Chemical mediator or mediators of insulin action: response to insulin and mode of action.

Studies with a subcellular system demonstrated that the interaction of insulin with the adipocyte plasma membrane resulted in the generation from the plasma membrane of a mediator that activated mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.1). The insulin-sensitive chemical mediator from the plasma membrane has been partially characterized. It has a molecular weight of 1000-1500. The chemical mediator has been extracted from skeletal muscle, adipocytes, hepatoma cells, and IM-9 lymphocytes. Insulin increased the amount or activity of the mediator in the first three cell types, whereas insulin decreased the activity or amount of the mediator in IM-9 lymphocytes. These insulin-induced variations were consistent with the biological responses of these cells to insulin treatment. The activities of insulin-sensitive enzymes, including pyruvate dehydrogenase, adipocyte low Km 3':5'-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17), and adipocyte plasma membrane [Ca2+ + Mg2+]-ATPase were shown to be altered by the chemical mediator. The mediator may act by altering various protein kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatases that modulate the state of phosphorylation and activity of these enzyme systems. The existence of two mediators is proposed. The first may mediate dephosphorylation of various substrates, and the second may influence phosphorylation.