Insulin and insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptors during central nervous system development: expression of two immunologically distinct IGF-1 receptor beta subunits.

Insulin and insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptors are present in brain, yet their function remains obscure. Expression of these tyrosine kinase-bearing growth factor receptors during rat brain development was examined by using three antipeptide antibodies directed against epitopes in the beta subunits (AbP2, AbP4, and AbP5). All three antibodies recognized both insulin and IGF-1 receptors. Membranes were prepared from fetal brains (14 to 21 days of gestation), neonatal brain (postnatal day 1), and adult brain. Immunoblot analyses using AbP4 and AbP5 revealed a 92-kilodalton (kDa) protein that corresponded to the beta subunit of the insulin and IGF-1 receptors. Densitometric scanning of immunoblots indicated that receptor proteins were 4- to 10-fold more abundant in fetal brain membranes than in membranes from adult brain. Expression was highest during 16 to 18 days of gestation and declined thereafter to the relatively low level found in adult brain. Immunoblot analyses with AbP2 as well as ligand-activated receptor autophosphorylation revealed an additional protein of 97 kDa. This protein was phosphorylated in response to IGF-1 and was not directly recognized by AbP4 or AbP5. The covalent association of the 97-kDa protein with the 92-kDa beta subunit was indicated by the ability of AbP4 and AbP5 to immunoprecipitate both proteins under nonreducing conditions but only the 92-kDa protein after reduction. In contrast, AbP2 immunoprecipitated both proteins regardless of their association. This immunospecificity remained unchanged after deglycosylation of the isolated proteins. Two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide analysis showed that the 92- and 97-kDa subunits of the IGF-1 receptor are related but distinct proteins. Taken together, the data suggest that the 92- and 97-kDa subunits differ in primary amino acid sequence. Thus, two distinct beta subunits may be present in a single IGF-1 receptor in brain. These subunits have in common an epitope recognized by an antibody to the tyrosine kinase domain (AbP2) but differ in regions thought to be important in receptor kinase regulation and signal transduction.