Identification of the Subunit Structure of Rat Pineal Adrenergic Receptors by Photoaffinity Labeling

The adrenergic receptors of rat pineal gland were investigated using radiolabeled ligand binding and photoaffinity labeling techniques. 125I-2-[beta-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylaminomethyl]tetralone (125I-HEAT) and 125I-cyanopindolol (125I-CYP) labeled specific sites on rat pineal gland membranes with equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) of 48 (+/- 5) pM and 30 (+/- 5) pM, respectively. Binding site maxima were 481 (+/- 63) and 1,020 (+/- 85) fmol/mg protein. The sites labeled by 125I-HEAT had the pharmacological characteristics of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. 125I-CYP-labeled beta-adrenergic receptors were characterized as a homogeneous population of beta 1-adrenergic receptors. The alpha 1- and beta 1-adrenergic receptors were covalently labeled with the specific photoaffinity probes 4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-2-(4-[5-(4-azido-3-[125I]iodophenyl) pentanoyl]-1-piperazinyl) quinazoline (125I-APDQ) and 125I-p-azidobenzylcarazolol (125I-pABC). 125I-APDQ labeled an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor peptide of Mr = 74,000 (+/- 4,000), which was similar to peptides labeled in rat cerebral cortex, liver, and spleen. 125I-pABC labeled a single beta 1-adrenergic receptor peptide with a Mr = 42,000 (+/- 1,500), which differed from the 60-65,000 peptide commonly seen in mammalian tissues. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.     

Probing the salmeterol binding site on the beta 2-adrenergic receptor using a novel photoaffinity ligand, [(125)I]iodoazidosalmeterol.

Salmeterol is a long-acting beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta 2AR) agonist used clinically to treat asthma. In addition to binding at the active agonist site, it has been proposed that salmeterol also binds with very high affinity at a second site, termed the "exosite", and that this exosite contributes to the long duration of action of salmeterol. To determine the position of the phenyl ring of the aralkyloxyalkyl side chain of salmeterol in the beta 2AR binding site, we designed and synthesized the agonist photoaffinity label [(125)I]iodoazidosalmeterol ([125I]IAS). In direct adenylyl cyclase activation, in effects on adenylyl cyclase after pretreatment of intact cells, and in guinea pig tracheal relaxation assays, IAS and the parent drug salmeterol behave essentially the same. Significantly, the photoreactive azide of IAS is positioned on the phenyl ring at the end of the molecule which is thought to be involved in exosite binding. Carrier-free radioiodinated [125I]IAS was used to photolabel epitope-tagged human beta 2AR in membranes prepared from stably transfected HEK 293 cells. Labeling with [(125)I]IAS was blocked by 10 microM (-)-alprenolol and inhibited by addition of GTP gamma S, and [125I]IAS migrated at the same position on an SDS-PAGE gel as the beta 2AR labeled by the antagonist photoaffinity label [125I]iodoazidobenzylpindolol ([125I]IABP). The labeled receptor was purified on a nickel affinity column and cleaved with factor Xa protease at a specific sequence in the large loop between transmembrane segments 5 and 6, yielding two peptides. While the control antagonist photoaffinity label [125I]IABP labeled both the large N-terminal fragment [containing transmembranes (TMs) 1-5] and the smaller C-terminal fragment (containing TMs 6 and 7), essentially all of the [125I]IAS labeling was on the smaller C-terminal peptide containing TMs 6 and 7. This direct biochemical evidence demonstrates that when salmeterol binds to the receptor, its hydrophobic aryloxyalkyl tail is positioned near TM 6 and/or TM 7. A model of IAS binding to the beta 2AR is proposed.     

Photoaffinity labeling of the beta-adrenergic receptor with azide derivatives of iodoccyanopindolol

