High affinity L-triiodothyronine binding sites on washed rat erythrocyte membranes

Two orders of saturable binding sites for L-triiodothyronine were found on washed rat erythrocyte membranes. The high affinity, low capacity site showed values of Kd 0.19 X 10(-10) M. This value was in the range of concentration of free L-triiodothyronine found in the plasma and was several orders of magnitude higher than the Kd values previously reported for other L-triiodothyronine membrane-binding systems. The binding site also showed a high stereospecificity for L-triiodothyronine. D-3,5,3'-triiodothyronine and L-thyroxine were less potent (about 1000-fold) than L-triiodothyronine in competing for these sites. L-3,3,5'-triiodothyronine and triiodothyroacetic acid were inactive. The physiological relevance of this site is considered.     

Sequence recognition in the minor groove of DNA by covalently linked formamido imidazole-pyrrole-imidazole polyamides: effect of H-pin linkage and linker length on selectivity and affinity

The polyamide N-formamido imidazole-pyrrole-imidazole (f-ImPyIm) binds with an exceptionally high affinity for its cognate site 5'-ACGCGT-3' as a stacked, staggered, and noncovalent cooperative dimer. Investigations are presented into its sequence specificity and binding affinity when linked covalently as an H-pin "dimer". Five f-ImPyIm cross-linked analogues with six to nine methylene linkers and an eight-linked ethylene glycol linker were examined to investigate the effect of linkage and linker length on DNA binding. Thermal denaturation studies on short DNA hairpins showed preferential binding by both f-ImPyIm (DeltaTm = 7.8 degrees C) and its cross-linked derivatives (DeltaTm > 30 degrees C) at 5'-ACGCGT-3', indicating sequence specificity was retained on linkage. DNase I footprinting confirmed strict cognate site selectivity and demonstrated that affinity increased with linker length (f-ImPyIm-9 = f-ImPyIm-8 = f-ImPyIm-EG-8 > f-ImPyIm-7 > f-ImPyIm-6). The eight- and nine-linked derivatives bound at 100-fold lower concentrations at the cognate site relative to f-ImPyIm-6, and with 10-fold higher affinity than unlinked f-ImPyIm. Use of an ethylene glycol linkage in f-ImPyIm-EG-8 to improve solubility slightly increased the cognate site affinity relative to those of f-ImPyIm-8 and f-ImPyIm-9, although some selectivity was lost at high ligand concentration. CD demonstrated that cognate site binding by eight and nine-linked compounds occurred in the minor groove. SPR analysis gave a binding affinity (K) for f-ImPyIm-EG-8 at the cognate site of 2 x 10(10) M-1, representing a 100-fold increase relative to that of f-ImPyIm. This study demonstrates that the high-affinity cooperative binding of f-ImPyIm can be enhanced significantly by suitable covalent linkage, while maintaining its strict cognate site selectivity.     

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.     

A stoichiometric analysis of bovine serum albumin-gossypol interactions: a fluorescence quenching study.

The interaction of gossypol with bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin and n-bromosuccinimide-modified bovine serum albumin has been followed by fluorescence quenching measurements. The presence of a high affinity site (association constant K = 2.2 x 10(6) M-1) for gossypol on bovine serum albumin and human serum albumin is indicated. The stoichiometry of binding for the high affinity site was evaluated using Job's method of continuous variation, thereby suggesting the formation of 1:1 complex. Modification of the tryptophan residues on bovine serum albumin does not affect the binding of gossypol to either high or low affinity site of albumin.     

