Immunocytochemical evidence for vasopressin receptors.

An electron microscopic study was made of mouse pituitaries immunocytochemically stained with anti-lysine vasopressin (LVP) as the primary antiserum in the unlabeled antibody peroxidase-anti-peroxidase procedure. Vasopressin (VP) was identified in the neurosecretory granules of the neural lobe which stained with peroxidase anti-peroxidase molecules. Electron density was induced in secretory granules of the pars intermedia (PI), both in the melanocyte stimulated hormone and ACTH cell types, probably indicating VP molecules attached to binding (receptor) sites. Omission of anti-LVP abolished staining both in the neural lobe and the PL Anti-LVP absorbed with antigen, by admixing with LVP, abolished staining in the neural lobe but not in the PI; according to optical density measurements the PI showed a +/- 22% staining increase over controls. Staining intensity in the PI probably reflects occupancy of binding (receptor) sites for VP. Exposure of PI granules to LVP before the usual staining sequence resulted in +/- 48% increased staining. In water-deprived mice with high endogenous VP titers, staining was +/- 33% and +/- 40% more intense than in normal mice. Solid phase absorbed and eluted antibodies to LVP provided additional proof that staining in both neural lobe and PI could be attributed to anti-LVP. Results indicate that binding or receptor sites for VP are located on secretory granules in the PL Possible physiological significance is discussed.     

Visualization of cell surface vasopressin V1a receptors in rat hepatocytes with a fluorescent linear antagonist.

To visualize cell surface V1a vasopressin receptors in rat hepatocytes in the absence of receptor-mediated endocytosis, we used a high-affinity fluorescent linear antagonist, Rhm8-PVA. Epifluorescence microscopy (3CCD camera) and fluorescence spectroscopy were used. Rhm8-PVA alone did not stimulate Ca2+ signals and competitively blocked Ca2+ signals (Kinact of 3.0 nM) evoked by arginine vasopressin (vasopressin). When rat hepatocytes were incubated with 10 nM of Rhm8-PVA for 30 min at 4C, the fluorescent antagonist bound to the surface of cells, presumably the plasma membrane. The V1a receptor specificity of Rhm8-PVA binding was confirmed by its displacement by the nonfluorescent antagonist V4253 and by the natural hormone vasopressin at 4C. Prior vasopressin-mediated endocytosis of V1a receptors at 37C abolished binding of the labeled antagonist, whereas in non-preincubated cells, Rhm8-PVA labeled the cell surface of rat hepatocytes. When cells labeled with Rhm8-PVA at 4C were warmed to 37C to initiate receptor-mediated internalization of the fluorescent complex, Rhm8-PVA remained at the cell surface. Incubation temperature at 4C or 37C had little effect on binding of Rhm8-PVA. We conclude that Rhm8-PVA is unable to evoke receptor-mediated endocytosis and can readily be used to visualize cell surface receptors in living cells.     

Dermorphin-based potential affinity labels for mu-opioid receptors.

Dermorphin and [Lys7]dermorphin, selective micro -opioid receptor ligands originating from amphibian skin, have been modified with various electrophiles in either the 'message' or 'address' sequences as potential peptide-based affinity labels for micro -receptors. Introduction of the electrophilic isothiocyanate and bromoacetamide groups on the para position of Phe3 and Phe5 was accomplished by incorporating Fmoc-Phe(p-NHAlloc) into the peptide followed by selective deprotection and modification. The corresponding amine-containing peptides were also prepared. The pure peptides were evaluated in radioligand binding experiments using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing micro - and delta-opioid receptors. In dermorphin, introduction of the electrophilic groups in the 'message' domain lowered the binding affinity by > 1000-fold; only [Phe(p-NH2)3]dermorphin retained nanomolar affinity for micro -receptors. Modifications in the 'address' region of both dermorphin and [Lys7]dermorphin were relatively well tolerated. In particular, [Phe(p-NH2)5,Lys7]dermorphin showed similar affinity to dermorphin, with almost 2-fold higher selectivity for micro -receptors. [Phe(p-NHCOCH2Br)5]- and [Phe(p-NHCOCH2Br)5,Lys7]dermorphin exhibited relatively high affinity (IC50 = 27.7 and 15.1 nm, respectively) for micro -receptors. However, neither of these peptides inhibited [3H]DAMGO binding in a wash-resistant manner.     