Two photosensitive iodocyanopindolol derivatives, 1-(4-azidobenzimidyl)-3,3-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-7-(2-cyano-3-iodoindol-4-yloxy)-1,4-diazaheptane (ICYP-azide-1) and 1-(4-azidobenzoyl)-3,3-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-7-(2-cyano-3-iodoindol-4-yloxy)-1,4-diazaheptane (ICYP-azide-2) have been prepared. [125I]ICYP-azide-1 and -2 (specific radioactivity up to 2.2 Ci/mumol) bind specifically and with very high affinity (KD = 40-45 pM) to beta-adrenergic receptors of turkey erythrocyte membranes. When [125I]ICYP-azide-1 or -2 were incubated with membranes and UV-irradiated, two polypeptides (Mr = 40,000 and 50,000) were specifically photolabeled as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These polypeptides may represent subunits of the beta-adrenergic receptor. The yield of specific covalent label incorporation into both polypeptides was up to 17.2% with [125I]ICYP-azide-2 when expressed as fraction of total beta-receptor binding sites. Since the Mr = 40,000 polypeptide was labeled predominantly and since covalent incorporation had the same concentration dependence as reversible specific binding, this polypeptide could contain a beta-adrenergic ligand binding site. Due to the low working concentration (10-100 pM) of [125I]ICYP-azide-1 and -2, nonspecific labeling of membrane proteins was extremely low. The new photoaffinity labels should therefore become valuable tools for probing beta-receptor structure.     

beta-Adrenergic receptors in rat brain.

125I-Iodohydroxybenzylpindolol ([125I] IHYP), a potent beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, has been used to study beta-adrenergic receptors in rat brain. Binding of [125I] IHYP (30 pM) to a membrane fraction min and dissociation took place with a half time of about 16 min. Phentolamine (10(-4) M) decreased non-receptor binding but it had no effect on the binding of [125I] IHYP to beta-adrenergic receptors in cortex, cerebellum or caudate. In the presence of phentolamine specific binding (defined as binding which was blocked by 0.3 muM dl-propranolol) represented 70-85% of total binding. The binding of [125I] IHYP was inhibited by beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists. d-Stereoisomers were 2-3 orders of magnitude less potent than the corresponding 1-isomers. The denstiy of [125I] IHYP binding sites was studied in membrane fractions from cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and caudate nucleus by means of Scatchard analysis. The K(D) of [125I] IHYP was similar in the three regions studied, and the density of [125I] IHYP binding sites was approximately 50% greater in the cortex and caudate than in the cerebellum. The Hill coefficient for the binding of [125I] IHYP to membranes from cerebral cortex was 1.02. The properties of the binding of [125I] IHYP are similar to those which would be expected of binding to beta-adrenergic receptors in vitro.     

Catecholamine-induced desensitization of turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase. Structural alterations in the beta-adrenergic receptor revealed by photoaffinity labeling

Preincubation of turkey erythrocytes with isoproterenol results in an impaired ability of beta-adrenergic agonists to stimulate adenylate cyclase in membranes prepared from these cells. The biochemical basis for this agonist-induced desensitization was investigated using the new beta-adrenergic antagonist photoaffinity label [125I]p-azidobenzylcarazolol ([125I]PABC). Exposure of [125I]PABC-labeled turkey erythrocyte membranes to high intensity light leads to specific covalent incorporation of the labeled compound into two polypeptides, Mr approximately equal to 38,000 and 50,000, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Incorporation of [125I]PABC into these two polypeptides is completely blocked by a beta-adrenergic agonist and antagonist consistent with covalent labeling of the beta-adrenergic receptor. After desensitization of the turkey erythrocyte by preincubation with 10(-5) M isoproterenol, the beta-adrenergic receptor polypeptides specifically labeled by [125I]PABC in membranes prepared from desensitized erythrocytes were of larger apparent molecular weight (Mr approximately equal to 42,000 versus 38,000, and 53,000 versus 50,000) compared to controls. When included during the preincubation of the erythrocytes with isoproterenol, the antagonist propranolol (10(-5) M) inhibited both agonist-promoted desensitization of the adenylate cyclase and the altered mobility of the [125I]PABC-labeled receptor polypeptides. These data indicate that structural alterations in the beta-adrenergic receptor accompany the desensitization process in turkey erythrocytes.     

