Diabetes, Vol 30, Issue 1 1-8, Copyright © 1981 by American Diabetes Association
Tyrosine A14[125I]monoiodoinsulin: Preparation, Biologic Properties, and long-term stability
S Linde, B Hansen, O Sonne, JJ Holst and J Gliemann
125I-insulin was prepared by reacting 17.4 nmol porcine insulin (100
micrograms) with 5 mCi 125I (about 2.4 nmol) using the lactoperoxidase
method. The reaction product was subjected to gel electrophoresis and the
band containing A14 [125I]monoiodoinsulin was eluted. This preparation
showed a specific activity of about 1.5 Ci/mumol as evaluated by
radioimmunoassay and bioassay, i.e., about 75% of the theoretical maximum.
The content of radioactive derivatives other than A14 monoiodoinsulin was
less than 2%. The binding affinity of tracer A14 monoiodoinsulin to
adipocytes, hepatocytes, and cultured human lymphocytes was twice as high
as that of A19 monoiodoinsulin. Binding to antibodies was examined to 10
guinea pig anti-insulin sera. Three sera did not distinguish between the
two tracers, whereas seven exhibited higher binding of the A14 tracer. A
detailed analysis of one of the discriminating sera showed that the average
affinity constant was about 2.5 times lower for the A19 tracer than for the
A14 tracer. The A14 monoiodoinsulin tracer is remarkably stable. After 200
days the specific activity had declined to about half of its original value
which is consistent with the hypothesis that the physical decay of
[125I]monoiodoinsulin (T 1/2 equals 60 days) extinguishes the activity of
the molecule without causing major damage of other molecules. By this time
96% of the radioactivity migrated with insulin when subjected to gel
filtration on Sephadex G-50, 4% was in the void volume, and nothing in the
total column volume or later. Binding to receptors was indistinguishable
from that obtained at time zero. It is concluded that Tyr
A14[125I]monoiodoinsulin represents an advance in biologic work as compared
with previous tracers for insulin.