The effect of inhibitors of insulin processing on generation of insulin intermediate products from human fibroblast as detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

To assess the role of various modulators of insulin processing on cell-associated A14-125I-insulin intermediates in human fibroblasts, we have studied the effect of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), chloroquine, bacitracin, dansylcadavarine, and phenylarsine oxide on generation of these intermediate products with the use of HPLC. NEM completely inhibited generation of intermediate peaks or iodotyrosine. Chloroquine inhibited conversion of A14-125I-insulin to iodotyrosine by about 75 percent and the remaining A14-125I-insulin was not susceptible to acid wash. Bacitracin, dansylcadavarine, and phenylarsine oxide, on the other hand, stimulated formation of intermediate products with concomitant inhibition of iodotyrosine formation. We conclude that there are at least three components of insulin degradation in human fibroblasts. These include the sulfhydryl group inhibitor-sensitive, the intracellular chloroquine-sensitive, and membrane site inhibitor-sensitive components.