Structures of insect Imp-L2 suggest an alternative strategy for regulating the bioavailability of insulin-like hormones

Nikolaj Kulahin Roed, Cristina M. Viola, Ole Kristensen, Gerd Schluckebier, Mathias Norrman, Waseem Sajid, John D. Wade, Asser Sloth Andersen, Claus Kristensen, Timothy R. Ganderton, Johan P. Turkenburg, Pierre Meyts and Andrzej M. Brzozowski ()
Additional contact information
Nikolaj Kulahin Roed: Global Research, Novo Nordisk A/S
Cristina M. Viola: The University of York, Heslington
Ole Kristensen: University of Copenhagen
Gerd Schluckebier: Global Research, Novo Nordisk A/S
Mathias Norrman: Global Research, Novo Nordisk A/S
Waseem Sajid: Global Research, Novo Nordisk A/S
John D. Wade: University of Melbourne
Asser Sloth Andersen: Global Research, Novo Nordisk A/S
Claus Kristensen: University of Copenhagen
Timothy R. Ganderton: The University of York, Heslington
Johan P. Turkenburg: The University of York, Heslington
Pierre Meyts: Global Research, Novo Nordisk A/S
Andrzej M. Brzozowski: The University of York, Heslington

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling axis is an evolutionary ancient and highly conserved hormonal system involved in the regulation of metabolism, growth and lifespan in animals. Human insulin is stored in the pancreas, while insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is maintained in blood in complexes with IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP1–6). Insect insulin-like polypeptide binding proteins (IBPs) have been considered as IGFBP-like structural and functional homologues. Here, we report structures of the Drosophila IBP Imp-L2 in its free form and bound to Drosophila insulin-like peptide 5 and human IGF-1. Imp-L2 contains two immunoglobulin-like fold domains and its architecture is unrelated to human IGFBPs, suggesting a distinct strategy for bioavailability regulation of insulin-like hormones. Similar hormone binding modes may exist in other insect vectors, as the IBP sequences are highly conserved. Therefore, these findings may open research routes towards a rational interference of transmission of diseases such as malaria, dengue and yellow fevers.

Date: 2018
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06192-3 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-06192-3

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06192-3

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().