Specific binding sites for pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in rat cultured astrocytes: molecular identification and interaction with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)

Molecular identification of the binding sites for pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and the effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on the specific binding sites for PACAP in rat cultured astrocyte membrane preparations were investigated. Affinity cross-linking of astrocyte membrane preparations with [125I]PACAP27 showed the presence of a 60 kDa radiolabeled ligand-receptor complex. The labeling of this band was completely abolished in the presence of 10(-8) M or higher concentrations of unlabeled PACAP27. The molecular weight of this binding protein was estimated to be 57 kDa assuming an equimolar interaction of ligand and receptor in the 60 kDa complex. The labeling of [125I]PACAP27 binding to this binding protein was partly reduced by the addition of 10(-6) M VIP, but not by 10(-8) M. In the binding assay, VIP displaced the specific binding of [125I]PACAP27 at 10(-7) M or a greater concentration. Displacement of [125I]PACAP27 binding by unlabeled PACAP27 was analyzed in the presence or absence of 10(-6) M VIP. VIP at 10(-6) M reduced the maximal binding capacity (Bmax) of the high affinity binding site for PACAP27 by about 50% but did not alter the Bmax of the low affinity binding site. The dissociation constants (Kd) for both the high and low affinity binding sites were unaltered. These results indicate that PACAP binds to a 57 kDa membrane protein with high affinity and that VIP, at much higher concentrations, binds to this same binding site, suggesting that VIP mimics the biological action of PACAP in astrocytes at high concentrations.     

Identification of a novel Mr = 76-kDa form of beta-adrenergic receptors

The structure of the human beta-adrenergic receptor in purified basal membranes of human placental syncytiotrophoblast was probed using photoaffinity labeling. Basal membranes display a high specific activity of receptors (4-5 pmol/mg protein) and possess both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors subtypes. Autoradiography of membranes that were incubated with the beta-adrenergic antagonist [125I]iodoazidobenzylpindolol, photolyzed and then subjected to sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, identified four radiolabeled peptides, Mr = 65-kDa, 54-kDa, 43-kDa and a novel higher molecular weight 76-kDa form of the receptor. Photoaffinity labeling of each of these four peptides displayed the pharmacological properties expected for true beta-adrenergic receptors. The 76-kDa photoaffinity labeled receptor peptide observed in human placenta basal membranes has not been reported elsewhere. Competition studies with the beta1-selective ligand CGP-20712A demonstrate that the photoaffinity labeled receptor peptides are composed of both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes.     

The effect of reducing agents on the structure of mammalian beta-adrenergic receptors

Under reducing conditions (5% beta-mercaptoethanol) the mammalian beta-adrenergic receptor binding site from both beta 1 (porcine heart membranes) and beta 2 receptors (hamster lung and rat erythrocyte membranes) appears to reside on peptides of Mr 62,000-65,000 as determined by photoaffinity labeling with p-azido-m-[125I]iodobenzylcarazolol and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When similar experiments are performed in these same systems under a variety of non-reducing conditions, there are minimal changes in the apparent molecular weight of both the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor binding subunits and no specifically labeled higher molecular weight proteins are observed suggesting that there are no disulfide linked subunits in mammalian beta-adrenergic receptors.     

The mammalian beta 2-adrenergic receptor: purification and characterization

The beta 2-adrenergic receptors from hamster, guinea pig, and rat lungs have been solubilized with digitonin and purified by sequential Sepharose-alprenolol affinity and high-performance steric-exclusion liquid chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of iodinated purified receptor preparations reveal a peptide with an apparent Mr of 64 000 in all three systems that coincides with the peptide labeled by the specific beta-adrenergic photoaffinity probe (p-azido-m-[125I]iodobenzyl)carazolol. A single polypeptide was observed in all three systems, suggesting that lower molecular weight peptides identified previously by affinity labeling or purification in mammalian systems may represent proteolyzed forms of the receptor. Purification of the beta-adrenergic receptor has also been assessed by silver staining, iodinated lectin binding, and measurement of the specific activity (approximately 15 000 pmol of [3H]dihydroalprenolol bound/mg of protein). Overall yields approximate 10% of the initial crude particulate binding, with 1-3 pmol of purified receptor obtained/g of tissue. The purified receptor preparations bind agonist and antagonist ligands with the expected beta 2-adrenergic specificity and stereoselectivity. Peptide mapping and lectin binding studies of the hamster, guinea pig, and rat lung beta 2-adrenergic receptors reveal significant similarities suggestive of evolutionary homology.     