High affinity acylating antagonists for muscarinic receptors.

The muscarinic antagonists pirenzepine and telenzepine were derivatized as alkylamino derivatives at a site on the molecules corresponding to a region of bulk tolerance in receptor binding. The distal primary amino groups were coupled to the cross-linking reagent meta-phenylene diisothiocyanate, resulting in two isothiocyanate derivatives that were found to inhibit muscarinic receptors irreversibly and in a dose-dependent fashion. Preincubation of rat forebrain membranes with an isothiocyanate derivative followed by radioligand binding using [3H]N-methylscopolamine diminished the Bmax value, but did not affect the Kd value. The receptor binding site was not restored upon repeated washing, indicating that irreversible inhibition had occurred. IC50 values for the irreversible inhibition at rat forebrain muscarinic receptors were 0.15 nM and 0.19 nM, for derivatives of pirenzepine and telenzepine, respectively. The isothiocyanate derivative of pirenzepine was non-selective as an irreversible muscarinic inhibitor, and the corresponding derivative prepared from telenzepine was 5-fold selective for forebrain (mainly m1) vs. heart (m2) muscarinic receptors.     

A radioiodinated linear vasopressin antagonist: a ligand with high affinity and specificity for V1a receptors

A linear vasopressin antagonist, Phaa-D-Tyr(Me)-Phe-Gln-Asn-Arg-Pro-Arg-Tyr-NH2 (Linear AVP Antag) (Phaa = Phenylacetyl), was monoiodinated at the phenyl moiety of the tyrosylamide residue at position 9. This antagonist appeared to be a highly potent anti-vasopressor peptide with a pA2 value in vivo of 8.94. It was demonstrated to bind to rat liver membrane preparations with a very high affinity (Kd = 0.06 nM). The affinity for the rat uterus oxytocin receptor was lower (Ki = 2.1 nM), and affinities for the rat kidney- and adenohypophysis-vasopressin receptors were much lower (Ki = 47 nM and 92 nM, respectively), resulting in a highly specific vasopressin V1a receptor ligand. Autoradiographical studies using rat brain slices showed that this ligand is a good tool for studies on vasopressin receptor localization and characterization.     

Synthesis and characterization of iodinated vasopressin antagonists which retain high affinity for the vasopressin receptor

The mono- and di-iodinated analogs of lysine and arginine vasopressin have been prepared previously but not well characterized chemically. Their biological activities are greatly reduced with respect to LVP or AVP. In this paper we report a convenient synthesis of iodinated AVP agonists and antagonists, their purification by high performance liquid chromatography, and their characterization by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. In contrast to the results obtained with agonists, the mono-iodinated vasopressin antagonist retains virtually the full receptor activity of its non-iodinated parent. This should allow the preparation of labeled vasopressin antagonists of high specific activity for receptor characterization and isolation.     

Nature and properties of human platelet vasopressin receptors.

The binding of 3H-labelled [8-arginine]vasopressin to human platelets or crude platelet membranes was examined. Both preparations specifically bound [8-arginine]vasopressin. The binding increased linearly with protein concentration, it was temperature- and time-dependent, saturable and could be reversed to a large extent by EDTA (10 mM). In this latter case, addition of an excess of MgCl2 (20 mM) restored the initial level of binding. Intact platelets and membranes derived from these platelets presented a single population of binding sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.3 +/- 0.2 and 1.8 +/- 0.3 nM and a maximal binding capacity of 142 +/- 48 and 270 +/- 17 fmol/mg of protein, respectively. The Kd values of various analogues correlated well with those determined on rat liver membrane V1 vasopressin receptors but not with those determined on rat kidney membrane V2 receptors.     

Lack of V1 vasopressin receptors in rabbit hepatocytes.

