Insulin inhibits the phosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2 in intact hepatocytes

Challenge of intact hepatocytes with insulin reduced the level of phosphorylated alpha-Gi-2 found under basal (resting) conditions. At maximally effective concentrations of insulin the steady-state labelling of alpha-Gi-2 was reduced by approximately 21%. Insulin achieved this in a time- and dose-dependent fashion, exhibiting an IC50 value of 109 +/- 22 pM. The increased labelling of alpha-Gi-2 seen after challenge of cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was also attenuated by insulin. Treatment of hepatocytes with the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid increased the labelling of alpha-Gi-2 in a fashion which was insensitive to the action of insulin. It is suggested that insulin may reduce the level of phosphorylation of alpha-Gi-2 by stimulating intracellular protein phosphatase activity and that this action may offer a molecular explanation for the ability of insulin to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity in hepatocytes by increasing the level of non-phosphorylated alpha-Gi-2.