Role of phospholipids in the structure and function of the thyrotropin receptor.

Phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylethanolamine interact with 125I-thyrotropin and inhibit its binding to thyroid plasma membranes; phosphatidylcholine is not similarly effective. The interaction has been monitored by column chromatography on Sephadex G-100 which shows, for example, that 125I-labeled thyrotropin forms an adduct with phosphatidylinositol but not with phosphatidylcholine. Formation of the 125I-labeled thyrotropin-phosphatidylinositol adduct is dependent on the phosphatidylinositol concentration but can be reversed by both unlabeled thyrotropin and excess membranes. The efficacy of the phospholipid interaction and the phospholipid inhibition of thyrotropin binding to thyroid membranes is paralleled by changes in fluorescence and fluorescence polarization imposed on the 5-dimethylamino-1-naphthalene sulfonate (dansyl) derivative of thyrotropin. These changes are reversed by unlabeled thyrotropin but not by prolactin, placental lactogen, or growth hormone; similar changes are not observed when phospholipids are incubated with dansylated growth hormone, prolactin, and placental lactogen. Monovalent potassium, sodium, and lithium salts neither prevent nor reverse the formation of the phospholipid-dansyl-thyrotropin adduct; these results contrast with the effects of the same salts on the formation of ganglioside adducts with dansyl-thyrotropin. Despite their ability to interact witw 125I-thyrotropin in solution, neither phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, nor phosphatidylethanolamine, when incorporated in a liposome, binds the 125I-labeled ligand. These same phospholipids have no effect on ganglioside binding of 125I-labeled thyrotropin when gangliosides are incorporated in a liposome. These phospholipids do, however, modulate the expression of the glycoprotein component of the thyrotropin receptor when it is imbedded in a liposome. The phosphatidylinositol in this case serves as a negative modulator, both by decreasing the incorporation of the glycoprotein component of the receptor into the liposome and by inhibiting the binding activity of the glycoprotein component which is incorporated. Speculation is offered as to a possible role of the phospholipids in the message transmission process which would be consistent with current studies demonstrating a direct interaction of acidic phospholipids with thyrotropin. The effect of phospholipids on liposomes containing the glycoprotein component of the thyrotropin receptor raises the possibility that phospholipids and, in particular, phosphatidylinositol, may also play a role in regulating the insertion and expression of this receptor component in thyroid plasma membranes.     

Multicomponent structure of the thyrotropin receptor: relationship to Graves' disease

The thyrotropin receptor is proposed to contain both a glycoprotein and a ganglioside component. Monoclonal antibodies have been developed against soluble thyroid TSH receptor preparations and using Graves' lymphocytes. These show that initial recognition of thyrotropin requires the glycoprotein component, but that monoclonal antibodies to this component block thyrotropin function (blocking antibodies) rather than mimic thyrotropin. Monoclonal antibodies which stimulate thyroid activity in cultured cell systems (cAMP increase) or mouse bioassays, all interact with gangliosides. Using monoclonal antibodies to the glycoprotein component of the thyrotropin receptor, we show that two protein bands, molecular weights 18,000-23,000 and 50,000-55,000, are precipitated from detergent-solubilized preparations. Using a crosslinking procedure with 125I-labeled thyrotropin, we show that thyrotropin binding is related to the disappearance of the 18,000-23,000 molecular weight band on sodium dodecylsulfate gels and the appearance of a 30,000-33,000 molecular weight thyrotropin-membrane component complex. Higher molecular weight thyrotropin-membrane complexes of 75,000-80,000 and 250,000 are visualized when binding studies are performed at pH 7.4 in physiologic medium; larger amounts of the 30,000-33,000 complex are evident at pH 6.0 in a low salt medium. It is thus proposed that the glycoprotein component of the thyrotropin receptor is composed of two subunits with apparent molecular weights of 18,000-23,000 and 50,000-55,000; that the 18,000-23,000 subunit interacts with thyrotropin; and that different receptor subunits can exist depending on in vitro binding conditions. Using monoclonal-stimulating antibodies or natural autoimmune IgG preparations from patients' sera, we show that stimulating antibodies exhibit species-specific binding to human thyroid ganglioside preparations. Individual components or determinants of the thyrotropin receptor structure with specific autoimmune immunoglobulins.     