Identification of the D2--Dopamine Receptor Binding Subunit in Several Mammalian Tissues and Species by Photoaffinity Labeling

Photoaffinity labeling of the D2-dopamine receptor in plasma membrane preparations of various tissues from several mammalian species was performed using the recently developed D2-dopaminergic antagonist probe [125I]N-(p-azidophenethyl)spiperone ([125I]N3-NAPS). In tissues containing D2-receptors such as the corpus striatum from rat, dog, calf, hamster, guinea pig, and rabbit as well as the anterior pituitary of rat, bovine, and hamster, the probe covalently labels a peptide of Mr = 94,000. Specificity of the labeling is typically D2-dopaminergic in character. The covalent labeling is blocked by (+)-butaclamol but not by the inactive (-)isomer. Agonists block incorporation with the order of potency: N-n-propylnorapomorphine greater than apomorphine greater than dopamine. The D2-selective antagonist spiperone blocks labeling of the Mr = 94,000 peptide whereas the D1-selective antagonist SCH-23390 is ineffective. Thus, these results indicate that the ligand binding subunit of the D2-dopamine receptor resides on a Mr = 94,000 peptide in these various tissues from several species. Under conditions where proteolysis is not stringently controlled, peptides of lower Mr (32-38,000) are labeled at the expense of the Mr = 94,000 peptide. The most efficient protease inhibitor tested in these systems was EDTA, suggesting that the generation of these lower Mr receptor fragments might be the result of a metal-dependent proteolysis in the membrane preparations. In the rat neurointermediate lobe, a tissue containing D2-receptors, [125I]N3-NAPS specifically labels a major peptide of Mr approximately equal to 120,000 in addition to the Mr = 94,000 peptide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Rapid vesicle reconstitution of alprenolol-Sepharose-purified beta 1-adrenergic receptors. Interaction of the purified receptor with N

beta-Adrenergic receptors from turkey erythrocyte membranes have been purified 1000-4000-fold using alprenolol-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Addition of deoxycholate solubilized egg phosphatidylcholine to the beta-adrenergic receptor, that is 5-10% pure and in 0.1% digitonin, followed by Sephadex G-50 gel filtration in buffers containing 30 mM MgCl2 results in 65-70% of the receptor being incorporated into phospholipid vesicles. The beta-adrenergic receptor as detected by photoaffinity labeling using [125I]azidobenzylpindolol in membranes and after alprenolol-Sepharose chromatography is a Mr = 40,000 peptide. Addition of deoxycholate extracts of human erythrocyte membranes, which contain the guanine nucleotide stimulatory regulatory protein of adenylate cyclase (Ns) but not beta-adrenergic receptor, were used to reconstitute a guanine nucleotide-mediated change in agonist affinity for the receptor. These results demonstrate that the alprenolol-Sepharose affinity purified beta-adrenergic receptor is functional in both ligand binding and coupling to Ns. The procedure is rapid, efficient and should be generally applicable to beta-adrenergic receptor and Ns from several different membrane systems.     

Labelling of the cytoplasmic domains of ovine rhodopsin with hydrophilic chemical probes

The disposition of polypeptide chain of ovine rhodopsin in the photoreceptor disc membrane was investigated by using two hydrophilic reagents, 3,5-di-[125I]iodo-4-diazobenzenesulphonate [( 125I]DDISA) and [14C]succinic anhydride. Both reagents were used to modify rhodopsin in intact disc membranes under conditions where no loss of A500 occurred. Reaction of [125I]DDISA with rhodopsin approached completion after 30 min. Binding was saturated at a 75-fold molar excess of reagent, which gave binding ratios of up to 2 mol/mol of rhodopsin. Proteolysis of rhodopsin, using Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase, yielded two membrane-bound fragments, both of which contained bound radioactive probe. Subsequent CNBr cleavage of these fragments produced five radiolabelled peptides which corresponded to the C-terminal region and cytoplasmic loops of rhodopsin. Similar studies with [14C]-succinic anhydride also gave binding ratios of up to 2 mol/mol of rhodopsin. Sequencing of the [14C]succinylated peptides identified the location of the reactive sites as lysine residues 66, 67, 141, 245, 248, 311, 325 and 339 in the polypeptide chain. Non-permeability of both probes was demonstrated by the absence of any radioactivity associated with the intradiscal N-terminal glycopeptide. Sonication of membranes in the presence of [125I]DDISA led to the incorporation of label in this peptide.     

