Modification of arginyl or histidyl groups affects the energy coupling of the amine transporter.

We have characterized the effects of phenylglyoxal and diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) on the catalytic cycle of the amine transporter in chromaffin granule membrane vesicles. Both reagents inhibited transport in a dose-dependent reaction (with IC50 values of 8 and 1 mM, respectively). The inhibition by DEPC was specific for histidyl groups since transport could be restored by treatment with hydroxylamine. Neither phenylglyoxal nor DEPC inhibited binding of either R1- or R2-type ligands, indicating that the inhibition of transport is not due to a direct interaction with either of the known binding sites. Interestingly, however, the acceleration of reserpine binding (an R1 ligand) by a transmembrane H+ gradient is inhibited by both reagents at concentrations identical to those which inhibit transprot. As previously demonstrated, transport of one proton across the transporter is required for this acceleration to take place [Rudnick, G., Steiner-Mordoch, S., Fishkes, H., Stern-Bach, Y., & Schuldiner, S. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 603-608]. Therefore, we suggest that either proton transport or a conformational change induced by proton transport is inhibited by both types of reagents.     

Identification and purification of a functional amine transporter from bovine chromaffin granules

The amine transporter from bovine chromaffin granules has been purified in a functional state. Two isoforms with different pI values have been separated and shown to be active. One with an unusually acidic pI (approximately 3.5) has been shown to be a glycoprotein with an apparent Mr of 80,000. The purified polypeptide catalyzes transport of serotonin upon reconstitution with an apparent Km of 2 microM and a Vmax of 140 nmol/mg/min, 150-200-fold higher than the one determined in the native system. Transport is inhibited by reserpine and tetrabenazine, ligands which bind to two distinct sites on the transporter. These findings suggest that the binding sites for both drugs reside on a single polypeptide. The reconstituted purified transporter binds [3H]reserpine with a biphasic kinetic behavior, KD values of 0.3 and 30 nM and Bmax of 310 and 4200 pmol/mg protein, respectively. In addition, binding of [3H]reserpine is accelerated upon imposition of a pH gradient across the proteoliposome. From these findings it is evident that a single polypeptide catalyzes the various functions of the transporter.     

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.     

Effects of the sulfhydryl reagentN-ethylmaleimide on reserpine binding to the catecholamine transporter in chromaffin granule membranes

1. Catecholamines are transported into chromaffin granules via a carrier-mediated, active-transport process which is inhibited by micromolar concentrations of the sulfhydryl reagent, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Reserpine is a very potent, competitive inhibitor of the catecholamine transporter and can be used to investigate the characteristics of the catecholamine transporter. 2. The purpose of this study was to determine whether [3H]reserpine binding to the catecholamine transporter present in chromaffin granule membranes isolated from bovine adrenal glands was also inhibited by NEM and, if so, whether this was a direct or an indirect effect of NEM on the catecholamine transporter. 3. Both [3H]norepinephrine transport into and [3H]reserpine binding to the chromaffin granule ghosts isolated from bovine adrenal glands are inhibited by NEM, with IC50 values of 0.63 +/- 0.02 and 2.8 +/- 0.66 microM, respectively. 4. Mg and ATP protected both the [3H]norepinephrine transport into the ghosts and the [3H]reserpine binding to the transporter from inhibition by NEM, shifting the IC50 values to 260 +/- 43 and 120 +/- 29 microM, respectively. 5. NEM inhibition of the catecholamine transport and reserpine binding appears to be due to an action on the proton translocator associated with the Mg ATPase enzyme rather than a direct action on the catecholamine transporter since (a) the concentration of NEM required to inhibit formation of a membrane potential is similar to that required to inhibit [3H]norepinephrine transport into and [3H]reserpine binding to the ghosts and (b) Mg and ATP protected the proton translocation and [3H]norepinephrine transport into the ghosts, and [3H]reserpine binding to the ghosts, from inhibition by NEM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Specific derivatization of the vesicle monoamine transporter with novel carrier-free radioiodinated reserpine and tetrabenazine photoaffinity labels