Interaction of noncompetitive inhibitors with the acetylcholine receptor. The site specificity and spectroscopic properties of ethidium binding

The spectroscopic properties and specificity of binding of a fluorescent quaternary amine, ethidium, with acetylcholine receptor-enriched membranes from Torpedo californica have been examined. Competition binding with [3H]phencyclidine in the presence of carbamylcholine showed that ethidium binds with high affinity to a noncompetitive inhibitor site (KD = 3.6 X 10(-7) M). However, in the presence of alpha-toxin, ethidium's affinity is substantially lower (KD approximately 1 X 10(-3) M). Ethidium was also found to enhance [3H]acetylcholine binding with a KD characteristic of ethidium binding to a high-affinity noncompetitive inhibitor site. These findings indicate that ethidium binds to an allosteric site which is regulated by agonist binding and can convert the agonist sites from low to high affinity. Fluorescence titrations of ethidium in the presence of carbamylcholine yielded a similar KD (2.5 X 10(-7) M) and showed an ethidium stoichiometry of one site/acetylcholine receptor monomer. Ethidium was completely displaced by noncompetitive inhibitors such as phencyclidine, histrionicotoxin, and dibucaine. The enhanced fluorescence lifetime of the bound species showed that the increased fluorescence intensity reflects a 13-fold increase in quantum yield for the complex compared to ethidium in buffer. Fractional dissociation of ethidium with phencyclidine produced a double-exponential fluorescence decay rate with lifetime components characteristic of ethidium free in solution and bound to the receptor. These data argue that the alterations in ethidium fluorescence elicited by other ligands is due to a change in the fraction of specifically bound ethidium rather than a change in quantum yield of a pre-existing ethidium-acetylcholine receptor complex. The extent of polarization indicates that bound ethidium is strongly immobilized. The magnitude of the quantum yield enhancement and the shifts of excitation and emission maxima of bound ethidium suggest that its binding site is within a hydrophobic domain with limited accessibility to the aqueous phase.     

Identification and characterization of the catecholamine transporter in bovine chromaffin granules using [3H]reserpine

Characterization of the catecholamine transporter in chromaffin granule membranes has been hampered by the lack of a radioligand with high specific activity which binds selectively to the carrier with high affinity. We report here the identification of a high affinity binding site for [3H]reserpine on chromaffin granule membranes isolated from bovine adrenal gland which has the characteristics expected of the catecholamine transporter. [3H]Reserpine bound predominately to a high affinity site with a Kd for [3H]reserpine of 9 nM and a binding site density of 7.8 pmol/mg of protein. Comparison of the characteristics of the high affinity reserpine binding site to the characteristics of catecholamine transport indicated that (a) the Ki and rank order of potency for inhibition of [3H]reserpine binding by various biogenic amines was similar to their Ki for inhibition of catecholamine transport (b) both the inhibition of (-)-[3H]norepinephrine transport and inhibition of [3H]reserpine binding showed similar stereo-specificity, and (c) Kd for binding of reserpine to chromaffin granule membranes was similar to the Ki for reserpine inhibition of catecholamine transport. These results demonstrate that the high affinity binding site for [3H]reserpine on chromaffin granule membranes is associated with the catecholamine transporter.     

A high affinity thyroid hormone binding protein in the cytosol of embryonic rat brain cells in primary cultures

A thyroid hormone binding protein(s) has been characterized in the cytosol of fetal rat brain cells in primary cultures. This protein is closely related to the one described in brain supernatants with respect to its electrophoretic mobility, binding kinetic parameters and estimated molecular weight (65 000 daltons). However, in contrast to the brain cytosolic binding protein, two classes of affinity sites for triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) have been demonstrated: a high affinity site (KA = 1.2-3.7(3) X 10(9) M-1 for T3 and KA = 3.7-5 X 10(8) M-1 for T4) and a low affinity site (KA = 0.8-1.4 X 10(8) M-1 for T3 and 1.6-2.9 X 10(7) M-1 for T4). The results are discussed with respect to their cellular significance.     

Single-strand DNA binding of actinomycin D with a chromophore 2-amino to 2-hydroxyl substitution

A modified actinomycin D was prepared with a hydroxyl group that replaced the amino group at the chromophore 2-position, a substitution known to strongly reduce affinity for double-stranded DNA. Interactions of the modified drug on single-stranded DNAs of the defined sequence were investigated. Competition assays showed that 2-hydroxyactinomycin D has low affinity for two oligonucleotides that have high affinities (K(a) = 5-10 x 10(6) M(-1) oligomer) for 7-aminoactinomycin D and actinomycin D. Primer extension inhibition assays performed on several single-stranded DNA templates totaling around 1000 nt in length detected a single high affinity site for 2-hydroxyactinomycin D, while many high affinity binding sites of unmodified actinomycin D were found on the same templates. The sequence selectivity of 2-hydroxyactinomycin D binding is unusually high and approximates the selectivity of restriction endonucleases. Binding appears to require a complex structure, including residues well removed from the polymerase pause site.     

