Biological properties of an initial degradation product of insulin by insulin-degrading enzyme.

We previously reported on the degradation of monocomponent porcine insulin by affinity-purified pig skeletal muscle insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and on the detection and HPLC separation of the initial degradation product (peak VI). Using relatively high concentration of insulin, peak VI appeared rapidly at 30 sec of incubation, whereas other peaks were not detected within 5 min of incubation. Performate oxidation studies suggested that peak VI is composed of a cleaved A-chain and an intact B-chain. To assess whether the initial degradation product of insulin generated by IDE preserves biological properties, we analyzed several insulin-like activities of peak VI. It had a hypoglycemic effect on rats. In vitro, it bound to the insulin receptors of rat adipocytes and stimulated glucose oxidation there. It also strengthened insulin receptor kinase activity in insulin receptors from rat liver and human placenta. Its biological potency, however, was 1/40th to 1/160th that of insulin itself. This is probably due to reduced affinity for the insulin receptor, since it had 2.5% of insulin's ability to both bind to the receptor and stimulate glucose oxidation. Moreover, peak VI had all of insulin's agonistic effect on glucose oxidation when used at a higher concentration. On the other hand, cross-linking analysis suggested that peak VI preserves almost the same affinity for IDE as does insulin. These results suggest that pig skeletal muscle IDE may cleave peptide bonds within the A-chain early in insulin degradation, generating peak VI; this then serves as the next substrate of IDE while exerting reduced insulin-like activity, and peak VI is converted to several relatively low mol wt products.