Separation of the glycoprotein and ganglioside components of thyrotropin receptor activity in plasma membranes.

The two components of thyroid plasma membranes known to interact with thyrotropin, i.e., a glycoprotein with specific thyrotropin binding activity and the gangliosides of the thyroid membranes, are shown to segregate differently when membranes are solubilized with lithium diiodosalicylate. Individually examined, the interaction of each component with thyrotropin exhibits a different sensitivity to salts. The data suggest that the thyrotropin receptor on the thyroid membrane is a complex which is composed of both glycoprotein and ganglioside components and that its properties are derived from each component.     

Association of the changes in cytosolic Ca2+ and iodide efflux induced by thyrotropin and by the stimulation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in cultured rat thyroid cells

Thyrotropin causes a time- and concentration-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca2+ in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells as measured by Quin2 fluorescence; the half-maximal response occurs in response to 1 X 10(-7) M thyrotropin. The effect of added thyrotropin is the same whether cells have been previously and chronically exposed to thyrotropin or whether they have been thyrotropin "starved" for several days. The thyrotropin effect on cytosolic Ca2+ has no relationship to intracellular cAMP levels with respect to dose and time course. Norepinephrine (1 X 10(-7) M) also causes increases in cytosolic Ca2+ in FRTL-5 thyroid cells. With the use of a variety of adrenergic inhibitors, norepinephrine was found to exert its effect via an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor. The exposure of FRTL-5 cells to physiological thyrotropin concentrations enhances the effect on cytosolic Ca2+ level induced by norepinephrine in vitro; the shape of the dose-response curve indicates a cooperative effect of the thyrotropin and norepinephrine. The increase in cytosolic Ca2+ seems to be derived from an intracellular pool rather than from the extracellular space. It is not prevented by nifedipine, a blocker of Ca2+ channels; it is present in cells exposed to ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid; and it is not associated with increased Ca2+ uptake into the cell. the thyrotropin- and norepinephrine-induced increase in cytosolic Ca2+ parallels the efflux of iodide and the organification of thyroglobulin in a dose-dependent manner.     

Structure:function studies of receptors for thyrotropin and tetanus toxin: lipid modulation of effector binding to the glycoprotein receptor component.

¹²⁵I-labeled tetanus toxin interacts with the glycoprotein component of the thyroid thyrotropin receptor when this component is in solution or when it is incorporated into a liposome. Binding can be inhibited by both unlabeled thyrotropin and tetanus toxin but not by unlabeled prolactin, glucagon, insulin, ACTH, or growth hormone; binding can also be inhibited by a purified fragment of the glycoprotein component of the receptor. Changing the phospholipid of the liposome matrix from dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine to dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine significantly increases the binding of ¹²⁵I-TSH to the glycoprotein component of the receptor but does not affect ¹²⁵I-tetanus toxin binding.     

Interaction of the thyrotropin receptor on rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells with thyrotropin and a thyrotropin-stimulating autoantibody from Graves' patients

FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells were either surface-labeled with 125I or biosynthetically labeled with [3H]N-acetylglucosamine, solubilized by lithium diiodosalicylate and immunoprecipitated after sequential exposure to bovine thyrotropin and anti-bovine thyrotropin. Autoradiography of polyacrylamide gels run under denaturing conditions and in the presence of a reducing agent revealed two prominent bands with approximate molecular weights of 66-70 kDa and 47 kDa. Immunoprecipitation of the same radiolabeled and solubilized membrane preparations with a Graves' disease IgG having thyroid stimulating but no thyrotropin-binding inhibiting activity revealed only one major band, migrating near the 47 kDa component reactive with thyrotropin. No bands were immunoprecipitated in control incubations using normal human IgG or substituting radiolabeled, solubilized membranes from a rat thyroid cell line with no thyrotropin receptor activity. Thin layer chromatography of Folch extracts of the [3H]-N-acetylglucosamine-labeled immunoprecipitates obtained by either procedure indicated that a specific thyroid ganglioside was coprecipitated with the immunoprecipitated proteins in both cases.     

Characteristics of a solubilized thyrotropin receptor from bovine thyroid plasma membranes.

The thyrotropin receptor from bovine thyroid plasma membranes has been solubilized using lithium diiodosalicylate, and an assay to measure thyrotropin binding to the solubilized receptor has been developed. Both the solubilized thyrotropin receptor and the thyrotropin receptor on thyroid plasma membranes have effectively identical nonlinear Scatchard plots and negatively sloped Hill plots, i.e. both preparations have receptors which appear to exhibit a similar negatively cooperative relationship. Although the pH optimum of thyrotropin binding to the solubilized receptor is the same as that of the thyroid plasma membrane receptor, pH 6.0, the pH dependency curve of the solubilized receptor is slightly different in its outline. Thyrotropin binding to the solubilized receptor is less sensitive to salt inhibition than is binding to the thyroid plasma membrane receptor; however, optimal binding remains at 0 degrees. The relative affinities of thyrotropin and two glycoprotein hormones which can be considered structural analogs, luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin, are 100:10:5, respectively, toward plasma membrane receptors, but 100:25:40 toward the solubilized receptors. The solubilized receptor preparation is heterogeneous in size in that it has binding components with molecular weights of 286,000, 160,000, 75,000, and 15,000 to 30,000. Tryptic digestion converts all three higher molecular weight components to the 15,000 to 30,000 molecular weight species, and the 15,000 to 30,000 molecular weight receptor component has all of the binding properties of the solubilized receptor preparation before tryptic digestion including an identical nonlinear Scatchard plot. It has the same size as and coelutes from Sephadex G-100 with a 15,000 to 30,000 molecular weight receptor released by tryptic digestion of bovine thyroid plasma membranes or tryptic digestion of bovine or dog thyroid cells in culture. The tryptic fragment of the solubilized receptor or preparations has been purified almost 250-fold by affinity chromatography on thyrotropin-Sepharose columns. The binding activity is lost when the solubilized thyrotropin receptor preparation is exposed to beads of neuraminidase-Sepharose or conconavalin A-Sepharose.     

Dansylated thyrotropin as a probe of hormone-receptor interactions.

A strongly fluorescent 5-dimethylamino-1-naphthalene sulfonate (dansyl) derivative of bovine thyrotropin has been prepared. The dye-conjugated hormone is bioactive and shares, essentially unchanged, the membrane binding and adenylate cyclase stimulatory activities of the native hormone. Binding of 125I-labeled dansyl-thyrotropin to thyroid plasma membranes is sensitive to inhibition by gangliosides and, as is the case for the binding of 125I-thyrotropin, galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl[N-acetylneuraminyl-N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosylglucosylceramide (GDIb) is the most potent binding inhibitor. Gangliosides interact with dansyl-thyrotropin, causing a large increase of the quantum yield and a 5- to 10-nm blue shift of the emission maximum of the hormone-bound naphthalene chromophore; gangliosides cause no change in the fluorescent properties of the free dye. The fluorescence enhancement caused by gangliosides can be specifically reversed by unlabeled thyrotropin. The effect of gangliosides on dansyl-thyrotropin fluorescence is strongly salt-dependent; salts cannot, however, reverse the formation of the dansyl-thyrotropin.ganglioside complex once it has formed. The salt data suggest that the association of the ganglioside with dansyl-thyrotropin is dominated by electrostatic interactions, but that salt-independent, short range interactions, most likely hydrophobic, dominate the dissociation of the dansyl-thyrotropin-ganglioside adduct. Sucrose gradient centrifugation, ultracentrifugation, and fluorescence polarization data indicate that the gangliosides are micellar in nature under the conditions of these experiments. Acid titration of dansyl-thyrotropin causes a marked quenching of dansyl fluorescence which in part reflects dissociation of the hormone into its constituent alpha and beta subunits. In the presence of GDIb, but not N-acetylneuraminylgalactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosylglucosylceramide (GDIa), pH-dependent quenching and subunit dissociation are essentially eliminated. Circular dichroism results and fluorescence polarization studies support the interpretation that the ganglioside interaction causes a conformational change in the thyrotropin molecule. The acid titration data together with differences in the ability of gangliosides to influence the tyrosine fluorescence of the thyrotropin molecule indicate that different gangliosides induce different conformational perturbations in the thyrotropin molecule.     

