Nine Residues Influence the Binding of α-Bungarotoxin in α-Subunit Region 185–200 of Human Muscle Acetylcholine Receptor

Abstract: Identification of residues in the skeletal muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) that bind snake venom a-neurotoxin antagonists of acetylcholine [e.g., α-bungarotoxin (α-BTx)] provides structural information about the neurotransmitter binding region of the receptor. Using synthetic peptides of the human AChR α-subunit region 177–208, we previously localized a pharmacologically specific binding site for α-BTx in segment 185–199. To define in more detail the residues that influence the binding of α-BTx to this region, we prepared 16 peptide analogues of the α-subunit segment 185–200, with the amino acid Lalanine sequentially replacing each native amino acid. Circular dichroism spectroscopy did not reveal changes in the secondary structure of the peptides except for the analogue in which Pro¹⁹⁴ was substituted with alanine. This implies that any change in α-BTx binding could be attributed to replacement of the native residue's side chain by alanine's methyl group, rather than to a change in the structure of the peptide. The influence of each substitution with alanine was determined by comparing the analogue to the parental sequence α 185–200 in solution-phase competition with native human AChR for binding of ¹²⁵I-labeled α-BTx. The binding of α-BTx by analogue peptides with alanine substituted for Tyr¹⁹⁰, Cys¹⁹², or Cys¹⁹³ was greatly diminished. Binding of α-BTx to peptides containing alanine replacements at Val¹⁸⁸, Thr¹⁸⁹, Pro¹⁹⁴, Asp¹⁹⁵, or Tyr¹⁹⁸ was also reduced significantly (p < 0.003). An unanticipated finding was that substitution of alanine for Ser¹⁹¹ significantly increased α-BTx binding (p < 0.003). The data imply that these nine amino acids influence the binding of the antagonist, α-BTx, to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of human skeletal muscle, and confirm previous reports for certain contact residues for α-BTX that were found in region α181-200 of the Torpedo AChR.     

Synthetic peptides used to locate the alpha-bungarotoxin binding site and immunogenic regions on alpha subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Synthetic peptides corresponding to 57% of the sequence of alpha subunits of acetylcholine receptors from Torpedo californica electric organ and extending from the NH2 to the COOCH terminus have been synthesized. The alpha-bungarotoxin binding site on denatured alpha subunits was mapped within the sequence alpha 185-199 by assaying binding of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin to slot blots of synthetic peptides. Further studies showed that residues in the sequence alpha 190-194, especially cysteines-alpha 192, 193, were critical for binding alpha-bungarotoxin. Reduction and alkylation studies suggested that these cysteines must be disulfide linked for alpha-bungarotoxin to bind. Binding sites for serum antibodies to native receptors or alpha subunits were mapped by indirect immunoprecipitation of 125I-peptides. Several antigenic sequences were identified, but a synthetic peptide corresponding to the main immunogenic region (which is highly conformation dependent) was not identified.     

-Bungarotoxin binding to human muscle acetylcholine receptor: measurement of affinity, delineation of AChR subunit residues crucial to binding, and protection of AChR function by synthetic peptides

–Bungarotoxin (–BuTx) binds with high a.nity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of most species, mainly to sequences around the two cysteines at positions 192 and 193 of the –subunit, but other sequences of the –subunit and of the adjacent γ– or ε– and δ–subunits are also important in the native molecule. –BuTx binds strongly to human AChR but the short neurotoxins, for instance Erabutoxin B, are relatively ineffective at the human neuromuscular junction. In this article we compare the a.nity of ¹²⁵I––BuTx for Torpedo and human muscle AChR and the ability of neurotoxins to inhibit this binding. We examine the contribution to –BuTx binding of the three amino acids that differ between human and Torpedo AChR –185—199. In addition, we show that an –185—199, peptide that binds strongly to ¹²⁵I––BuTx and can inhibit its binding in solution, is also capable of protecting the AChR on a cell line or at the neuromuscular junction. Such peptides might be useful in the treatment of acute envenoming or the autoantibody–mediated block of AChR function that can occur in human disorders. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.     