Two iodophenylazide derivatives of reserpine and one iodophenylazide derivative of tetrabenazine have been synthesized and characterized as photoaffinity labels of the vesicle monoamine transporter (VMAT2). These compounds are 18-O-[3-(3'-iodo-4'-azidophenyl)-propionyl]methyl reserpate (AIPPMER), 18-O-[N-(3'-iodo-4'-azidophenethyl)glycyl]methyl reserpate (IAPEGlyMER), and 2-N-[(3'-iodo-4'-azidophenyl)-propionyl]tetrabenazine (TBZ-AIPP). Inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake into purified chromaffin granule ghosts showed IC50 values of approximately 37 nM for reserpine, 83 nM for AIPPMER, 200 nM for IAPEGlyMER, and 2.1 microM for TBZ-AIPP. Carrier-free radioiodinated [125I]IAPEGlyMER and [125I]TBZ-AIPP were synthesized and used to photoaffinity label chromaffin granule membranes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed specific [125I]IAPEGlyMER labeling of a polypeptide that migrated as a broad band (approximately 55-90 kDa), with the majority of the label located between 70 and 80 kDa. The labeling by [125I]IAPEGlyMER was blocked by 100 nM reserpine, 10 microM tetrabenazine, 1 mM serotonin, and 10 mM (-)-norepinephrine and dopamine. Analysis of [125I]TBZ-AIPP-labeled chromaffin granule membranes by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography demonstrated specific labeling of a similar polypeptide, which was blocked by 1 microM reserpine and 10 microM tetrabenazine. Incubation of [125I]TBZ-AIPP-photolabeled chromaffin granule membranes in the presence of the glycosidase N-glycanase shifted the apparent molecular weight of VMAT2 to approximately 51 kDa. These data indicate that [125I]IAPEGlyMER and [125I]TBZ-AIPP are effective photoaffinity labels for VMAT2.     

Inhibition of Norepinephrine Transport and Reserpine Binding by Reserpine Derivatives

Reserpine, a competitive inhibitor of catecholamine transport into adrenal medullary chromaffin vesicles, consists of a trimethoxybenzoyl group esterified to an alkaloid ring system. Reserpine inhibits norepinephrine transport with a Ki of approximately 1 nM and binds to chromaffin-vesicle membranes with a KD of about the same value. Methyl reserpate and reserpinediol, derivatives that incorporate the alkaloid ring system, also competitively inhibit norepinephrine transport into chromaffin vesicles with Ki values of 38 +/- 10 nM and 440 +/- 240 nM, respectively. Similar concentrations inhibit [3H]reserpine binding to chromaffin-vesicle membranes. 3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzyl alcohol and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid, derivatives of the other part of the reserpine molecule, do not inhibit either norepinephrine transport or [3H]reserpine binding at concentrations up to 100 microM. Moreover, trimethoxybenzyl alcohol does not potentiate the inhibitory action of methyl reserpate. Therefore, the amine binding site of the catecholamine transporter appears to bind the alkaloid ring system of reserpine rather than the trimethoxybenzoyl moiety. The more potent inhibitors are more hydrophobic compounds, suggesting that the reserpine binding site is hydrophobic.     