Vasopressin does not induce glycogenolysis in rabbit hepatocytes; glucagon, angiotensin, phenylephrine and ATP are as potent as with rat hepatocytes, whereas isoprenaline is nearly 10000 times more potent in the rabbit. Binding studies of [3H]vasopressin reveal the complete absence of specific vasopressin receptors on rabbit liver plasma membranes. We verified that vasopressin acts as an antidiuretic and vasopressor agent in the rabbit. We conclude that there is a selective lack of V1 vasopressin receptors in rabbit liver.     

Fluorescent peptide hormones: development of high affinity vasopressin analogues.

Highly potent and specific peptide hormone analogues with fluorescent reporter groups are current research goals. Until now, however, only moderately potent analogues have been described. We report here several types of vasopressin (VP) analogues with different fluorophores attached to the peptide. In a first series, fluorophores were attached to the free epsilon amino function of [des-amino1-lysine8]VP (dLVP), producing agonistic analogues. In a second series, reporter groups were added to the N-terminal of open-chain antagonist structures. The biological activities of these analogues were assessed by two different sets of experiments: 1) The measurement of their binding affinities towards the V1a-vasopressin receptor subtype from WRK1 cells or rat liver membrane preparations; 2) Their ability to stimulate the phospholipase C activity in WRK1 cells. As expected, a simple acylation of fluorophores to dLVP resulted in a considerable loss of affinity. If however, the Lys8 side chain was extended through double Schiff-base formation with glutaraldehyde-ethylenediamine followed by reduction to an aminoalkyl aminoalkylamine, single fluorophores could be added without loss of affinity compared to VP. The open-chain analogues, on the other hand, while displaying weak affinity, nevertheless exhibited pure antagonistic behavior.     

Signal transduction of V1-vascular vasopressin receptors.

This review covers the recent developments gained in the exploration of V1-vascular vasopressin (AVP) receptors. We examine the different radioligands available for the pharmacological characterization of these receptors. The immediate transmembrane signaling of V1-vascular AVP receptors involves ligand-receptor complex formation, receptor lateral mobility and internalization, coupling to a Gq protein, activation of phospholipases A2, C and D, translocation and activation of protein kinase C, production of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol, mobilization of intracellular calcium, alteration of intracellular pH with activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger, calmodulin activation and myosin light chain phosphorylation. The secondary nuclear signal mechanisms triggered by activation of V1-vascular AVP receptors includes tyrosine phosphorylation, induction of gene expression and protein synthesis.     

Platelet-derived microparticles express high affinity receptors for factor VIII.

Factor VIII is a cofactor in the tenase enzyme complex which assembles on the membrane of activated platelets. A critical step in tenase assembly is membrane binding of factor VIII. Platelet membrane factor VIII-binding sites were characterized by flow cytometry using either fluorescein maleimide-labeled recombinant factor VIII or a fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibody against factor VIII. Following activation by thrombin, most platelets bound factor VIII within 90 s. In addition, over the course of several minutes, membranous vesicles (microparticles) were shed from the platelet plasma membrane and each microparticle bound as much factor VIII as a stimulated platelet. Over 30 min, stimulated platelets (but not microparticles) lost the capacity to bind factor VIII. Factor VIII bound saturably to microparticles from platelets stimulated with thrombin, thrombin plus collagen, or the complement proteins C5b-9. The binding of factor VIII was compared to factor V, a structurally homologous coagulation cofactor. Analysis of microparticle binding kinetics yielded similar on and off rates for factor VIII and factor Va and KD values of 2-10 nM. In the presence of 20 nM factor Va, the binding of factor VIII to microparticles was increased, and there was a comparable increase in platelet tenase activity. At higher factor Va concentrations, factor VIII binding and tenase activity were inhibited. Conversely, factor VIII had a similar dose-dependent effect on factor Va binding and platelet prothrombinase activity. Synthetic phospholipid vesicles containing phosphatidylserine competed with microparticles for binding of factor VIII and factor Va. These studies indicate that activated platelets express a transient increase in high affinity receptors for factor VIII, whereas platelet-derived microparticles express a sustained increase in receptors. The binding characteristics of platelet membrane receptors for factor VIII are similar to those for factor Va.     