Identification and sequence of a binding site peptide of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor

p-(Bromoacetamido)benzyl-1-[125I]iodocarazolol (125I-pBABC) is a potent derivative of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist p-aminobenzylcarazolol. Treatment of the receptor with 125I-pBABC results in efficient covalent incorporation of the ligand into the receptor binding site. Extensive degradation of 125I-pBABC-labeled beta 2-adrenergic receptor with either cyanogen bromide or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease results in specifically labeled fragments having Mr's of about 1600 and 3500, respectively. Because the primary structure of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor is known, and these proteolytic reagents are highly sequence specific, the site of 125I-pBABC incorporation may be deduced from the sizes of the specifically labeled fragments. Thus the fragment generated by cyanogen bromide cleavage corresponds to residues 83-96, a region of 14 amino acids included in the second membrane spanning domain (helix II) of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor. This assignment was confirmed by direct amino acid sequencing of this labeled fragment, though the actual amino acid modified could not be determined. These data permit the assignment of a part of the hormone binding region of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor.     

Identification and characterization of endothelin binding sites in rat renal papillary and glomerular membranes

The present study was designed to identify and characterize specific endothelin binding sites in membranes of rat renal papillae and glomeruli which appear to be target tissues for this new peptide hormone. Saturation binding studies indicate that the sites have a high and uniform affinity. The dissociation constants averaged 662 +/- 151 and 1309 +/- 123 pM and the receptor densities 7666 +/- 920 and 5831 +/- 348 fmol/mg protein for papillary and glomerular membranes, respectively. Endothelin 1, endothelin 3 and sarafotoxin all inhibited [125I]-endothelin binding with IC50's in the 100-300 pM range, whereas unrelated peptides, namely angiotensin II, atrial natriuretic peptide, and platelet-derived growth factor failed to compete for [125I]-endothelin binding. Deletion of the carboxyterminal tryptophan in endothelin 1 reduced its affinity for glomerular binding sites by 2 orders of magnitude. Specific endothelin binding to these membranes was maximal at pH 4 and was markedly inhibited as the pH was raised above 8. When [125I]-endothelin is covalently linked to glomerular membrane binding sites, SDS-PAGE of these solubilized membranes followed by autoradiography reveals a predominant specifically labeled band of 45 kDa. Whether this band represents a subunit of the endothelin receptor(s), the receptor proper, or an intracellular endothelin binding protein remains to be determined.     

Fenpyroximate binds to the interface between PSST and 49 kDa subunits in mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase

Using a photoaffinity labeling technique, Nakamaru-Ogiso et al. demonstrated that fenpyroximate, a strong inhibitor of bovine heart mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I), binds to the ND5 subunit [Nakamaru-Ogiso, E., et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 746-754]. Considering that the main body of the ND5 subunit composed of transmembrane helixes 1-15 is located at the distal end of the membrane domain [Efremov, R. G., et al. (2010) Nature 465, 441-445], however, their result may be questionable. Because establishing the number and location of inhibitors and/or quinone binding sites in the membrane domain is necessary to elucidate the function of the enzyme, it is critical to clarify whether there is an additional inhibitor and/or quinone binding site besides the interface between the hydrophilic and membrane domains. We therefore performed photoaffinity labeling experiments using two newly synthesized fenpyroximate derivatives [[(125)I]-4-azidophenyl fenpyroximate ([(125)I]APF) and [(125)I]-3-azido-5-iodobenzyl fenpyroximate ([(125)I]AIF)] possessing a photoreactive azido group at and far from the pharmacophoric core moiety, respectively. Doubled sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that [(125)I]APF and [(125)I]AIF bind to the PSST and 49 kDa subunits, respectively. Careful examination of the fragmentation patterns of the labeled PSST and 49 kDa subunits generated by limited proteolysis indicated that the residues labeled by [(125)I]APF and [(125)I]AIF are located in the Ser43-Arg66 (PSST) and Asp160-Arg174 (49 kDa) regions, respectively, which face the supposed quinone-binding pocket formed at the interface of the PSST, 49 kDa, and ND1 subunits. We conclude that fenpyroximate does not bind to the distal end of the membrane domain but rather resides at the interface between the two domains in a manner such that the pharmacophoric pyrazole ring and side chain of the inhibitor orient toward the PSST and 49 kDa subunits, respectively. This study answers a critical question relating to complex I.     

