Detection of the human glucagon-like peptide 1(7-36) amide receptor on insulinoma-derived cell membranes.

125I-glucagon-like peptide 1(7-36)amide was covalently cross-linked to a specific binding protein in human insulinoma cell membranes. A single radiolabeled band at M(r) 63,000 was identified by SDS-PAGE after solubilization of the ligand-binding protein complex. The molecular weight of this apparent GLP-1 receptor in human endocrine pancreatic tissue was of identical size as the GLP-1 receptor on rat insulinoma-derived RINm5F cell membranes. The radiolabeled band was undetectable when 1 microM of unlabeled GLP-1(7-36)amide or of the GLP-1 antagonist exendin(9-39)amide was included in the binding assay. Utilizing isolated poly-A+ RNA from the human insulinoma and a 1,500 bp Eco-RI fragment of the cDNA coding for the rat GLP-1(7-36)amide receptor for Northern blot analysis, a main hybridization signal at about 7 kb was found by Northern blotting. Our data provide the first direct evidence of the existence of GLP-1 receptors in human endocrine pancreatic tissue.