Insulin is a lifesaver for millions of diabetic patients. There is a need for new insulin analogues with more physiological profiles and analogues that will be thermally more stable than human insulin. Here, we describe the chemical engineering of 48 insulin analogues that were designed to have changed binding specificities toward isoforms A and B of the insulin receptor (IR-A and IR-B). We systematically modified insulin at the C-terminus of the B-chain, at the N-terminus of the A-chain, and at A14 and A18 positions. We discovered an insulin analogue that has Cα-carboxyamidated Glu at B31 and Ala at B29 and that has a more than 3-fold-enhanced binding specificity in favor of the "metabolic" IR-B isoform. The analogue is more resistant to the formation of insulin fibrils at 37 °C and is also more efficient in mice than human insulin. Therefore, [AlaB29,GluB31,amideB31]-insulin may be interesting for further clinical evaluation.

• MeSH
• CD antigeny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• inzulin analogy a deriváty   metabolismus   MeSH
• inzulinová rezistence MeSH
• kalorimetrie metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši MeSH
• protein - isoformy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteinové agregáty * MeSH
• receptor inzulinu chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• CD antigeny MeSH
• INSR protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• inzulin MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• proteinové agregáty * MeSH
• receptor inzulinu MeSH

Insulin is a key hormone involved in the regulation of overall energetic homeostasis of the organism. The dimeric character of the receptor for insulin evokes ideas about its activation or inhibition with peptide dimers that could either trigger or block the structural transition of the insulin receptor, leading to its activation. Herewith, we present the chemical engineering and biological characterization of several series of insulin dimers or dimers of specific peptides that should be able to bind receptors for insulin or insulin growth factor 1. The hormones or peptides in the dimers were interconnected with different linkers, consisting of triazole moieties and 3, 6, 8, 11, or 23 polyethylene glycol units. The prepared dimers were weaker in binding to insulin receptors than human insulin. However, some of the insulin dimers showed preferential binding specificity toward the isoform A of the insulin receptor, and the insulin dimers also stimulated the insulin receptor more strongly than would be consistent with their binding affinities. Our results suggest that designing insulin dimers may be a promising strategy for modulating the ability of the hormone to activate the receptor or to alter its specificity toward insulin receptor isoforms.

• Klíčová slova
• conjugation, dimer, insulin, peptide hormone, receptor, synthesis,
• MeSH
• inzulin metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• peptidy * chemie   MeSH
• polyethylenglykoly MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• receptor inzulinu * metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• inzulin MeSH
• peptidy * MeSH
• polyethylenglykoly MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• receptor inzulinu * MeSH

Insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1 and -2, respectively) are protein hormones involved not only in normal growth and development but also in life span regulation and cancer. They exert their functions mainly through the IGF-1R or by binding to isoform A of the insulin receptor (IR-A). The development of IGF-1 and IGF-2 antagonists is of great clinical interest. Mutations of A4 and A8 sites of human insulin lead to disproportionate effects on hormone IR binding and activation. Here, we systematically modified IGF-1 sites 45, 46, and 49 and IGF-2 sites 45 and 48, which correspond, or are close, to insulin sites A4 and A8. The IGF-1R and IR-A binding and autophosphorylation potencies of these analogues were characterized. They retained the main IGF-1R-related properties, but the hormones with His49 in IGF-1 and His48 in IGF-2 showed significantly higher affinities for IR-A and for IR-B, being the strongest IGF-1- and IGF-2-like binders of these receptors ever reported. All analogues activated IR-A and IGF-1R without major discrepancies in their binding affinities. This study revealed that IR-A and IGF-1R contain specific sites, likely parts of their so-called sites 2', which can interact differently with specifically modified IGF analogues. Moreover, a clear importance of IGF-2 site 44 for effective hormone folding was also observed. These findings may facilitate novel and rational engineering of new hormone analogues for IR-A and IGF-1R studies and for potential medical applications.

• MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor I chemie   genetika   MeSH
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor II chemie   genetika   MeSH
• inzulin chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 MeSH
• receptor inzulinu chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• receptory somatomedinů chemie   genetika   MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• IGF1R protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• IGF2 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor I MeSH
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor II MeSH
• inzulin MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 MeSH
• receptor inzulinu MeSH
• receptory somatomedinů MeSH

A significant drawback of the exogenous administration of insulin to diabetics is the non-physiological profile of insulin action resulting in the insufficient suppression of hepatic glucose production, which is the main contributing factor to diabetic hyperglycemia under fasting conditions and the basis of the challenge to restore a more physiological glucose profile in diabetes. The insulin receptor (IR) exists in two alternatively spliced variants, IR-A and IR-B, with different tissue distribution. While peripheral tissues contain different proportions of both isoforms, hepatic cells almost exclusively contain IR-B. In this respect, IR-B-selective insulin analogs would be of great interest for their potential to restore more natural metabolic homeostasis in diabetes. Recent advances in the structural biology of insulin and IR have provided new clues for understanding the interaction of both proteins. This article discusses and offers some structural perspectives for the design of specific insulin analogs with a preferential binding to IR-B.

• Klíčová slova
• CT-peptide, IR-A, IR-B, binding affinity, exon 11, insulin analog, insulin receptor isoform,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Insulin and insulin-like growth factors I and II are closely related protein hormones. Their distinct evolution has resulted in different yet overlapping biological functions with insulin becoming a key regulator of metabolism, whereas insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-I/II are major growth factors. Insulin and IGFs cross-bind with different affinities to closely related insulin receptor isoforms A and B (IR-A and IR-B) and insulin-like growth factor type I receptor (IGF-1R). Identification of structural determinants in IGFs and insulin that trigger their specific signaling pathways is of increasing importance in designing receptor-specific analogs with potential therapeutic applications. Here, we developed a straightforward protocol for production of recombinant IGF-II and prepared six IGF-II analogs with IGF-I-like mutations. All modified molecules exhibit significantly reduced affinity toward IR-A, particularly the analogs with a Pro-Gln insertion in the C-domain. Moreover, one of the analogs has enhanced binding affinity for IGF-1R due to a synergistic effect of the Pro-Gln insertion and S29N point mutation. Consequently, this analog has almost a 10-fold higher IGF-1R/IR-A binding specificity in comparison with native IGF-II. The established IGF-II purification protocol allowed for cost-effective isotope labeling required for a detailed NMR structural characterization of IGF-II analogs that revealed a link between the altered binding behavior of selected analogs and conformational rearrangement of their C-domains.