Covalent affinity labeling, detergent solubilization, and fluid-phase characterization of the rabbit neutrophil formyl peptide chemotaxis receptor

The formyl peptide chemotaxis receptor of rabbit neutrophils and purified rabbit neutrophil plasma membranes has been identified by several affinity labeling techniques: covalent affinity cross-linking of N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-125I-Tyr-Lys (125I-hexapeptide) to the membrane-bound receptor with either dimethyl suberimidate or ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) and photoactivation of N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-125I-Tyr-N epsilon-[6-[(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)amino]hexanoyl]Lys(125I-PAL). These techniques specifically identify the receptor as a polypeptide that migrates as a broad band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis, with Mr 50 000-65 000. The receptor has been solubilized in active form from rabbit neutrophil membranes with the detergents 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) and digitonin and from whole cells with CHAPS. Chemotaxis receptor activity was measured by the ability of the solubilized membrane material to bind 125I-hexapeptide or fMet-Leu-[3H]Phe with gel filtration or rapid filtration through poly(ethylenimine)- (PEI) treated filters as assay systems. 125I-PAL was specifically cross-linked to the same molecular weight material in the CHAPS and digitonin solubilized extract, but no specific labeling of the receptor was seen when membranes were extracted with Nonidet P-40 and Triton X-100. Therefore, although a large number of detergents are able to solubilize the receptor, it appears that some release the receptor in an inactive form. The ligand binding characteristics of fMet-Leu-[3H]Phe to the CHAPS-solubilized receptor shared properties with the membrane-bound formyl peptide receptor, both of which showed curvilinear, concave-upward Scatchard plots. Computer curve fitting with NONLIN and statistical analyses of the binding data indicated that for both the membrane-bound and solubilized receptors a two saturable sites model fitted the data significantly better (p less than 0.01) than did a one saturable site model. The characteristics of the two saturable sites model for the soluble receptor were a high-affinity site with a KD value of 1.25 +/- 0.45 nM and a low-affinity site with a KD value of 19.77 +/- 3.28 nM. A total of 35% of the two sites detected was of the higher affinity. In addition, a Hill coefficient of 0.61 +/- 0.12 was observed.     

A linear analog of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) discriminates guanylate cyclase-coupled ANP receptors from non-coupled receptors

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) contains a disulfide which is generally considered to be required for biological activity. A truncated linear ANP analog, des-Cys105,Cys121-ANP-(104-126) (referred to as analog I), that lacks the 2 cysteine residues of the parent peptide was synthesized. In competition binding studies using rabbit lung membranes, ANP-(103-126) and analog I displaced bound 125I-ANP-(103-126) from specific ANP binding sites 100 and 73%, respectively. The concentrations of ANP-(103-126) and analog I that produced 50% inhibition of radioligand binding to the membranes were 0.26 +/- 0.07 and 0.31 +/- 0.09 nM, respectively. Radioiodinated ANP-(103-126) and analog I were chemically cross-linked to binding sites on rabbit lung membranes, and the labeled membrane proteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. 125I-Analog I specifically labeled a 65,000-dalton protein and a 135,000-dalton protein which, under reducing conditions, dissociated into 65,000-dalton subunits. In contrast, 125I-ANP-(103-126) labeled specifically a nonreducible 135,000-dalton protein, in addition to the 65,000-dalton species and the reducible 135,000-dalton species. ANP-(103-126) (100 nM) stimulated rabbit lung particulate guanylate cyclase activity, whereas analog I, at the same concentration, had no effect on cyclic GMP production and did not antagonize the effect of ANP-(103-126). From these observations, we conclude that analog I is a selective ligand which binds to approximately 73% of the total ANP binding sites present in rabbit lung membranes. Unlike ANP-(103-126), analog I does not bind to the remaining 27% of the binding sites and does not activate guanylate cyclase. Binding to the cyclase-linked ANP receptor correlates with the specific labeling by 125I-ANP-(103-126) of the nonreducible 135,000-dalton membrane protein.     

Interaction of the catecholamine release-inhibitory peptide catestatin (human chromogranin A(352-372)) with the chromaffin cell surface and Torpedo electroplax: implications for nicotinic cholinergic antagonism