Structural determinants of alpha-bungarotoxin binding to the sequence segment 181-200 of the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit: effects of cysteine/cystine modification and species-specific amino acid substitutions

The sequence segment 181-200 of the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) alpha subunit forms a binding site for alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) [e.g., see Conti-Tronconi, B. M., Tang, F., Diethelm, B. M., Spencer, S. R., Reinhardt-Maelicke, S., & Maelicke, A. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 6221-6230]. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the homologous sequences of human, calf, mouse, chicken, frog, and cobra muscle nAChR alpha 1 subunits were tested for their ability to bind 125I-alpha-BTX, and differences in alpha-BTX affinity were determined by using solution (IC50S) and solid-phase (KdS) assays. Panels of overlapping peptides corresponding to the complete alpha 1 subunit of mouse and human were also tested for alpha-BTX binding, but other sequence segments forming the alpha-BTX site were not consistently detectable. The Torpedo alpha 1(181-200) and the homologous frog and chicken peptides bound alpha-BTX with higher affinity (KdS approximately 1-2 microM, IC50s approximately 1-2 microM) than the human and calf peptides (Kds approximately 3-5 microM, IC50s approximately 15 microM). The mouse peptide bound alpha-BTX weakly when attached to a solid support (Kd approximately 8 microM) but was effective in competing for 125I-alpha-BTX in solution (IC50 approximately 1 microM). The cobra nAChR alpha 1-subunit peptide did not detectably bind alpha-BTX in either assay. Amino acid substitutions were correlated with alpha-BTX binding activity peptides from different species. The role of a putative vicinal disulfide bound between Cys-192 and -193, relative to the Torpedo sequence, was determined by modifying the peptides with sulfhydryl reagents. Reduction and alkylation of the peptides decreased alpha-BTX binding, whereas oxidation of the peptides had little effect. Modifications of the cysteine/cystine residues of the cobra peptide failed to induce alpha-BTX binding activity. These results indicate that while the adjacent cysteines are likely to be involved in forming the toxin/alpha 1-subunit interface a vicinal disulfide bound was not required for alpha-BTX binding.     

Mapping of a cholinergic binding site by means of synthetic peptides, monoclonal antibodies, and alpha-bungarotoxin

Previous studies by several laboratories have identified a narrow sequence region of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) alpha subunit, flanking the cysteinyl residues at positions 192 and 193, as containing major elements of, if not all, the binding site for cholinergic ligands. In the present study, we used a panel of synthetic peptides as representative structural elements of the AChR to investigate whether additional segments of the AChR sequences are able to bind alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) and several alpha-BTX-competitive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The mAbs used (WF6, WF5, and W2) were raised against native Torpedo AChR, specifically recognize the alpha subunit, and bind to AChR is inhibited by all cholinergic ligands. WF6 competes with agonists, but not with low mol. wt. antagonists, for AChR binding. The synthetic peptides used in this study were approximately 20 residue long, overlapped each other by 4-6 residues, and corresponded to the complete sequence of Torpedo AChR alpha subunit. Also, overlapping peptides, corresponding to the sequence segments of each Torpedo AChR subunit homologous to alpha 166-203, were synthesized. alpha-BTX bound to a peptide containing the sequence alpha 181-200 and also, albeit to a lesser extent, to a peptide containing the sequence alpha 55-74. WF6 bound to alpha 181-200 and to a lesser extent to alpha 55-74 and alpha 134-153. The two other mAbs predominantly bound to alpha 55-74, and to a lesser extent to alpha 181-200. Peptides alpha 181-200 and alpha 55-74 both inhibited binding of 125I-alpha-BTX to native Torpedo AChR. None of the peptides corresponding to sequence segments from other subunits bound alpha-BTX or WF6, or interfered with their binding. Therefore, the cholinergic binding site is not a single narrow sequence region, but rather two or more discontinuous sequence segments within the N-terminal extracellular region of the AChR alpha subunit, folded together in the native structure of the receptor, contribute to form a cholinergic binding region. Such a structural arrangement is similar to the "discontinuous epitopes" observed by X-ray diffraction studies of antibody-antigen complexes [reviewed in Davies et al. (1988)].     

