The calcium dependence of insulin degradation by rat skeletal muscle

The effect of calcium on insulin degradation by intact or homogenized skeletal muscle, by skeletal muscle cytosol, and by partially purified skeletal muscle insulin-degrading protease activity was examined. After a 15-min lag phase, intact soleus muscles degraded [125I]insulin to trichloroacetic acid-soluble products in a time-dependent fashion. Degradation was accelerated by the addition of calcium (greater than or equal to 1 mM), such that maximal stimulation (2-fold) was obtained with 10 or 25 mM calcium. Calcium stimulated insulin degradation by skeletal muscle homogenate and by cytosol in a nearly identical manner. Furthermore, after inactivation of the purified skeletal muscle, insulin-degrading protease by dialysis against EDTA, this enzyme was reactivated fully (greater than 80%) by a 100 microM concentration of free Ca2+. These observations identify a previously unrecognized but important influence of calcium on cellular insulin handling and provide further evidence for a major role of the calcium-activated enzyme, insulin protease, in cellular insulin degradation.