Characterization of insulin binding to bovine liver and mammary microsomes

Bovine liver and mammary gland (MG) appear metabolically independent of insulin, yet the specificity and kinetics of 125I-insulin (125I-INS) binding to bovine liver and MG microsomes (MIC) indicate the presence of insulin receptors in MIC from both tissues. The insulin receptors from bovine liver (Kd = 7.6 X 10(-10) M) and MG (Kd = 9.6 X 10(-11) M) were similar to each other and to other insulin receptors in their binding affinities and pH optima. Perturbation of rat liver and bovine MG MIC by phospholipase or NaCl treatment increased 125I-INS binding to the membranes, suggesting exposure of cryptic insulin receptors. Different responses in 125I-INS binding to membrane perturbation suggest differences between rat and bovine membranes.