Summary
The domain structure of the insulin receptor was investigated in liver and brown adipose tissue of developing rabbits. The structure of the binding domain (α-subunit) was analysed after covalent labelling with a 125I photo-reactive insulin analogue. The structure of the tyrosine kinase domain (β-subunit) and the transmission of the hormonal signal from the α-to the β-subunit were analysed by stimulating with insulin the autophosphorylation of the β-subunit. Finally, the immunoreactivity of the receptor in developing tissues was assessed with anti-receptor antibodies. The results show that a functional insulin receptor can be detected at the early stages of fetal development in both tissues and is conserved throughout ontogenesis to adulthood.
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Peyron, J.F., Samson, M., Van Obberghen, E. et al. Appearance of a functional insulin receptor during rabbit embryogenesis. Diabetologia 28, 369–372 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283146
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283146