• Klíčová slova
• insulin, insulin receptor, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), structural biology, structure-function,
• MeSH
• CD antigeny chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor II chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• missense mutace MeSH
• protein - isoformy chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• receptor inzulinu chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• substituce aminokyselin MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• CD antigeny MeSH
• IGF2 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• INSR protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor II MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 MeSH
• receptor inzulinu MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The insulin/IGF superfamily is conserved across vertebrates and invertebrates. Our team has identified five viruses containing genes encoding viral insulin/IGF-1 like peptides (VILPs) closely resembling human insulin and IGF-1. This study aims to characterize the impact of Mandarin fish ranavirus (MFRV) and Lymphocystis disease virus-Sa (LCDV-Sa) VILPs on the insulin/IGF system for the first time. METHODS: We chemically synthesized single chain (sc, IGF-1 like) and double chain (dc, insulin like) forms of MFRV and LCDV-Sa VILPs. Using cell lines overexpressing either human insulin receptor isoform A (IR-A), isoform B (IR-B) or IGF-1 receptor (IGF1R), and AML12 murine hepatocytes, we characterized receptor binding, insulin/IGF signaling. We further characterized the VILPs' effects of proliferation and IGF1R and IR gene expression, and compared them to native ligands. Additionally, we performed insulin tolerance test in CB57BL/6 J mice to examine in vivo effects of VILPs on blood glucose levels. Finally, we employed cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) to analyze the structure of scMFRV-VILP in complex with the IGF1R ectodomain. RESULTS: VILPs can bind to human IR and IGF1R, stimulate receptor autophosphorylation and downstream signaling pathways. Notably, scMFRV-VILP exhibited a particularly strong affinity for IGF1R, with a mere 10-fold decrease compared to human IGF-1. At high concentrations, scMFRV-VILP selectively reduced IGF-1 stimulated IGF1R autophosphorylation and Erk phosphorylation (Ras/MAPK pathway), while leaving Akt phosphorylation (PI3K/Akt pathway) unaffected, indicating a potential biased inhibitory function. Prolonged exposure to MFRV-VILP led to a significant decrease in IGF1R gene expression in IGF1R overexpressing cells and AML12 hepatocytes. Furthermore, insulin tolerance test revealed scMFRV-VILP's sustained glucose-lowering effect compared to insulin and IGF-1. Finally, cryo-EM analysis revealed that scMFRV-VILP engages with IGF1R in a manner closely resembling IGF-1 binding, resulting in a highly analogous structure. CONCLUSIONS: This study introduces MFRV and LCDV-Sa VILPs as novel members of the insulin/IGF superfamily. Particularly, scMFRV-VILP exhibits a biased inhibitory effect on IGF1R signaling at high concentrations, selectively inhibiting IGF-1 stimulated IGF1R autophosphorylation and Erk phosphorylation, without affecting Akt phosphorylation. In addition, MFRV-VILP specifically regulates IGF-1R gene expression and IGF1R protein levels without affecting IR. CryoEM analysis confirms that scMFRV-VILP' binding to IGF1R is mirroring the interaction pattern observed with IGF-1. These findings offer valuable insights into IGF1R action and inhibition, suggesting potential applications in development of IGF1R specific inhibitors and advancing long-lasting insulins.

• Klíčová slova
• Biased signaling, IGF-1, IGF1 receptor, IGF1 receptor inhibition, Insulin, Iridoviridae, Viral insulin/IGF-1 like peptides (VILPs),
• MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• fosfatidylinositol-3-kinasy metabolismus   MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor I * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• inzulin metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• protein - isoformy metabolismus   MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-akt metabolismus   MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fosfatidylinositol-3-kinasy MeSH
• IGF1R protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor I * MeSH
• inzulin MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-akt MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 * MeSH

The insulin receptor (IR, with its isoforms IR-A and IR-B) and the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) are related tyrosine kinase receptors. Recently, the portfolio of solved hormone-receptor structures has grown extensively thanks to advancements in cryo-electron microscopy. However, the dynamics of how these receptors transition between their inactive and active state are yet to be fully understood. The C-terminal part of the alpha subunit (αCT) of the receptors is indispensable for the formation of the hormone-binding site. We mutated the αCT residues Arg717 and His710 of IR-A and Arg704 and His697 of IGF-1R. We then measured the saturation binding curves of ligands on the mutated receptors and their ability to become activated. Mutations of Arg704 and His697 to Ala in IGF-1R decreased the binding of IGF-1. Moreover, the number of binding sites for IGF-1 on the His697 IGF-1R mutant was reduced to one-half, demonstrating the presence of two binding sites. Both mutations of Arg717 and His710 to Ala in IR-A inactivated the receptor. We have proved that Arg717 is important for the binding of insulin to its receptor, which suggests that Arg717 is a key residue for the transition to the active conformation.

• Klíčová slova
• mutagenesis in vitro, peptide hormone, receptor modification, receptor tyrosine kinase, structure–function,
• MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie MeSH
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor I genetika   chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• inzulin metabolismus   MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 * genetika   chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• receptor inzulinu * genetika   chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor I MeSH
• inzulin MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 * MeSH
• receptor inzulinu * MeSH

The structural characterization of the insulin-insulin receptor (IR) interaction still lacks the conformation of the crucial B21-B30 insulin region, which must be different from that in its storage forms to ensure effective receptor binding. Here, it is shown that insulin analogues modified by natural amino acids at the TyrB26 site can represent an active form of this hormone. In particular, [AsnB26]-insulin and [GlyB26]-insulin attain a B26-turn-like conformation that differs from that in all known structures of the native hormone. It also matches the receptor interface, avoiding substantial steric clashes. This indicates that insulin may attain a B26-turn-like conformation upon IR binding. Moreover, there is an unexpected, but significant, binding specificity of the AsnB26 mutant for predominantly the metabolic B isoform of the receptor. As it is correlated with the B26 bend of the B-chain of the hormone, the structures of AsnB26 analogues may provide the first structural insight into the structural origins of differential insulin signalling through insulin receptor A and B isoforms.