Affinity labeling of the folate-methotrexate transporter from Leishmania donovani

An affinity labeling technique has been developed to identify the folate-methotrexate transporter of Leishmania donovani promastigotes using "activated" derivatives of the ligands. These "activated" derivatives were synthesized by incubating folate and methotrexate with a 10-fold excess of 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDC) for 10 min at ambient temperature in dimethyl sulfoxide. Preincubation of intact cells with nonradioactive "activated" folate or methotrexate at a concentration of 40 microM inhibited the capacity of wild-type cells to transport submicromolar concentrations of unmodified ligand. When intact wild-type (DI700) Leishmania donovani or preparations of their membranes were incubated with a 0.4 microM concentration of either "activated" [3H]folate or "activated" [3H]methotrexate, the radiolabeled ligands were covalently incorporated into a polypeptide with a molecular weight of approximately 46,000, as demonstrated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No affinity labeling of a 46,000-dalton protein was observed when equimolar concentrations of "activated" radiolabeled ligands were incubated with intact cells or membranes prepared from a methotrexate-resistant mutant clone of Leishmania donovani, MTXA5, that is genetically defective in folate-methotrexate transport capability [Kaur, K., Coons, T., Emmett, K., & Ullman, B. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 7020-7028]. However, some labeling of a 46,000-dalton protein was observed when MTXA5 cells were incubated with higher concentrations of "activated" ligands. Time course studies indicated that maximal labeling of the 46,000-dalton protein occurred within 5-10 min of incubation of intact cells with "activated" ligand.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The amine transporter from bovine chromaffin granules. Partial purification

We have partially purified the amine transporter from bovine adrenal chromaffin granules in a single step utilizing affinity chromatography. A 5-hydroxytryptamine moiety has been coupled to a Sepharose 4B matrix in a position ortho to the hydroxyl group. When membranes solubilized with sodium cholate are chromatographed on the above matrix a 45,000 Mr polypeptide is highly enriched. The enrichment is dependent on the presence of the proper ligand on the matrix and is inhibited if the column is previously equilibrated with a soluble ligand. Enrichment of the above polypeptide is accompanied by an increase in the specific activity of the transporter as measured by its labeling by 4-azido-3-nitrophenylazo(5-hydroxytryptamine). The ability of reserpine, a competitive inhibitor of binding and transport, to inhibit labeling of the purified transporter correlates well with its known kinetic constants in the native membranes. The polypeptide purified is identical to the one previously identified as the putative transporter based on specific labeling by a photoaffinity label (Gabizon, R., Yetinzon, T., and Schuldiner, S. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 15145-15150). The results clearly support the contention that the 45,000 Mr peptide is the amine transporter or one of its subunits.     

Molecular pharmacology of the catecholamine transporter of chromaffin granules from the bovine adrenal medulla

Tetrabenazine (TBZ) and reserpine are two inhibitors of the catecholamine uptake system of the chromaffin granule membrane. They are structural analogs of the substrates dopamine and serotonin and they inhibit the monoamine transporter, which catalyzes a H+/neutral amine antiport. [3H]Dihydrotetrabenazine ([3H]TBZOH) is bound by chromaffin granule membranes on one class of site (T sites, KD = 3 nM); [3H]reserpine is bound on T sites and a second class of site (R1 sites, KD = 0.7 nM). The two sites are involved in monoamine translocation. The substrates displace the ligands with different efficiency: noradrenaline (Km = 10 microM) displaces reserpine efficiently (EC50 = 30 microM), but TBZOH poorly (EC50 = 2000 microM); m-iodobenzylguanidine, which has recently been shown to be a substrate of the monoamine uptake system (Km = 5 microM), displaces TBZOH efficiently (EC50 = 25 microM), but reserpine inefficiently (EC50 = 300 microM). Since both substrates are translocated by the same transporter, this result confirms the existence of two sites with different properties. T sites are characterized by a linear relationship between the reciprocal of the dissociation constants of various drugs displacing [3H]TBZOH and their partition coefficient in octanol/H2O mixtures. This relationship, which indicates a hydrophobic environment of T sites, does not exist for R1 sites. T sites have been identified by covalent labeling with a derivative of TBZ coupled to an arylazido group. The labeled sites are borne by a 65,000 dalton protein. The kinetics of reserpine binding are accelerated in the presence of ATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Photoaffinity labeling of the tetrabenazine binding sites of bovine chromaffin granule membranes