A diphenylmethane derivative specific for the antiestrogen binding site found in rat liver microsomes

A new para-diphenylmethyl derivative, N,N-diethyl-2-[(4-phenylmethyl)-phenoxy]-ethanamine·HCl (N,N-DPPE) has been synthesized which binds with high affinity to the anti-estrogen binding site found in male rat liver microsomes. However, no evidence of significant interaction with the estrogen receptor can be observed at or below 10 μM in rat uterine cytosols; 10 nM N,N-DPPE fails to significantly induce progesterone receptor in MCF-7 cells. Tamoxifen also binds to anti-estrogen binding site but, unlike N,N-DPPE, binds significantly to estrogen receptor at much loeer concentrations and induces MCF-7 progesterone receptor. This property of high affinity for anti-estrogen binding site but not for estrogen receptor may make N,N-DPPE an important probe for the study of anti-estrogen binding site and its biological relevance.     

Modification of L-triiodothyronine binding sites from rat erythrocyte membrane by heating and by proteinase treatments

The number of binding sites for L-triiodothyronine in rat erythrocyte membranes was increased 2-fold by incubation at 37 degrees C for 60 min. An increase of approximately 3-fold was found when the incubation was carried out at 50 degrees C. The proteinase inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride abolished the effect. Similar increments in the number of binding sites were obtained by treatment of the membranes with proteinases. The Kd values (0.09 X 10(-10) M and 3.6 X 10(-10) M for the high-affinity and the low-affinity binding sites, respectively) remained unchanged after the treatment, as did the free-SH group requirements, storage stability and stereospecificity. Our results suggest that endogenous proteolytic activity could be involved in the increase of the number of membrane latent sites for L-triiodothyronine.     

The (--)[3H]dihydroalprenolol binding to rat adipocyte membranes: an explanation of curvilinear Scatchard plots and implications for quantitation of beta-adrenergic sites

In rat adipocyte membranes, both beta-adrenergic agonists and beta-adrenergic antagonists competed with (--)[3H]dihydroalprenolol for high affinity (KD 2-4 nM) and low capacity binding sites. The antagonists but not the agonists competed with (--)[3H]dihydroalprenolol for lower affinity and higher capacity sites. The present studies were performed in order to characterize the adipocyte beta-adrenergic receptor and distinguish it from low affinity, higher capacity sites which were heat-labile and not stereoselective. When isoproterenol was used to define the nonspecific binding, saturation studies showed a single binding site with a capacity of approximately 100 fmol/mg membrane protein (corresponding to approximately 50,000 sites/adipocyte). Binding was saturated by 10 nM (--)[3H]dihydroalprenolol. Approximate KD's of 204 nM were observed. Kinetic analysis of (--)[3H]dihydroalprenolol binding provided an independent measurement of KD between 0.75 and 1.1 nM. This binding site had the characteristics of a beta 1-adrenergic receptor with the potency of isoproterenol greater than norepinephrine greater than or equal to epinephrine as competitors of binding. Furthermore, the KD of inhibition of (--)[3H]dihydroalprenolol binding correlated with the Ki of inhibition by antagonists or Ka of activation by agonists of glycerol release in isolated adipocytes (r = 0.968, P less than 0.001). These results suggest that beta-adrenergic agonists compete with (--)[3H]dihydroalprenolol for the high affinity binding site which represents the physiological site. Furthermore, the use of antagonists (propranolol, alprenolol) to define specific beta-binding includes nonspecific site(s) as well as the beta-adrenergic site. Previous characterization and quantitation of beta receptors in rat fat cell membranes may have been in error by incorporating both types of binding in their measurement.     

Membrane IgM-mediated signaling of human B cells. Effect of increased ligand binding site valency on the affinity and concentration requirements for inducing diverse stages of activation.

