Insulin receptor internalization and recycling: mechanism and significance

Using a 125I-photoreactive insulin analogue that can be covalently coupled to its receptor we have shown that in rat hepatocytes the insulin receptor is concomitantly internalized with the labeled hormone and afterwards is progressively recycled back to the cell surface. In the course of the internalization process the insulin-receptor complex associates with clear vesicles and later on with lysosomes from which it is recycled through clear vesicles. On the basis of these observations it is suggested that modulation of the rates of internalization and of recycling of the insulin receptor can regulate the number of available surface insulin receptors. This hypothesis is supported by the results of experiments showing that monensin, an inhibitor of receptor recycling enhances insulin induced loss of its own surface receptors (down regulation) in U-937 monocytes.