An azido derivative of tetrabenazine, a specific inhibitor of the monoamine carrier of chromaffin granule membranes, has been synthesized. In the dark, this compound, 3H-labeled N-(3-isobutyl-9,10-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4,6,7-hexahydro-11bH-benzo [a]quinolizin-2-yl)-4-[(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)amino]butanamide+ ++ ([3H]TBA), bound reversibly to purified chromaffin granule membranes. Centrifugation through SP-Sephadex columns was used to separate bound and free [3H]TBA. This technique gave low levels of nonspecific binding and allowed recovery of [3H]TBA-membrane complexes. Scatchard analysis of the data indicated one class of sites with an equilibrium dissociation constant KD of 50 nM and a density of sites of 40-50 pmol/mg of protein, consistent with reported densities of reserpine and dihydrotetrabenazine binding sites. Competition experiments showed that TBA and tetrabenazine bound to the same site. Irradiation at 435 nm of [3H]TBA-membrane mixtures induced some irreversible binding of the probe to membranes. After irreversible binding of TBA, the number of dihydrotetrabenazine binding sites was decreased, indicating that the probe was covalently bound to the monoamine carrier. [3H]TBA-membrane complexes isolated by centrifugation through SP-Sephadex columns were irradiated, and their radioactivity was analyzed by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels. A polypeptide with a molecular weight of 70 000 was labeled. This polypeptide was different from dopamine beta-hydroxylase, and it was not adsorbed on concanavalin A-Sepharose. It is proposed that the monoamine carrier of chromaffin granule membrane has an oligomeric structure, involving a 45K subunit [Gabizon, R., Yetinson, T., & Schuldiner, S. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 15145] and a 70K subunit.     

Inactivation of the catecholamine transporter during the preparation of chromaffin granule membrane 'ghosts'

The activity of the catecholamine transporter of chromaffin granules and the binding to these vesicles of reserpine, a transporter inhibitor, decrease during ghost preparation. In contrast, the number of binding sites of dihydrotetrabenazine, another transporter ligand, is constant. Dihydrotetrabenazine thus binds to an inactive transporter whereas reserpine binds only to active vesicles. Inactivation occurs during lysis of the granules, possibly because of an incomplete resealing. The turnover number of the transporter, determined by dividing the uptake activity by the density of dihydrotetrabenazine binding sites, has a maximal value (140 molecules/min) in intact granules. The reserpine to dihydrotetrabenazine binding ratio (10-25%) is an estimate of the proportion of correctly resealed vesicles.     

Reserpine binding to chromaffin granules suggests the existence of two conformations of the monoamine transporter

The binding of [3H]reserpine ([3H]RES) to purified bovine chromaffin granule membranes has been studied at low membrane concentration. Saturation isotherms indicated a dissociation equilibrium constant KD of 30 pM and a density of binding sites of 8 pmol/mg of protein at 30 degrees C. The association rate constant was 4.0 X 10(5) M-1 s-1, and the calculated dissociation rate constant was 1.2 X 10(-5) s-1, corresponding to a half-lifetime of about 16 h. Although this dissociation was too low to be measured directly, [3H]RES binding was indeed reversible since it was lost after addition of the detergent Triton X-100. Dihydrotetrabenazine (TBZOH) inhibited [3H]RES binding in a time-dependent manner, EC50 varying from 37 nM after a 1-h incubation to 600 nM after 16 h. On the contrary, [3H]RES binding inhibition by the substrate noradrenaline was time independent. It is proposed that the transporter exists in two different conformations which bind exclusively either tetrabenazine (TBZ) or RES and which are in equilibrium. The effects of detergents were consistent with this two-conformation model. The transporter solubilized by cholate bound [3H]TBZOH, but not [3H]RES. On the other hand, addition of cholate to membrane-bound [3H]RES solubilized the membrane without releasing the ligand from its binding site. It is proposed that the TBZ-binding conformation is obtained by solubilization with cholate and that RES stabilizes the RES-binding conformation, allowing its solubilization by this detergent.     

