Phosphatidylinositol-glycan anchors of membrane proteins: potential precursors of insulin mediators.

BC3H1 myocytes release membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase to the incubation medium upon stimulation with insulin, following a time course that is consistent with the generation of dimyristoylglycerol and the appearance of a putative insulin mediator in the extracellular medium. The use of specific blocking agents shows, however, that alkaline phosphatase release and dimyristoylglycerol production are independent processes and that the blockade of either event inhibits the production of insulin mediator. These experiments suggest a new model of insulin action.