The potential for ligand-initiated signal transduction through B cell membrane IgM is assessed in terms of ligand concentration, binding site valency, and binding site affinity for membrane Ig. Estimates of the physicochemical requirements for achieving G0* enhancement of class II MHC expression, G1 entry, and S phase entry in human B cells were made by comparing the stimulatory effects of three affinity-diverse anti-Cmu2 mAb when in bivalent (unconjugated) form, or as mAb-dextran conjugates with low binding site valency (oligovalent ligands) or high binding site valency (multivalent ligands). An increase in binding site number (and concomitant molecular mass) caused a profound reduction in both the minimal concentration and affinity requisites for B cell activation. The enhancing effect of increased binding site valency was most evident for the signaling of those most distal stages in B cell activation, i.e., G1 and S phase, which were difficult to induce with bivalent ligands. The results suggest that highly multimeric TI-2 Ag may be good immunogens because they are able to elicit a full activation response not only from infrequent high affinity B cells, but also from a substantial proportion of the many lower affinity Ag-specific B cells in virgin B cell populations. Interestingly, the activation of B cells by ligands with binding sites of high intrinsic affinity (Ka = 5 x 10(8) M-1) was less influenced by increases in binding site valency than was B cell activation by ligands with intermediate binding site affinity (Ka = 2 x 10(7) M-1). This suggests that the minimal epitope valency requirement for T cell-independent B cell activation by mIg cross-linking Ag may be dependent on the intrinsic affinity with which membrane Ig molecules on a given B cell interact with the redundantly expressed epitopes.     

Stereoselectivity and enantiomer-enantiomer interactions in the binding of ibuprofen to human serum albumin

Binding of ibuprofen (IB) enantiomers to human serum albumin (HSA) was studied using a chiral fluorescent derivatizing reagent, which enabled the measurement of IB enantiomers at a concentration as low as 5 × 10⁻⁸ M. Scatchard analyses revealed that there were two classes of binding sites for both enantiomers. For the high affinity site, the number of the binding sites was one for both enantiomers, and the binding constant of R-IB was 2.3-fold greater than that of S-IB. The difference in the affinity at the high affinity site may result in the stereoselective binding of IB enantiomers at therapeutic concentrations. It was confirmed that the high affinity site of IB enantiomers is Site II (diazepam binding site) by using site marker ligands. Also, significant enantiomer-enantiomer interactions were observed in the binding. The binding data were quantitatively analyzed and a binding model with an assumption of competitive interactions only at the high affinity site simulated the binding characteristics of IB enantiomers fairly well. Chirality 9:643–649, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Binding analysis of glycyrrhetinic acid to human serum albumin: fluorescence spectroscopy, FTIR, and molecular modeling

Fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and molecular modeling methods were employed to analyze the binding of glycyrrhetinic acid (GEA) to human serum albumin (HSA) under physiological conditions with GEA concentrations from 4.0x10(-6) to 4.5x10(-5) mol L(-1). The binding of GEA to HSA was via two types of sites: the numbers of binding site for the first type was near 0.45 and for the second type it was approximately 0.75. The binding constants of the second type binding site were lower than those of the first type binding site at corresponding temperatures, the results suggesting that the first type of binding site had high affinity and the second binding site involved other sites with lower binding affinity and selectivity. The fluorescence titration results indicated that GEA quenched the fluorescence intensity of HSA through static mechanism. The FTIR spectra evidence showed that the protein secondary structure changed with reduction of alpha-helices about 26.2% at the drug to protein molar ratio of 3. Thermodynamic analysis showed that hydrogen bonds were the mainly binding force in the first type of binding site, and hydrophobic interactions might play a main role in the second type of binding site. Furthermore, the study of computational modeling indicated that GEA could bind to the site I of HSA and hydrophobic interaction was the major acting force for the second type of binding site, which was in agreement with the thermodynamic analysis.     

