Effect of Insulin on Protein Turnover in Heart Muscle

The effect of insulin on turnover of protein was investigated in isolated perfused rat hearts. The hormone lowered intracellular levels of nine amino acids and reduced or abolished net release of 10 amino acids and ammonia. The extent of the insulin effect on protein degradation was investigated by estimating the rate of dilution of the specific radioactivity of the free phenylalanine pool. Insulin concentrations greater than 200 microunits per ml reduced protein degradation and net phenlylalanine release. Protein degradation was estimated more directly by inhibiting reincorporation of nonradioactive phenylalanine from protein with cycloheximide. Addition of the inhibitor increased the estimated rates about 50%, but the magnitude of the hormone effect was similar. The latency of lysosomal enzymes in control and insulin-treated hearts was assessed by measuring activities of beta-acetylglucosaminidase and cathepsin D in heart homogenates in the presence and absence of Triton X-100. Perfusion with insulin-free buffer increased the activities assayable without detergent, but did not change total activities of these enzymes. Insulin decreased activities assayable without detergent and increased activities sedimenting in the 10-5 times g pellet. These studies showed that insulin restricted the rate of protein degradation in the isolated perfused rat heart. Concomitantly, the latency of lysosomal enzymes was increased when the hormone was provided.