In this study an insulin-sensitive glycophospholipid from rat adipocytes was isolated and partially characterized. A material that activated pyruvate dehydrogenase was extracted from rat adipocyte membrane supernatants. Its release was stimulated by insulin and phosphatidylinositol-specific-phospholipase C and its activity was destroyed by nitrous acid deamination. These findings suggested that insulin might stimulate breakdown of a glycophospholipid containing inositol and glucosamine, as previously reported for some other cell types [Low & Saltiel (1988) Science 239, 268-275]. A lipid that incorporated [3H]glucosamine, [3H]galactose, [3H]inositol, and [3H]myristate and whose turnover was stimulated by insulin was subsequently isolated from intact adipocytes by sequential t.l.c. using an acidic solvent system followed by a basic solvent system. The effects of insulin on turnover of the lipid in these cells were transient, with maximal effects at 1 min, and there was a typical concentration-response curve to insulin (0.07 nM-7 nM), with effects being detected over the physiological range of insulin concentrations. In contrast with studies in other cells, there was appreciable turnover of the sugar labels. The majority of the [3H]glucosamine and [3H]galactose labels were cycled through to triacylglycerol in the adipocyte. However, of that recovered in the glycophospholipid band, a major proportion (less than 40%) was recovered as the native label. Digestion of the purified molecule with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C generated a material that activated both pyruvate dehydrogenase and low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Impairment in insulin-stimulated breakdown of the molecule in adipocytes of streptozotocin-diabetic rats was found, consistent with the impaired insulin activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase and glucose utilization seen in this model. These findings suggest that insulin stimulates breakdown of this glycophospholipid by stimulating an insulin-sensitive phospholipase in adipocytes. This compound may serve a function as a precursor for intracellular insulin mediators.
Isolation from Rat Adipocytes of a Chemical Mediator for Insulin Activation of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase