Insulin Receptor Substrate-1: Polyclonal Phospho-IRS-1 (Tyr891) Antibody

Background: Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins play a central role in maintaining basic cellular functions such as growth and metabolism. They act as an interface between multiple growth factor receptors possessing tyrosine kinase activity, such as the insulin receptor, and a complex network of intracellular signalling molecules containing Src homology 2 (SH2) domains. Four members (IRS-1, IRS-2, IRS-3, IRS-4) of this family have been identified which differ in their subcellular distribution and interaction with SH2 domain proteins¹. Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is a major substrate of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I receptors. The activated insulin receptor phosphorylates the intracellular substrate IRS-1, which then binds various signalling molecules that contain SH 2 domains, thereby propagating the insulin signal. Among these IRS-1-binding proteins, the Grb2-Sos complex and the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 transmit mitogenic signals through the activation of Ras, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase is implicated in the major metabolic actions of insulin². IRS-1 possesses as many as 18 potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites, several of which contain redundant motifs. Tyr895 is in a YXN motif at carboxyl terminal part of IRS-1. Phosphorylation of Tyr895 provides a binding site for Grb2, which leads to activation of downstream MAP kinase pathway⁵. Insulin also activates several kinases and these kinases act to induce the phosphorylation of IRS1 on specific serine/ threoninesites and inhibit its functions. This is part of the negative-feedback control mechanism induced by insulin that leads to termination of its action³. Agents such as free fatty acids, cytokines, angiotensin II, endothelin-1, amino acids, cellular stress and hyperinsulinemia, which induce insulin resistance, also lead to both activation of several serine/threonine kinases and phosphorylation of IRS1. These agents negatively regulate the IRS1 functions by phosphorylation but also via others molecular mechanisms (SOCS expression, IRS degradation, O-linked glycosylation)⁴.  IRS-1 mediates the control of various cellular processes by insulin.

References:

1. Yenush, L. & White, M.F. : Bioessays 19:491, 1997.

2. Ogawa, W., Matozaki, T., & Kasuga, M. : Mol. Cell. Biochem. 182:13, 1998.

3. Sesti, G. : Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 20:665, 2006.

4. Gual, P. et al. : Biochimie 87:99, 2005.

5. Sun, X. J. et al. J Biol Chem. 271:10583, 1996.

Specific detection of IRS-1 proteins containing phosphorylated Tyr895 in lysates from human skeletal muscle cells stimulated with insulin by Western blot analysis using Phospho- IRS-1 (Tyr895) antibody.