Identification of a brain acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit able to bind alpha-bungarotoxin

Peptides corresponding to sequence segments homologous to an alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BGT) binding region on the alpha subunit of the Torpedo nicotinic cholinergic receptor (nAChR) were synthesized for each identified nAChR alpha subunit of the rat nervous system (alpha 1, which is expressed in muscle, and alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, and alpha 5, which are expressed by neurons). The peptides were tested for their ability to directly bind 125I-alpha-BGT and to compete for 125I-alpha-BGT with Torpedo nAChR and with the alpha-BGT-binding component expressed by PC12, a sympathetic neuronal cell line. In addition to peptides of the muscle alpha 1 subunit, peptides corresponding to the sequence of a neuronal subunit, alpha 5, were able to bind 125I-alpha-BGT. Peptides containing the sequence segments 182-201 of the alpha 1 subunit and 180-199 of the alpha 5 subunit competed with Torpedo nAChR for 125I-alpha-BGT binding with IC50 values of 0.5 and 3.5 microM, respectively. Both of these peptides were also able to compete for 125I-alpha-BGT binding with native Torpedo nAChR and with the alpha-BGT-binding protein(s) expressed on PC12 cells. To determine if other sequence segments contribute to form the neuronal alpha-BGT-binding site, overlapping peptides corresponding to the putative extracellular domain of the alpha 5 subunit were synthesized and used both in direct binding assays and in competition experiments. Peptides corresponding to amino acids 16-35 and 180-199 of the alpha 5 subunit directly bound 125I-alpha-BGT and inhibited the binding of toxin to both Torpedo nAChR and PC12 cells. The results of these studies strongly support identification of the alpha 5 subunit as a component of a neuronal alpha-BGT-binding nAChR.     

Fine localization of the major alpha-bungarotoxin binding site to residues alpha 189-195 of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor. Residues 189, 190, and 195 are indispensable for binding

alpha-Bungarotoxin blocks acetylcholine-mediated ion channel opening of peripheral acetylcholine receptors (AChR). A major binding region for alpha-bungarotoxin has been recently identified within parts of the segment 170-204 of the alpha-subunit. We used the Pepscan systematic peptide synthesis system to determine the minimum Torpedo AChR segment required for alpha-bungarotoxin binding and to investigate the role of each residue within this segment. Continuously overlapping decapeptides within alpha 179-203 and several decapeptides covering other alpha-subunit sequences showed that alpha 188-197 and alpha 189-198 exhibited the best 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin binding activity (KD = 7.3 x 10(-8) and 4.3 x 10(-8) M, respectively). Several continuously overlapping nona-, octa-, hepta-, hexa-, and tetrapeptides showed that the heptapeptide alpha 189-195 was the minimum sequence with high binding activity (KD = 5.6 x 10(-8)M). d-Tubocurarine, but not carbamylcholine, blocked toxin binding. Twenty-six analogs of the alpha 188-197, most having 1 residue substituted by Ala or Gly, showed that Tyr189, Tyr190, and especially Asp195 were indispensable for 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin binding. Cys192 and Cys193 could be substituted by other amino acids, proving that the disulfide bond between alpha 192-193 was not required for alpha-bungarotoxin binding. The decreased alpha-bungarotoxin binding capacity of the equivalent human muscle AChR alpha 188-197 peptide was the result of substitution of Tyr by Thr at alpha 189.     

Demonstration of two distinct tachykinin receptors in rat brain cortex

Eledoisin and substance P are members of a class of peptides termed tachykinins. They share a similar spectrum of biological activities but their relative potencies in various pharmacological assays differ. We have investigated whether there is more than one receptor for these tachykinins in rat brain cortex membranes. 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin specifically binds to rat brain cortex membranes with high affinity. The binding is inhibited over 95% by unlabeled eledoisin (6.6 microM). Scatchard analysis of the binding of this ligand is curvilinear suggesting that there are two binding sites with KD values of 0.9 +/- 0.7 nM and 20 +/- 10 nM. We tested various analogs and fragments of substance P and eledoisin for their ability to inhibit the binding of 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin and 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated substance P to these membranes. The following peptides are more potent as inhibitors of the 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin binding site than of the 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated substance P binding site: nonradioactive Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin (greater than 100-fold), eledoisin (12-fold), kassinin (22-fold), neuromedin K (greater than 58-fold), and pyroglutamyl substance P(6-11)hexapeptide (4-fold). In contrast, substance P (21-fold), physalaemin (8-fold), and substance P methyl ester (1200-fold) were more potent as inhibitors of 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated substance P binding. These results suggest that these two ligands may bind to distinct receptors. 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated substance P binds specifically to rat parotid cell receptors, but 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin does not, indicating that parotid cells contain only one of the receptor subtypes. The cortex membrane binding of both ligands is stimulated by low concentrations of MnCl2 (ED50 = 0.05 mM) and is inhibited by guanylyl-5'-(beta, gamma-imido)diphosphate (IC50 = 0.5 microM).     