• Klíčová slova
• active conformation, complex, insulin, insulin receptor, isothermal titration microcalorimetry, molecular dynamics,
• MeSH
• fenylalanin MeSH
• fibroblasty metabolismus   MeSH
• inzulin analogy a deriváty   chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lymfocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• myši knockoutované MeSH
• myši MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• receptor inzulinu chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• substituce aminokyselin MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fenylalanin MeSH
• inzulin MeSH
• receptor inzulinu MeSH

Insulin is a key hormone of human metabolism with major therapeutic importance for both types of diabetes. New insulin analogues with more physiological profiles and better glycemic control are needed, especially analogues that preferentially bind to the metabolic B-isoform of insulin receptor (IR-B). Here, we aimed to stabilize and modulate the receptor-compatible conformation of insulin by covalent intra-chain crosslinking within its B22-B30 segment, using the Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azides and alkynes. This approach resulted in 14 new, systematically crosslinked insulin analogues whose structures and functions were extensively characterized and correlated. One of the analogues, containing a B26-B29 triazole bridge, was highly active in binding to both IR isoforms, with a significant preference for IR-B. Our results demonstrate the potential of chemistry-driven modulation of insulin function, also shedding new light on the functional importance of hormone's B-chain C-terminus for its IR-B specificity.

• MeSH
• alkyny chemie   MeSH
• azidy chemie   MeSH
• cykloadiční reakce MeSH
• inzulin chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• receptor inzulinu chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• stabilita proteinů MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• alkyny MeSH
• azidy MeSH
• inzulin MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• receptor IGF typ 1 MeSH
• receptor inzulinu MeSH

Experimental hypothermia caused extensive changes in the number of both classes of insulin receptors in different rat tissues. In the liver, the number of high affinity insulin receptors (HAIRs) decreased by 50% (from 25.3 to 12.6 fmol/mg membrane protein), whereas number of low affinity insulin receptors (LAIRs) was almost unchanged in comparison to normothermic animals (5.63 and 4.39 pmol/mg, respectively). In the adipose tissue, number of both classes was reduced--HAIRs by 81% (from 24.0 to 4.50 fmol/mg) and LAIRs by 92% (from 16.0 to 1.29 pmol/mg). In the skeletal muscle, capacity of HAIRs was not changed (16.2 and 19.3 fmol/mg in normo- and hypothermic animals, respectively), whereas number of LAIRs increased by 150% (from 6.65 to 16.6 pmol/mg). Hypothermic rats also showed lower amount (by 85%) of LAIRs in the heart muscle (9.37 and 1.43 pmol/mg in control and experimental animals, respectively). Simultaneously, no significant changes were found in HAIRs (16.3 and 11.9 fmol/mg, respectively) and LAIRs (4.43 and 3.88 pmol/mg, respectively) in the brain. These differences in insulin receptors responses to hypothermia may reflect different physiological role of insulin in the regulation of target cell metabolism and/or the differences in tissue distribution of the insulin receptor isoforms.

• MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• hypoglykemika metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• hypotermie metabolismus   MeSH
• inzulin metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• játra metabolismus   MeSH
• kosterní svaly metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mozek metabolismus   MeSH
• myokard metabolismus   MeSH
• orgánová specificita MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• radioizotopy jodu MeSH
• receptor inzulinu metabolismus   MeSH
• tuková tkáň metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hypoglykemika MeSH
• inzulin MeSH
• radioizotopy jodu MeSH
• receptor inzulinu MeSH