The catecholamine release-inhibitory chromogranin A fragment catestatin (chromogranin A(344-364)) exhibits non-competitive antagonism of nicotinic cholinergic signaling in chromaffin cells. A previous homology model of catestatin's likely structure suggested a mode of interaction of the peptide with the nicotinic receptor, but direct evidence has been lacking. Here we found that [125I]-catestatin binds to the surface of intact PC12 and bovine chromaffin cells with high affinity (K(D)=15.2+/-1.53 nM) and specificity (lack of displacement by another [N-terminal] fragment of chromogranin A). Nicotinic agonist (carbamylcholine) did not displace [125I]-catestatin from chromaffin cells, nor did catestatin displace the nicotinic agonist [3H]-epibatidine; these observations indicate a catestatin binding site separate from the agonist binding pocket on the nicotinic receptor, a finding consistent with catestatin's non-competitive nicotinic mechanism. [125I]-catestatin could be displaced from chromaffin cells by substance P (IC(50) approximately 5 microM), though at far lower potency than displacement by catestatin itself (IC(50) approximately 350-380 nM), suggesting that catestatin and substance P occupy an identical or overlapping non-competitive site on the nicotinic receptor, at different affinities (catestatin > substance P). Small, non-peptide non-competitive nicotinic antagonists (hexamethonium or clonidine) did not diminish [125I]-catestatin binding, suggesting distinct non-competitive binding sites on the nicotinic receptor for peptide and non-peptide antagonists. Similar binding and inhibitory profiles for [125I]-catestatin were observed on chromaffin cells as well as nicotinic receptor-enriched Torpedo membranes. Covalent cross-linking of [125I]-catestatin to Torpedo membranes suggested specific contacts of [125I]-catestatin with the delta, gamma, and beta subunits of the nicotinic receptor, a finding consistent with prior homology modeling of the interaction of catestatin with the extracellular face of the nicotinic heteropentamer. We conclude that catestatin occludes the nicotinic cation pore by interacting with multiple nicotinic subunits at the pore vestibule. Such binding provides a physical explanation for non-competitive antagonism of the peptide at the nicotinic receptor.     

N-Bromoacetyl-amino-cyanopindolol: a highly potent beta-adrenergic affinity label blocks irreversibly a non-protein component tightly associated with the receptor

A new chemical affinity label for the beta-adrenergic receptor, based on the structure of pindolol, has been synthesized and iodinated with 125I. The compound, N-bromoacetylamino-cyanopindolol (BAM-CYP), has an apparent dissociation constant of 44 +/- 7 pM towards the turkey erythrocyte membranes. This compound blocks irreversibly both the ability of beta-adrenergic receptors to bind 125I-cyanopindolol and the ability of beta-receptors to activate adenylate cyclase in the presence of beta-agonists. Furthermore, the irreversible binding of BAM-CYP to half of the beta-receptor sites abolishes the ligand binding activity of all the sites. These findings suggest that the beta-receptor is oligomeric in its native state. Although 125I-BAM-CYP blocks irreversibly and specifically the beta-adrenergic receptor, it does so by labeling a non-protein component, most probably a water-soluble lipid. The labeling is stereospecific since it is prevented by l-propranolol and not by d-propranolol. It is suggested that this lipid is tightly associated with the receptor in close proximity to the binding site. It is also suggested that this water-soluble lipid fraction may prove crucial for the optimal interaction between the beta-adrenergic receptor and the components of adenylate cyclase.     

Use of 8-azidoguanosine 5'-[gamma-32P]triphosphate as a probe of the guanosine 5'-triphosphate binding protein subunits in bovine rod outer segments

In an in vitro incubation, 8-azidoguanosine 5'-[gamma-32P]triphosphate ( [gamma-32P]-8-azido-GTP) labeled bleached rhodopsin independent of ultraviolet light. Characterization of this labeling indicated that rhodopsin was phosphorylated with [gamma-32P]-8-azido-GTP as a phosphate donor. At low concentrations, ATP increased this labeling activity 5-fold. In the same incubation, [gamma-32P]-8-azido-GTP also labeled G alpha (Mr 40 000). This labeling was ultraviolet light dependent. G beta (Mr 35 000) was also labeled dependent for the most part upon ultraviolet light, but a smaller component of labeling appeared to result from phosphorylation. Differential labeling of G alpha and G beta was found to vary intricately with experimental conditions, especially prebleaching of rhodopsin, tonicity of the medium, and the presence or absence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Affinity labeling of G alpha and G beta by [gamma-32P]-8-azido-GTP in competition with ATP or GTP was kinetically complex, consistent with possible multiple binding sites for GTP on both subunits. Independent evidence for two or more binding sites on G alpha has been offered by other laboratories, and recently, at least one binding site on G beta and its analogues among the N proteins of adenylate cyclases has been identified.