Characteristics of binding of a low affinity, noncooperative insulin [( LeuB25]insulin) to IM-9 lymphocytes.

[Leu-B25]insulin is a low affinity insulin analog which does not increase the rate of dissociation of 125I-insulin from insulin receptors (i.e. does not display negative cooperativity). We have studied the characteristics of binding of this analog to IM-9 cultured lymphocytes, in order to determine the contribution of negative cooperativity to the curvilinear nature of Scatchard plots typical of insulin binding data. The affinity of [LeuB25]insulin for receptors was approximately 1% that of insulin, as determined by its ability to inhibit 125I-insulin binding. Monoiodinated preparations of insulin and of [LeuB25]insulin were produced, labeled in the tyrosine at position 14 of the A chain. These 125I-TyrA14-labeled species were used in all studies. Both native insulin and a serum containing antiinsulin receptor antibodies were equally potent at inhibiting binding of 125I-[LeuB25]insulin and 125I-native insulin, suggesting that they bind to the same population of receptors. Native insulin (100 ng/ml) increased the rate of dissociation of both 125I-insulin and 125I-[LeuB25]insulin. However, [LeuB25]insulin (2.5 micrograms/ml) did not increase the rates of dissociation of either 125I-insulin or 125I-[LeuB25]insulin (i.e. it did not display negative cooperativity). Competition curves and Scatchard plots were constructed using 125I-[LeuB25]insulin and unlabeled analog. Half-maximal inhibition of 125I-[LeuB25]insulin binding was seen at a [LeuB25]insulin concentration of approximately 500 ng/ml. More importantly, the Scatchard plot of these binding data was markedly curvilinear, as is typical of insulin binding data. In summary, a non-cooperative insulin analog, [LeuB25]insulin, yielded curvilinear Scatchard plots, indicating that negative cooperativity is not the full explanation of the curvilinear nature of Scatchard plots of insulin binding data. Therefore, an alternative explanation, such as the existence of heterogeneous receptor states, with differing affinities for the hormone, must contribute to the nonlinearity of these plots.