Kinetics of Src homology 3 domain association with the proline-rich domain of dynamins: specificity, occlusion, and the effects of phosphorylation

Dynamin function is mediated in part through association of its proline-rich domain (PRD) with the Src homology 3 (SH3) domains of several putative binding proteins. To assess the specificity and kinetics of this process, we undertook surface plasmon resonance studies of the interaction between isolated PRDs of dynamin-1 and -2 and several purified SH3 domains. Glutathione S-transferase-linked SH3 domains bound with high affinity (K(D) approximately 10 nm to 1 microm) to both dynamin-1 and -2. The simplest interaction appeared to take place with the amphiphysin-SH3 domain; this bound to a single high affinity site (K(D) approximately 10 nm) in the C terminus of dynamin-1 PRD, as predicted by previous studies. Binding to the dynamin-2 PRD was also monophasic but with a slightly lower affinity (K(D) approximately 25 nm). Endophilin-SH3 binding to both dynamin-1 and -2 PRDs was biphasic, with one high affinity site (K(D) approximately 14 nm) in the N terminus of the PRD and another lower affinity site (K(D) approximately 60 nm) in the C terminus of dynamin-1. The N-terminal site in dynamin-2 PRD had a 10-fold lower affinity for endophilin-SH3. Preloading of dynamin-1 PRD with the amphiphysin-SH3 domain partially occluded binding of the endophilin-SH3 domain, indicating overlap between the binding sites in the C terminus, but endophilin was still able to interact with the high affinity N-terminal site. This shows that more than one SH3 domain can simultaneously bind to the PRD and suggests that competition probably occurs in vivo between different SH3-containing proteins for the limited number of PXXP motifs. Endophilin-SH3 binding to the high affinity site was disrupted when dynamin-1 PRD was phosphorylated with Cdk5, indicating that this site overlaps the phosphorylation sites, but amphiphysin-SH3 binding was unaffected. Other SH3 domains showed similarly complex binding characteristics, and substantial differences were noted between the PRDs from dynamin-1 and -2. For example, SH3 domains from c-Src, Grb2, and intersectin bound only to the C-terminal half of dynamin-2 PRD but to both the N- and C-terminal portions of dynamin-1 PRD. Thus, differential binding of SH3 domain-containing proteins to dynamin-1 and -2 may contribute to the distinct functions performed by these isoforms.     

Calcium- and magnesium-binding properties of oncomodulin. Direct binding studies and microcalorimetry

Ca2+ binding to the wild type recombinant oncomodulin was studied by equilibrium flow dialysis in the absence and presence of 1, 2, and 10 mM Mg2+. Direct Mg2(+)-binding experiments were carried out by the Hummel-Dryer gel filtration technique. These studies revealed that in the absence of Mg2+ oncomodulin binds two Ca2+ with KCa = 2.2 x 10(7) and 1.7 x 10(6) M-1, respectively. In the absence of Ca2+ the protein binds only one Mg2+ with KMg = 4.0 x 10(3) M-1.Mg2+ antagonizes Ca2+ binding at the high affinity site according to the rule of direct competition. Ca2+ binding to the low affinity site is only slightly affected by Mg2+, so that in the presence of 2-3 mM Mg2+ the two sites have apparently an equal affinity for Ca2+. Microcalorimetry showed that, in spite of the different affinities of the two Ca2(+)-binding sites, delta H0 for the binding of each Ca2+ is identical and exothermic for -18.9 kJ/site. It follows that the entropy gain upon binding of Ca2+ is +77.1 J K-1 site-1 for the high affinity Ca2(+)-Mg2+ site and +56.0 J K-1 site-1 for the low affinity Ca2(+)-specific site. Mg2+ binding is endothermic for +13 kJ/site with an entropy change of +111 J K-1 site-1. The thermodynamic characteristics of the Ca2(+)-Mg2+ site resemble most those of site II (the so-called EF domain) of toad alpha-parvalbumin. The characteristics of Ca2+ binding to the specific site (likely the CD domain) are different from those of the Ca2+ specific sites in troponin C and in calmodulin and suggest that in oncomodulin hydrophobic forces do not play a predominant role in the binding process at the specific site.     