Gonadotropin receptors. Solubilization and purification by affinity chromatography.

Specific gonadotropin receptors of the rat testis were purified 15,000-fold after detergent extraction by a single affinity chromatography step on agarose coupled to human chorionic gonadotropin. Receptors were eluted in the free form at pH 3.2 and did not aggregate in the absence of detergent. The purified receptors displayed about 50% of the maximum theoretical binding activity, and retained the high binding affinity and hormonal specificity of the original gonadotropin receptors of the cell membrane.     

High specific activity 125I- and 35S-labeled vasopressin analogues with high affinity for the V1 and V2 vasopressin isoreceptors.

Since iodination of the tyrosine residue in the pressin ring of vasopressins abolishes binding to the V2 (renal) isoreceptor, the low specific activity tritiated vasopressins have been the only radioligands available for this receptor. Alternative vasopressin radioligands are described in the present study. N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl- (N-t-Boc) 125I-tyrosine or [35S]methionine were conjugated to the 8th amino acid of lysine- (LVP) or deamino-ornithine-vasopressin via active succinimidyl esters. Following the purification on C-18 reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography, t-Boc removal, and a second high pressure liquid chromatography purification, specific activities of 2200 and 1300 Ci/mmol were obtained for the 125I- and the 35S-labeled ligands, respectively. These vasopressin analogues, conjugated outside the pressin ring, were found to bind with high affinity to the V1A (vascular) and V2 vasopressin isoreceptors (Kd less than or equal to 10(-9) M) and to retain the full biological activity of intact vasopressin. The present study demonstrates the possibility of producing high specific activity radioligands with high affinity for the V1A and V2 vasopressin isoreceptors by conjugating labeled moieties to the 8th amino acid of vasopressin analogues. Since these new radioligands have specific activities much higher than the tritiated ligands (1300-2200 versus 10-30 Ci/mmol), they should provide considerable advantages in the future study of the physiology and biochemistry of the AVP receptors.     

Molecular docking-based test for affinities of two ligands toward vasopressin and oxytocin receptors.

Molecular docking simulations are now fast developing area of research. In this work we describe an effective procedure of preparation of the receptor-ligand complexes. The amino-acid residues involved in ligand binding were identified and described.     

Design of high affinity cyclic pentapeptide ligands for kappa-opioid receptors.

Using results from our previously reported cyclic opioid peptide series and reliable models for mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors (MOR, DOR, and KOR, respectively) and their complexes with peptide ligands, we have designed and synthesized a series of cyclic pentapeptides of structure Tyr-C[D-Cys-Phe-Phe-X]-NH2, cyclized via disulfide, methylene, or ethylene dithioethers, and where X = D- or L-Cys; or D- or L-penicillamine (Pen; beta,beta-dimethylcysteine). Determination of binding affinities to MOR, DOR, and KOR revealed that members of this series with X = D- or L-Cys display KOR affinities in the low nanomolar range, demonstrating that a 'DPDPE-like' tetrapeptide scaffold is suitable not only for DOR and MOR ligands, but also for KOR ligands. The cyclic pentapeptides reported here are not, however, selective for KOR, rather they display significant selectivity and high affinity for MOR. Indeed, peptide 8, Tyr-C[D-Cys-Phe-Phe-Cys]-NH2-cyclized via a methylene dithioether, shows picomolar binding affinity for MOR ( = 16 pm) with more than 100-fold selectivity for MOR vs. DOR or KOR, and may be of interest as a high affinity, high selectivity MOR ligand. Nonetheless, the high affinity KOR peptides in this series represent excellent leads for the development of structurally related, selective KOR ligands designed to exploit structurally specific features of KOR, MOR, and DOR.     

