How insulin binds to and triggers the insulin receptor (IR) represents a fundamental problem at the intersection of basic science and clinical medicine. This application, building on a long-term program of research by a team of investigators, promises to provide a new foundation for analysis of structure-function relationships. Prior progress in the field was limited by the absence of a crystal structure of the hormone-IR complex. In accordance with the Aims of the last renewal, collaborative crystal structures have been obtained of (i) the primary hormone-binding surface of the receptor ectodomain (Site 1; Smith, B.J. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 107, 6771-6 (2010)) and (ii) insulin bound to Site 1 (the micro-receptor complex; Menting, J.G. et al. Nature, 493, 241-5 (2013)). The physiological significance of these structures have been validated in the context of the holo-receptor (a) through site-specific photo-cross-linking studies (Xu, B., et al. J. Biol. Chem. 284, 14597-08 (2009)) Paper of the Week and (b) by mutagenesis with application to monogenic syndromes of diabetes mellitus associated with mutations in insulin or its receptor (Whittaker, J., et al. Prc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109, 11166 (2012)). We request continued NIH support to address the following Specific Aims.
Aim 1. Functional Mapping of the Functional Surfaces of Insulin. We will employ mutagenesis and residue-specific photo-cross-linking to map the cognate Site-1 and Site-2 binding surfaces of insulin and the IR.
Aim 2 Structure of a Model Hormone-Receptor Complex. We seek to improve the resolution and completeness of the micro-receptor structure through synthesis of heavy-atom derivatives of insulin and design of ultra-stable insulin analogs. Inferred structure-function relationships will be tested by non-standard protein design.
Aim 3. Biophysical Probes of the Micro-Receptor and Successive Complexes. Two biophysical probes of structure and dynamics will be employed: (a) TROSY-based heteronuclear NMR studies of the micro-receptor complex at 900 MHz and (b) synchrotron-based hydroxyl-radical footprinting (with MS-MS detection) of the micro-receptor and larger receptor fragments, culminating in comparative studies of the holoreceptor.
Aim 4. Toward the Structure of a Hormone-Ectodomain Complex. As a long-term goal, we seek to extend our collaboration with M. Lawrence (Melbourne, AU) to a crystal structure of a hormone-ectodomain complex. Together, these Aims represent the culmination of a 25-year program of research that has sought to combine basic science and its potential translation. Insulin and the insulin receptor represent an ancestral signaling system in metazoans of central importance to human health. My colleagues and I are grateful to the Study Section and NIDDK for making this continuing adventure possible.

Public Health Relevance

How insulin binds to and triggers the insulin receptor represents a major unsolved problem in cell biology and medicine with broad implications for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This program of research seeks both to decipher the molecular mechanisms by which such binding and signaling occurs. An interdisciplinary approach is proposed combining biochemical, biophysical and structural techniques.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK040949-24
Application #
9068927
Study Section
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Study Section (MCE)
Program Officer
Sechi, Salvatore
Project Start
1989-08-01
Project End
2018-04-30
Budget Start
2016-05-01
Budget End
2017-04-30
Support Year
24
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106
Weiss, Michael A; Lawrence, Michael C (2018) A thing of beauty: Structure and function of insulin's ""aromatic triplet"". Diabetes Obes Metab 20 Suppl 2:51-63
Glidden, Michael D; Yang, Yanwu; Smith, Nicholas A et al. (2018) Solution structure of an ultra-stable single-chain insulin analog connects protein dynamics to a novel mechanism of receptor binding. J Biol Chem 293:69-88
Glidden, Michael D; Aldabbagh, Khadijah; Phillips, Nelson B et al. (2018) An ultra-stable single-chain insulin analog resists thermal inactivation and exhibits biological signaling duration equivalent to the native protein. J Biol Chem 293:47-68
Rege, Nischay K; Wickramasinghe, Nalinda P; Tustan, Alisar N et al. (2018) Structure-based stabilization of insulin as a therapeutic protein assembly via enhanced aromatic-aromatic interactions. J Biol Chem 293:10895-10910
Rege, Nischay K; Phillips, Nelson F B; Weiss, Michael A (2017) Development of glucose-responsive 'smart' insulin systems. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 24:267-278
Dhayalan, Balamurugan; Mandal, Kalyaneswar; Rege, Nischay et al. (2017) Scope and Limitations of Fmoc Chemistry SPPS-Based Approaches to the Total Synthesis of Insulin Lispro via Ester Insulin. Chemistry 23:1709-1716
Pandyarajan, Vijay; Phillips, Nelson B; Rege, Nischay et al. (2016) Contribution of TyrB26 to the Function and Stability of Insulin: STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS AT A CONSERVED HORMONE-RECEPTOR INTERFACE. J Biol Chem 291:12978-90
Dhayalan, Balamurugan; Fitzpatrick, Ann; Mandal, Kalyaneswar et al. (2016) Efficient Total Chemical Synthesis of (13) C=(18) O Isotopomers of Human Insulin for Isotope-Edited FTIR. Chembiochem 17:415-20
El Hage, Krystel; Pandyarajan, Vijay; Phillips, Nelson B et al. (2016) Extending Halogen-based Medicinal Chemistry to Proteins: IODO-INSULIN AS A CASE STUDY. J Biol Chem 291:27023-27041
Croll, Tristan I; Smith, Brian J; Margetts, Mai B et al. (2016) Higher-Resolution Structure of the Human Insulin Receptor Ectodomain: Multi-Modal Inclusion of the Insert Domain. Structure 24:469-76

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