The insulin receptor juxtamembrane region contains two independent tyrosine/β-turn internalization signals

We have investigated the role of tyrosine residues in the insulin receptor juxtamembrane region (Tyr₉₅₃ and Tyr₉₆₀) during endocytosis. Analysis of the secondary structure of the juxtamembrane region by the Chou-Fasman algorithms predicts that both the sequences GPLY₉₅₃ and NPEY₉₆₀ form tyrosine-containing β-turns. Similarly, analysis of model peptides by 1-D and 2-D NMR show that these sequences form β-turns in solution, whereas replacement of the tyrosine residues with alanine destabilizes the β-turn. CHO cell lines were prepared expressing mutant receptors in which each tyrosine was mutated to phenylalanine of alanine, and an additional mutant contained alanine at both positions. These mutations had no effect on insulin binding or receptor autophosphorylation. Replacements with phenylalanine had no effect on the rate of [¹²⁵I]insulin endocytosis, whereas single substitutions with alanine reduced [¹²⁵I]insulin endocytosis by 40-50%. Replacement of both tyrosines with alanine reduced internalization by 70%. These data suggest that the insulin receptor contains two tyrosine/β-turns which contribute independently and additively to insulin-stimulated endocytosis.