Variant amino acids in the extracellular loops of murine and human vasopressin V2 receptors account for differences in cell surface expression and ligand affinity

Cloning and sequencing of the murine chromosomal region XB harboring the murine vasopressin V(2) receptor (mV(2)R) gene and comparison with the orthologous human Xq28 region harboring the human vasopressin V(2) receptor (hV(2)R) revealed conservation of the genomic organization and a high degree of sequence identity in the V(2)R coding regions. Despite an identity of 87% of the amino acid sequences, both receptors show marked functional differences upon stable expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells: the mV(2)R displayed a 5-fold higher affinity for [(3)H]AVP than the human ortholog; similar differences were found for the AVP-mediated activation of adenylyl cyclase. Saturation binding experiments with transiently transfected intact COS.M6 cells showed that the mV(2)R was 3- to 5-fold less abundantly expressed at the cell surface than the hV(2)R. Laser scanning microscopy of fusion proteins consisting of the V(2)Rs and green fluorescent protein (GFP) (mV(2)R/GFP, hV(2)R/GFP) demonstrated that the hV(2)R/GFP was efficiently transported to the plasma membrane, whereas the mV(2)R/GFP was localized mainly within the endoplasmic reticulum. Chimeric hV(2)Rs, in which the first and/or second extracellular loop(s) were replaced by the corresponding loop(s) of the mV(2)R, revealed that the second extracellular loop accounts for the differences in ligand binding, but the first extracellular loop accounts for the reduced cell surface expression. The exchange of lysine 100 by aspartate in the first extracellular loop of hV(2)R was sufficient to reduce cell surface expression, which was accompanied by intracellular retention as observed in laser scanning microscopy analysis. Conversely, the exchange of aspartate 100 by lysine in the mV(2)R increased the cell surface expression and resulted in predominant plasma membrane localization. Thus, a single amino acid difference in the first extracellular loop between mV(2)R and hV(2)R determines the efficiency of cell surface expression.     

Modulation of the affinity of the vasopressin receptor by magnesium ions.

The binding of [3H]vasopressin (AVP) and the 125I-labelled vasopressin antagonist (VP-AT) d(CH2)5[Tyr2(Me),Tyr9(NH2)]AVP to rat liver membranes was examined with or without the addition of milimolar concentrations of divalent cations. The binding of vasopressin was enhanced by Mg2+ and Co2+ and markedly decreased by EGTA. The addition of EGTA and Mg2+ together restored the binding to a value similar to that of Mg2+ alone. On the contrary, the addition of Mg2+, Co2+, EGTA, and the combination of EGTA and Mg2+ decreased the binding of VP-AT to rat liver membranes. Kinetic analyses showed that Mg2+ increased the Kd twofold for VP-AT; that is from 0.13 nM to 0.28 nM. Moreover, it showed that the receptor with or without the addition of Mg2+ consists of a single population of binding sites, indicating that the receptor is switched from a high affinity to a low affinity state for VP-AT in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+. GTP gamma S was unable to block the effect of Mg2+ on the binding of VP-AT. These results suggest that this divalent cation interacts with receptor itself producing a conformational changes which thus modulates the affinity of the receptor.     

Temperature-sensitive differential affinity of TRAIL for its receptors. DR5 is the highest affinity receptor

TRAIL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines which induces apoptotic cell death in a variety of tumor cell lines. It mediates its apoptotic effects through one of two receptors, DR4 and DR5, which are members of of the TNF receptor family, and whose cytoplasmic regions contain death domains. In addition, TRAIL also binds to 3 "decoy" receptors, DcR2, a receptor with a truncated death domain, DcR1, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored receptor, and OPG a secreted protein which is also known to bind to another member of the TNF family, RANKL. However, although apoptosis depends on the expression of one or both of the death domain containing receptors DR4 and/or DR5, resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis does not correlate with the expression of the "decoy" receptors. Previously, TRAIL has been described to bind to all its receptors with equivalent high affinities. In the present work, we show, by isothermal titration calorimetry and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, that the rank order of affinities of TRAIL for the recombinant soluble forms of its receptors is strongly temperature dependent. Although DR4, DR5, DcR1, and OPG show similar affinities for TRAIL at 4 degrees C, their rank-ordered affinities are substantially different at 37 degrees C, with DR5 having the highest affinity (K(D) 相似文献