IGF-1-Dependent Subunit Communication of the IGF-1 Holoreceptor: Interactions between αβ Heterodimeric Receptor Halves

Examination of 125I-IGF-1 affinity cross-linking and β-subunit autophosphorylation has indicated that IGF-1 induces a covalent association of isolated αβ heterodimeric IGF-1 receptors into an α₂β₂ heterotetrameric state, in a similar manner to that observed for the insulin receptor [Morrison, B. D., Swanson, M. L., Sweet, L. J., & Pessin, J. E. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 7806-7813], The formation of the α₂β₂ heterotetrameric IGF-1 receptor complex from the partially purified αβ heterodimers was time dependent with half-maximal formation in approximately 30 min at saturating IGF-1 concentrations. The IGF-1-dependent association of the partially purified αβ heterodimers into an α₂β₂ heterotetrameric state was specific for the IGF-1 receptors since IGF-1 was unable to stimulate the protein kinase activity of the purified αβ heterodimeric insulin receptor complex. Incubation of the α₂β₂ heterotetrameric IGF-1 holoreceptor with the specific sulfhydryl agent iodoacetamide (IAN) did not alter ¹²⁵I-IGF-1 binding or IGF-1 stimulation of protein kinase activity. In addition, IAN did not affect the Mn/MgATP-dependent noncovalent association of IGF-1 receptor αβ heterodimers into an α₂β₂ heterotetrameric state. However, IAN treatment of the αβ heterodimeric IGF-1 receptors inhibited the IGF-1-dependent covalent formation of the disulfide-linked α₂β₂ heterotetrameric complex. These data indicate that IGF-1 induces the covalent association of isolated αβ heterodimeric IGF-1 receptor complexes into a disulfide-linked α₂β₂ heterotetrameric state whereas Mn/MgATP induces a noncovalent association. Therefore, unlike the insulin receptor in which noncovalent association is sufficient for kinase activation, only the covalent assembly of the IGF-1 receptor αβ heterodimers into the α₂β₂ heterotetrameric holoreceptor complex is associated with ligand-stimulated protein kinase activation.