Hyperresponsiveness of residual thyroid lobe of hemithyroidectomised rat to thyrotropin

The effects of hemithyroidectomy and thyrotropin administration on rat thyroid gland function were studied in adult male rats. Immediately after surgery or sham operation rats were treated daily with 0.12 IU of bovine thyrotropin (TSH) for 3 or 5 days. In control rats TSH dose applied resulted in an increase in serum T4 level at day 5 of experiment. Serum thyroxine concentration markedly decreased in sham operated and hemithyroidectomised rats, an effect observed at days 3 and 5 of experiment. TSH administration had no effect on serum T4 concentration in sham operated rats while in hemithyroidectomised animals such a treatment resulted in a marked increase in serum T4 level, a phenomenon observed in both time intervals studied. The reasons for hemithyroidectomy-induced hyperresponsiveness of rat thyroid residual lobe to thyrotropin are unknown.     

Thyroid membrane ADP ribosyltransferase activity. Stimulation by thyrotropin and activity in functioning and nonfunctioning rat thyroid cells in culture

Bovine thyroid membranes possess both ADP ribosyltransferase and NAD glycohydrolase activities with the same Km values for NAD and the same pH optima. In intact membranes, the ADP ribosyltransferase is limited in its extent by the amount of available membrane acceptor which can be ADP-ribosylated; in membranes solubilized with lithium diiodosalicylate, an artificial acceptor, L-arginine methyl ester, can be substituted to eliminate this limitation. The product of the ADP ribosyltransferase is a mono-ADP-ribosylated acceptor whether the intact or solubilized membrane provides the enzyme activity and whether membrane or exogenous acceptor, L-arginine methyl ester, is utilized. The intact membranes and the solubilized preparation also have an enzyme activity which can release AMP from the mono-ADP-ribosylated acceptor whether formed by the action of the membrane ADP ribosyltransferase or the A promoter of cholera toxin. The NAD glycohydrolase activity appears to represent the half-reaction of the ADP ribosyltransferase, i.e. an activity measurable substituting water for a membrane acceptor or L-arginine methyl ester. Membranes from functional rat thyroid cells in culture, i.e. cells chronically stimulated by thyrotropin and unresponsive to further additions of thyrotropin, have low ADP-ribosylation but high NAD glycohydrolase activities. In contrast, membranes from nonfunctional rat thyroid cells, i.e. cells unresponsive to thyrotropin, have high ADP-ribosylation and low NAD glycohydrolase activities. NAD hydrolysis by the NAD glycohydrolase activity cannot account for the low ADP-ribosylation activity in membranes from the functioning cells, and its low level of ADP-ribosylation can be eliminated by solubilizing the membranes and substituting an artificial acceptor, L-arginine methyl ester. The ADP ribosyltransferase activity of rat thyroid cell membrane preparations can be enhanced by thyrotropin in a dose-dependent manner but not by insulin, glucagon, hydrocortisone, adrenocorticotropin, or its glycoprotein hormone analog, human chorionic gonadotropin. It is thus suggested (i) that, in analogy to cholera toxin, thyrotropin-stimulated ADP-ribosylation may be important in the regulation of the adenylate cyclase response and (ii) that the level of membrane acceptor available for ADP-ribosylation may relate both to a stable "'activated" state of the adenylate cyclase system in cells chronically stimulated with thyrotropin and/or to a desensitized state with regard to a failure of more thyrotropin to elicit additional functional responses.     