Determinants of ligand binding affinity and cooperativity at the GLUT1 endofacial site

Cytochalasin B (CB) and forskolin (FSK) inhibit GLUT1-mediated sugar transport in red cells by binding at or close to the GLUT1 endofacial sugar binding site. Paradoxically, very low concentrations of each of these inhibitors produce a modest stimulation of sugar transport [ Cloherty, E. K., Levine, K. B., and Carruthers, A. ((2001)) The red blood cell glucose transporter presents multiple, nucleotide-sensitive sugar exit sites. Biochemistry 40 ((51)) 15549-15561]. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that the glucose transporter contains multiple, interacting, endofacial binding sites for CB and FSK. The present study tests this hypothesis directly and, by screening a library of cytochalasin and forskolin analogues, asks what structural features of endofacial site ligands determine binding site affinity and cooperativity. Like CB, FSK competitively inhibits exchange 3-O-methylglucose transport (sugar uptake in cells containing intracellular sugar) but noncompetitively inhibits sugar uptake into cells lacking sugar at 4 °C. This refutes the hypothesis that FSK binds at GLUT1 endofacial and exofacial sugar binding sites. Some forskolin derivatives and cytochalasins inhibit equilibrium [(3)H]-CB binding to red cell membranes depleted of peripheral proteins at 4 °C. Others produce a moderate stimulation of [(3)H]-CB binding when introduced at low concentrations but inhibit binding as their concentration is increased. Yet other analogues modestly stimulate [(3)H]-CB binding at all inhibitor concentrations applied. These findings are explained by a carrier that presents at least two interacting endofacial binding sites for CB or FSK. We discuss this result within the context of models for GLUT1-mediated sugar transport and GLUT1 quaternary structure, and we evaluate the major determinants of ligand binding affinity and cooperativity.     

Catalytic site nucleotide and inorganic phosphate dependence of the conformation of the epsilon subunit in Escherichia coli adenosinetriphosphatase.

The rate of trypsin cleavage of the epsilon subunit of Escherichia coli F1 (ECF1) has been found to be ligand-dependent, as measured indirectly by the activation of the enzyme that occurs on protease digestion, or when followed directly by monitoring the cleavage of this subunit using monoclonal antibodies. The cleavage of the epsilon subunit was fast in the presence of ADP alone, ADP + MG2+, ATP + EDTA, or AMP-PNP, but slow when Pi was added along with ADP + Mg2+ or when ATP + Mg2+ was added to generate ADP + Pi (+Mg2+) in the catalytic site(s). The half-maximal concentration of Pi required in the presence of ADP + Mg2+ to protect the epsilon subunit from cleavage by trypsin was 50 microM, which is in the range measured for the high-affinity binding of Pi to F1. The ligand-dependent conformational changes in the epsilon subunit were also examined in cross-linking experiments using the water-soluble carbodiimide 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDC). In the presence of ATP + Mg2+ or ADP + Mg2+ + Pi, the epsilon subunit cross-linked to beta in high yield. With ATP + EDTA or ADP + Mg2+ (no Pi), the yield of the beta-epsilon cross-linked product was much reduced. We conclude that the epsilon subunit undergoes a conformational change dependent on the presence of Pi. It has been found previously that binding of the epsilon subunit to ECF1 inhibits ATPase activity by decreasing the off rate of Pi [Dunn, S. D., Zadorozny, V. D., Tozer, R. G., & Orr, L. E. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 4488-4493]. This reciprocal relationship between Pi binding and epsilon-subunit conformation has important implications for energy transduction by the E. coli ATP synthase.     