Hormone action at the membrane level VI. Binding of (—)-[3H]dihydroalprenolol and (±)-[3H]isoproterenol to turkey erythrocytes and correlation with adenylate cyclase activity

The binding of (±)-[³H]isoproterenol and (—)-[³H]dihydroalprenolol to intact turkey erythrocytes was studied using a rapid centrifugation technique. The binding of both ligands is rapid, dissociable, stereospecific and inhibited by (—)-propranolol. The total number of isoproterenol binding sites is 2800 sites/ cell. This consists of a low and high affinity site both of which show stereospecific binding. The high affinity isoproterenol site has a K_d of 15.5—19.5 nM and has 600 sites/cell. The low affinity isoproterenol site has a K_d of 195 nM and has 2200 sites/cell. The binding of (—)-[³H]dihydroalprenolol shows one type of site with a K_d of 7.8 nM and has 2500 sites/cell. The agonists epinephrine, norepinephrine, soterenol and p-hydroxyphenylisoproterenol which were tested by competition for binding showed a 6—25-fold greater affinity for the high affinity site determined by (±)-[³H]isoproterenol as compared to the (—)-[³H]dihydroalprenolol binding site. However, the antagonists propranolol, practolol and metrapolol showed similar affinities for the binding sites as determined by competition of binding of either labeled isoproterenol or dihydroalprenolol. These studies indicate that isoproterenol binding can recognize two independent stereospecific β-adrenergic receptors or can recognize two different conformational states of a single receptor. Provisional calculations are made on the turnover number of adenylate cyclase under physiological conditions using intact erythrocytes. The turnover number is 4000 molecules of cyclic AMP/10 min per high affinity receptor.     

Definition of the affinity of binding between human von Willebrand factor and coagulation factor VIII

Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor are two plasma proteins essential for effective hemostasis. In vivo, they form a non-covalent complex whose association appears to be metal ion dependent. However, a precise definition of the nature of the molecular forces governing their association remains to be defined, as does their binding affinity. In this paper we have determined the dissociation constant and stoichiometry for Factor VIII binding to immobilized von Willebrand factor. The data demonstrate that these proteins interact saturably and with relatively high affinity. Computer assisted analyses of the Scatchard data favour a two site binding model. The higher affinity site was found to have a Kd of 62 (+/- 13) x 10(-12) M while that of the lower affinity site was 380 (+/- 92) x 10(-12) M. The density of Factor VIII binding sites (Bmax) present on von Willebrand factor was 31 (+/- 3) pM for the high affinity binding site and 46 (+/- 6) pM for the lower site, corresponding to a calculated Factor VIII: von Willebrand factor binding ratio of 1:33 and 1:23, respectively.     

Adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to human buccal epithelial cells: evidence for two classes of receptors

The adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 492c to trypsinized and untrypsinized buccal epithelial cells (BECs) was studied. Kinetic analysis of the adhesion data, employing a Langmuir absorption isotherm, indicated the presence of two classes of binding sites on untrypsinized BECs: a high affinity - low copy number site (apparent association constant (Ka) approximately equal to 1.57 X 10(-8) mL/cell with ca. 29 binding sites/cell) and a low affinity - high copy number class of binding sites (Ka approximately equal to 4.78 X 10(-10) mL/cell with ca. 264 binding sites/cell). The low affinity - high copy number class of sites was found to be trypsin sensitive. A single class of binding sites was found on trypsinized BECs exhibiting a high affinity - low copy number (Ka approximately equal to 3.70 X 10(-7) mL/cell with ca. 31 binding sites/cell). Positive cooperativity in binding of P. aeruginosa strain 492c to the low affinity - high copy number class site on untrypsinized BECs was demonstrated by analysis of Hill plots of the adhesion data. Sugar inhibition data using a preincubation methodology showed an inhibition of adhesion to trypsinized BECs in the presence of N-acetylneuraminic acid and D-arabinose, while these same two sugars enhanced adhesion to untrypsinized BECs. D-Galactose and N-acetylglucosamine enhanced adhesion to both types of BECs though the latter did to different extents. D-Fucose only inhibited adhesion to untrypsinized BECs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)