin receptor internalization. A quantitative electron microscopic study of covalently bound /sup 125/I-photoreactive insulin incubated with isolated hepatocytes

Journal Article · · Diabetes; (United States)
OSTI ID:6192817

When /sup 125/I-insulin is incubated with isolated rodent hepatocytes at 37 degrees C, the ligand initially binds to the plasma membrane of the cell and is subsequently internalized by adsorptive endocytosis. To confirm directly that the insulin receptor is internalized with the ligand, we covalently linked photoreactive /sup 125/I-N sigma B29 (azidobenzoyl) insulin to its specific hepatocyte receptor and followed its fate by quantitative electron microscopic autoradiography. We found that the covalently linked photoreactive insulin is internalized by the cell in fashion analogous to the internalization of ordinary /sup 125/I-insulin, indicating that, at least under these conditions, the insulin receptor is internalized with the ligand.

Research Organization:
Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Geneva Medical School, Switzerland
OSTI ID:
6192817
Journal Information:
Diabetes; (United States), Journal Name: Diabetes; (United States) Vol. 31:7; ISSN DIAEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English