Effects of some biologically active compounds on phagosome-lysosome fusion in peritoneal macrophages of mice.

Effects of biologically active compounds bilirubin (BR), farmorubicin (FR), and chelerythrine (CR) on phagosome-lysome (P-L) fusion in mouse peritoneal macrophages were studied using fluorescent dye acridine orange as lysosomal labelling and yeast cells as target. It was found that all three compounds tested enhanced P-L fusion. To investigate mechanisms of these effects, changes in fluidity of rat liver lysosomal membranes under influence of BR, FR and CR were studied by measuring fluorescence intensity, lifetime, and polarization of DPH or TMA-DPH incorporated in isolated rat liver lysosomes. In order to characterize the cytoskeleton changes under the action of these biologically active compounds F-actin content in peritoneal macrophages of mice was determined. Our results demonstrate that BR action induces a decrease in DPH and TMA-DPH polarization, FR increases DPH and TMA-DPH polarization, and CR causes only an increase in TMA-DPH polarization in lysosomal membranes. All three compounds tested increase F-actin content in peritoneal macrophages. Thus, the effect of BR on P-L fusion is connected with increasing fluidity of lysosomal membranes and the cytoskeleton changes. The enhancement of P-L fusion under the action of FR and CR can most likely be explained by changes of the cytoskeleton state.     

Thyrotropin regulation of membrane lipid fluidity in the FRTL-5 thyroid cell line. Its relationship to cell growth and functional activity

The mitogenic effect of thyrotropin on functional rat thyroid cells of the line FRTL-5 is correlated with membrane lipid fluidity as evaluated by fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Continued exposure of FRTL-5 cells to a medium lacking thyrotropin causes cessation of cell proliferation and a decrease in membrane lipid fluidity which reaches its minimum in approximately 8 days. The change in lipid fluidity is due to an absolute increase (greater than 2-fold) of membrane cholesterol, with an increased cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and an increased ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids of the membrane phospholipids, contributed primarily by a nearly 4-fold increase in the ratio of saturated to unsaturated C16 fatty acids. It is also associated with a variation of the relative proportions of the major membrane phospholipids; thus, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine decrease while phosphatidylcholine increases. Both membrane fluidity and lipid composition can be restored by thyrotropin to their original levels, i.e. levels measured under continuous exposure to the hormone. Complete reversal requires at least 48 h, i.e. approximately the same time required for resumption of growth when FRTL-5 cells, starved in thyrotropin, are re-exposed to the hormone. Changes in lipid composition and fluidity can be prevented or can be reversed if FRTL-5 cells are exposed to dibutyryl cAMP while being deprived of thyrotropin. Dibutyryl cAMP has only a modest direct effect on growth; however, this pretreatment eliminates the 48-h lag phase with respect to thyrotropin stimulation. It is proposed that the effects of thyrotropin on growth of FRTL-5 cells requires a modification of the molecular structure and the physical state of cell membranes, which can be mediated by cAMP, although cAMP is not sufficient by itself to promote growth.     

Effects of thyrotropin and thyroid hormones in vivo on thyroid responsiveness to thyrotropin in vitro.

