Alteration of microtubule physiology in hepatocytes by insulin

✍ Scribed by Joan M. Caron

• Book ID: 102880882
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1989
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 905 KB
• Volume: 138
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9541
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.1041380322

✦ Synopsis

Incubation of primary cultures of rat hepatocytes with insulin caused an alteration in several parameters of rnicrotubule physiology. There was a transient decrease in total cellular tubulin levels and, at the same time, an apparent stabilization of microtubule polymers which was also transient. The level of microtubule polymer, however, was not altered, which indicated that an insulin-inducible decrease in the lcvel of notipolymerized tubulin was responsible for the decrease in total cdlular rubulin. These changes were followed by an increase in tubulin mRNA levels and, shortly thereafter, by an increase in tubulin protein synthesis. This study demonstrates that microtubule physiology in hepatocytes is modulated by insulin and, further, suggests a niodel by which insulin-induced changes in microtubule physiology may play a role in regulating other insulin responses.