The Dopamine Transporter Is Absent in Parkinsonian Putamen and Reduced in the Caudate Nucleus

The neuronal dopamine transporter/uptake site can be covalently labeled with the photoaffinity probe 1-(2-[bis-(4-fluorophenyl) methoxy]ethyl)-4-[2-(4-azido-3-[125I]iodophenyl)ethyl]piperazine [( 125I]FAPP) and visualized following sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Upon photolysis, [125I]FAPP specifically incorporated into a polypeptide of apparent Mr = 62,000 in membranes from both the putamen and the caudate nucleus of control, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and Huntington's diseased brain, and following complete deglycosylation, migrated as an Mr approximately 48,000 polypeptide. In parkinsonian postmortem putamen, however, there was no detectable photoincorporation of [125I]FAPP into the ligand binding subunit of the dopamine transporter. [125I]FAPP did specifically label the Mr 62,000 polypeptide of parkinsonian caudate, although with efficiencies of 20-50% of control. The asymmetrical loss of the dopamine transporter in Parkinson's diseased striatum was confirmed in reversible receptor binding experiments using [3H]GBR-12935 (3H-labeled 1-[2-(diphenylmethoxy) ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine). In parkinsonian putamen, mazindol competitively inhibited the binding of [3H]GBR-12935 with an estimated affinity (Ki approximately 2,000 nM) 10 times lower than in controls (Ki approximately 30 nM), while the affinity of maxindol for [3H]GBR-12935 binding in the caudate was equal to that seen with controls (Ki approximately 50 nM). The proportion of [3H]GBR-12935 binding sites recognized by mazindol with high affinity in Parkinson's diseased caudate was, however, reduced by 50-80%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mammalian alpha 1-adrenergic receptor. Purification and characterization of the native receptor ligand binding subunit

alpha 1-Adrenergic receptors from a cultured smooth muscle cell line (DDT1 MF-2) have been solubilized with digitonin and purified to apparent homogeneity by sequential chromatography on a biospecific affinity support (Sepharose-A55453 (4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-2-[4-[5-(4-amino-3-phenyl) pentanoyl]-1-piperazinyl]-quinazoline), an alpha 1 receptor-selective antagonist), a wheat germ agglutinin-agarose gel, and a high performance steric exclusion liquid chromatography column. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of iodinated purified receptor preparations reveals a peptide with an apparent Mr = 80,000 that co-migrates with the peptide labeled by the specific alpha 1-adrenergic receptor photoaffinity probe 4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-2-[4-[5-(4-azido-3-[125I]iodophenyl)pentanoyl] -1-piperazinyl] quinazoline. The specific activity (approximately 13,600 pmol of ligand binding/mg of protein) of purified receptor preparations is consistent with that expected for a pure peptide of Mr = 80,000 containing a single ligand binding site. Overall yields approximate 14% of initial crude particulate binding. The purified receptor preparations bind agonist and antagonist ligands with appropriate alpha 1-adrenergic specificity, stereoselectivity, and affinity. Peptide maps of the pure alpha 1-adrenergic receptor and the pure human platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptor (Regan, J.W., Nakata, H., DeMarinis, R.M., Caron, M.G., and Lefkowitz, R.J. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 3894-3900) using several different proteases suggest that these two receptors show little if any structural homology.     

Functional molecular mass of binding sites for [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine and [3H]reserpine and of dopamine beta-hydroxylase and cytochrome b561 from chromaffin granule membrane as determined by radiation inactivation

The monoamine transporter of chromaffin granule membrane has two distinct high-affinity binding sites for tetrabenazine and reserpine, which can be assayed by [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine and [3H]reserpine binding, respectively. The functional molecular mass of the components bearing these sites has been investigated by the radiation inactivation technique. The decline of [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine binding activity with increasing radiation doses followed a single exponential, from which a functional molecular mass of 68 kDa was derived for tetrabenazine binding sites. [3H]Reserpine binding activity declined in a more complex way; however, under conditions where high-affinity reserpine binding sites were specifically assayed, the decline was also exponential, corresponding to a functional molecular mass of 37 kDa for these sites. The figures obtained for high-affinity tetrabenazine and reserpine binding sites are consistent with previous values obtained by photoaffinity of tetrabenazine and serotonin binding sites, respectively. It is thus concluded that the monoamine transporter has an oligomeric structure. By the radiation inactivation technique, cytochrome b561 and dopamine beta-hydroxylase have functional molecular masses of 25 and 123 kDa, respectively. The latter value might be attributed to the dimeric form of the enzyme.     