The thyroid gland of rats fed propylthiouracil is known to be unresponsive in vitro to thyrotropin; to investigate further the underlying mechanism groups of rats were variously treated with propylthiouracil and thyroid hormone or subjected to hypophysectomy. In vitro responsiveness of the thyroids was tested by measuring an increase in the concentration of c AMP when thyrotropin or prostaglandin E1 was added to the medium. Results showed that responsiveness to thyrotropin partially returned with rats fed prophylthiouracil and hypophysectomized 5, but not 2, days before death; hypophysectomy of normal rats led to increased in vitro responsiveness to thyrotropin and this was partially reversed by injections of thyrotropin for a week before death. Administration of thyroid hormone had little effect in these investigations and in vitro responsiveness to prostaglanding E1 was not consistently influenced by any of the in vivo regimens. From this experience we conclude that, at least as studied in vitro, circulating thyrotropin has a significant role in modulating responsiveness of the thyroid to thyrotropin.     

Pitfalls in measuring fluorescence polarization in mitogen-stimulated T-lymphocytes

Fluorescence polarization measurements with the probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) were performed to detect changes in the fluidity of plasma membranes from T-lymphocytes stimulated with mitogens. When the cells were incubated with succinyl-concanavalin A an increase in fluorescence polarization was observed. This, however, could be shown to be due to the interaction of the mitogen with the label DPH and did not reflect changes in the plasma membrane. In purified plasma membranes a decrease rather than an increase of fluorescence polarization was observed.     

Thyrotropin effects on thyroid cells in culture. Effects of trypsin on the thyrotropin receptor and on thyrotropin-mediated cyclic 3':5'-AMP changes.

Dog, human, and bovine thyroid cells in culture have been shown to develop follicle-like structures when cells are cultured in conditions of confluency and when cells are incubated in the presence of bovine thyrotropin or N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate during the first 24 to 48 hours after trypsinization. If thyrotropin is added 48 hours after trypsinization, these cells do not form follicle-like structures but remain as a monolayer culture. Although thyroid cells which grow as a monolayer have a thyrotropin receptor on their plasma membranes with the same in vitro binding properties as the thyrotropin receptor on the plasma membranes of the follicle-forming thyroid cells, there is a 1- to 2-fold greater number of receptors per mg of membrane protein when follicle-forming and monolayer cultures are compared...     

Effects of various drugs on thyrotropin secretion in rats

The effects of alpha-neoendorphin, kyotorphin, melatonin or diphenylhydantoin (DPH) on thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and thyrotropin (TSH) release in rats were studied. alpha-neoendorphin (1.0 mg/kg), kyotorphin (1.0 mg/kg), melatonin (2.5 mg/kg) or DPH (75 mg/kg) was injected iv or ip, and the rats were serially decapitated. TRH, TSH and thyroid hormone were determined by radioimmunoassay. The hypothalamic immunoreactive (ir-TRH) contents decreased significantly after melatonin injection, but not after alpha-neoendorphin, kyotorphin or DPH. The plasma ir-TRH concentrations decreased significantly after DPH injection, but not after alpha-neoendorphin, kyotorphin or melatonin. The plasma TSH levels decreased significantly in a dose-related manner with a nadir at 10 min. after melatonin, at 30 min. after DPH and at 40 min. after alpha-neoendorphin or kyotorphin injection. The plasma thyroid hormone levels did not change significantly after these drugs injection. The plasma ir-TRH and TSH responses to cold were inhibited by these drugs, but the plasma TSH response to TRH was not influenced. In the L-DOPA- or 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP)-pretreated group, the inhibitory effect of alpha-neoendorphin or kyotorphin on TSH levels was prevented, but not in the haloperidol- or para-chloprophenylalanine (PCPA)- pretreated group. In the haloperidol- or PCPA-pretreated group, the inhibitory effect of melatonin on TSH levels was prevented, but not in the L-DOPA- or 5-HTP-pretreated group. These drugs alone did not affect plasma TSH levels in terms of the dose used. The inactivation of TRH immunoreactivity by hypothalamus or plasma in vitro after these drugs injection did not differ from that of the control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Noninactivation of thyrotropin by cultured porcine thyroid cells.

Freshly isolated porcine thyroid cells were cultured in the presence of highly purified porcine thyrotropin. Cells associate into follicles between the second and tenth day of culture and later form a monolayer. The biological and immunological activity of thyrotropin was measured daily in the media. Thyrotropin concentration and biological activity remained unchanged from the onset of the culture up to day 14. Limiting factors influencing thyroglobulin biosynthesis do not appear before day 13. The loss of follicular organization at day 10 cannot be explained by thyrotropin degradation in the medium. Considering the number of receptors per cell and the half life of the thyrotropin . receptor complex in the two dissociation compartments previously demonstrated, it appears in terms of both biological activity and affinity for the receptors that the thyrotropin molecules released from the first compartment do not differ from native molecules. It can be calculated that at least 31% of the molecules released from the second compartment are not inactivated. Thus, it is probable that the catabolism of thyrotropin on the receptor, or near the receptor site, does not play an important role in the regulation of thyroid cell function in vitro.     

Fluorescence study on the interaction of salicylate with rat small intestinal epithelial cells: possible mechanism for the promoting effects of salicylate on drug absorption in vivo

The water-soluble drug, salicylate, was rapidly taken up by rat small intestinal epithelial cells. Salicylate, known to enhance the absorption of poorly absorbable drugs by rectum and small intestine, caused a significant decrease in the fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and a slight increase in the fluorescence polarization of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS) in the isolated rat small intestinal epithelial cell suspension. An increase in the membrane fluidity of epithelial cells may possibly contribute to the enhancement of drug absorption by salicylate.     

Thyrotropin receptors in thyroid plasma membranes. Characteristics of thyrotropin binding and solubilization of thyrotropin receptor activity by tryptic digestion.

Biologically active bovine 125I-thyrotropin preparations have been prepared, characterized, and used to evaluate the optimal conditions for thyrotropin binding to bovine thyroid plasma membranes in vitro. Binding of 125I-TSH has a pH optimum around 6.0 and is sensitive to the choice and concentration of buffer. Binding is inhibited by salts, especially those containing magnesium and calcium ions; magnesium concentrations optimal for adenylate cyclase assays (2 to 5 mM) result in 85 to 98% inhibition of binding. Binding is temperature sensitive. At 37 degrees binding has its highest initial level; however, instability of the membrane at this temperature causes a rapid loss of binding activity. Binding at 0 degrees is optimal in 30 min and at the same level as initial binding at 37 degrees; since there is no decrease in binding activity, it has been chosen as the optimal temperature. Thyrotropin, luteinizing hormone, the beta subunit of thyrotropin, and the alpha subunit of thyrotropin have relative binding affinities for the thyrotropin receptors of 100, 10, 2, and less than 0.5, respectively. In all of these characteristics, 125I-thyrotropin at 1.5 x 10(-5) M concentrations has the same properties of binding to bovine plasma membranes as do [3H]thyrotropin preparations which have been previously characterized (Amir, S.M., Carraway, T.F., Jr., Kohn, L.D., and Winand, R.V. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 4092-4100) and used to study binding at 5 x 10(-6) M concentrations. 125I-TSH binding as a function of hormone concentration results in curved Scatchard plots; however, Hill plots of these same binding data are linear and have a slope of 0.65. Taken together, these data suggest that the heterogeneity in thyrotropin binding constants which is evident in the Scatchard plot reflects a negatively cooperative relationship among the thyrotropin receptor sites, i.e. decreased hormonal affinity as hormone concentrations increase. Adenylate cyclase studies yield kinetic plots which also exhibit negative cooperativity; corrections for thyrotropin bound under the adverse binding conditions of the adenylate cyclase assays suggest that Km values for thyrotropin in this enzymatic assay are compatible with binding constants measured by the 125I-thyrotropin preparations. Tryptic digestion destroys binding activity on the thyroid plasma membrane but releases specific thyrotropin receptor activity into the supernatant phase. Chromatography on Sephadex G-100 indicates that this solubilized receptor fragment has a molecular weight between 15,000 and 30,000.