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibits the monoamine carrier of bovine chromaffin granule membrane

The monoamine carrier of bovine chromaffin granule membrane catalyzes a H+/neutral amine antiport. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) inhibits this carrier in a time- and concentration -dependent manner as shown by the following evidence: it inhibits the carrier-mediated pH gradient driven monoamine uptake without collapsing the pH gradient; it affects the binding of the specific inhibitors [2-3H]dihydrotetrabenazine and [3H]reserpine. The DCCD inhibition of the carrier occurs in the same concentration range as that of the ATP-dependent H+ translocase. Saturation isotherms of [2-3H]dihydrotetrabenazine binding indicate that DCCD decreases the number of binding sites without any change of the equilibrium dissociation constant. Kinetic studies of DCCD inactivation indicate that the modification of only one amino acid residue is responsible for the inhibition. Preincubation of the membranes with tetrabenazine protects the carrier against inactivation by DCCD: in this case, [2-3H] dihydrotetrabenazine binding and pH gradient driven monoamine uptake are restored after washing out of DCCD and tetrabenazine. We suggest the existence in the monoamine carrier of a carboxylic acid involved in H+ translocation, similar to those demonstrated not only in F0-F1 ATPases but also in cytochrome c oxidase, mitochondrial cytochrome b-c1 complex, and nucleotide transhydrogenase. Protonation-deprotonation of this group would affect the binding of [2-3H]dihydrotetrabenazine by the carrier.     

The Adenosine Receptors Present on the Plasma Membrane of Chromaffin Cells Are of the A2b Subtype

The adenosine receptors in the plasma membrane of chromaffin cells from bovine adrenal medulla were characterized. The presence of A1 receptors was discounted owing to the absence of R-[3H]phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) and [3H]8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine ([3H]-DPCPX) binding. The binding of the specific A2a ligand CGS-21680 was low. In contrast, the binding of 5'-(N-[3H]-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine ([3H]NECA) was relatively high (1.7 pmol/mg of protein at a ligand concentration up to 90 nM). This binding did not correspond to non-adenosine receptor NECA binding sites because the specific [3H]-NECA binding was similar when unlabeled adenosine, NECA, or R-PIA was used to measure the nonspecific binding. The rank order of potency of different ligands for the displacement of specific [3H]NECA binding was DPCPX greater than NECA greater than chloroadenosine greater than R-PIA greater than theophylline = CGS-21680. These results indicate that the receptors present on the plasma membrane of chromaffin cells are exclusively of the A2b subtype.     

Vasopressin V2 Receptor/Bioligand Interactions

We predict some essential interactions between the V2 vasopressin renal receptor (V2R) and its agonists [Arg⁸]vasopressin (AVP) and [D-Arg⁸]vasopressin (DAVP), and the non-peptide antagonist OPC-31260. V2R controls antidiuresis and belongs to the superfamily of heptahelical transmembrane (7TM) G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The receptor was built, the ligands were docked and the structures relaxed using advanced molecular modeling techniques. Docked agonists and antagonists appear to prefer similar V2R compartments. A number of receptor amino acid residues are indicated, mainly in the TM3–TM7 helices, as potentially important in ligand binding. Many of these residues are invariant for either the GPCR superfamily or the subfamily of related (vasopressin V2R, V1aR and V1bR and oxytocin OR) receptors. Moreover, some of the equivalent residues in V1aR have already been found critical for ligand affinity [Mouillac et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270 (1995) 25771].