High affinity binding of alpha-bungarotoxin to the purified alpha-subunit and to its 27,000-dalton proteolytic peptide from Torpedo marmorata acetylcholine receptor. Requirement for sodium dodecyl sulfate

Intact nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) tightly binds alpha-bungarotoxin. The two toxin-binding sites are presumed to be on the two alpha-subunits, either on or near the ACh-binding sites. Isolated alpha-subunits have been found to maintain weak binding to alpha-bungarotoxin (KD approximately 0.2 microM). We describe here conditions under which the alpha-subunit and a 27,000-dalton proteolytic peptide bound alpha-bungarotoxin with high affinity. The four subunits of Torpedo marmorata AChR, as well as several proteolytic peptides of the alpha-subunit, were first purified by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We found that the purified alpha-subunit (but not the beta-, gamma- or delta-subunits) and its 27,000-dalton peptide specifically bound 125I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin with KD approximately 3 and 6 nM, i.e., about two orders of magnitude lower than the intact AChR. Nearly 100% of the sites were recovered. The recovery of this high affinity binding required the presence of SDS (approximately 0.02%) but non-denaturing detergents had a strongly inhibitory effect. Unlabeled alpha-toxins competed with labeled alpha-bungarotoxin, alpha-bungarotoxin being more effective than all the other toxins tested. Decamethonium and hexamethonium competed efficiently with alpha-bungarotoxin binding but carbamylcholine had only a weak effect. The main immunogenic region of the AChR was only partially preserved since conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies to this region bound the alpha subunit-toxin complexes, but much less efficiently than the intact AChR. We conclude that SDS can be advantageous to the recovery of high toxin binding to the alpha subunit which still has not completely recovered its native conformation.     

Binding of Brain and Atrial Natriuretic Peptides to Cultured Mouse Astrocytes and Effect on Cyclic GMP

125I-Porcine brain natriuretic peptide (125I-pBNP) bound to mouse astrocytes in primary culture in a time-dependent manner (t1/2 = 4.5 min), similar to 125I-human atrial natriuretic peptide (125I-hANP) (t1/2 = 5 min). Binding was saturable and reached equilibrium after 90 min at 22 degrees C for both radioligands. Scatchard analysis suggested a single class of binding sites for pBNP with a binding affinity and capacity (KD = 0.08 nM; Bmax = 78.3 fmol/mg of protein) similar to those of hANP1-28 (KD = 0.1 nM; Bmax = 90.3 fmol/mg of protein). In competition binding studies, pBNP or human/rat atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) analogues [hANP1-28, rat ANP1-28 (rANP1-28), and rANP5-28] displaced 125I-hANP, 125I-pBNP, and 125I-rANP1-28 completely, all with IC50 values of less than nM (0.14-0.83 nM). All four peptides maximally stimulated cyclic GMP (cGMP) production by 10 min at 22 degrees C at concentrations of 1 microM with EC50 values ranging from 50 to 100 nM. However, maximal cGMP induction by brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (25.9 +/- 2.1 pmol/mg of protein) was significantly greater than that by hANP1-28 (11.5 +/- 2.2 pmol/mg of protein), rANP1-28 (16.5 +/- 2.0 pmol/mg of protein), and rANP5-28 (15.8 +/- 2.2 pmol/mg of protein). These studies indicate that BNP and ANPs act on the same binding sites and with similar affinities in cultured mouse astrocytes. BNP, however, exerts a greater effect on cGMP production. The difference in both affinity and selectivity between binding and cGMP production may indicate the existence of receptor subtypes that respond differentially to natriuretic peptides despite similar binding characteristics.     

Localization of sequence segments forming a kappa-bungarotoxin-binding site on the alpha 3 neuronal nicotinic receptor

To identify the sequence segments of the alpha 3 subunit of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (N-nAChR) forming the binding site for the cholinergic antagonist kappa-bungarotoxin (kappa-BGT), overlapping peptides corresponding to the complete alpha 3 sequence were tested for their ability to bind 125I-labeled kappa-BGT. Two peptides located within the N-terminal extracellular domain specifically bound kappa-BGT in a solid phase assay, i.e. peptide N alpha(3)51-70 with a Kd approximately 300 nM and peptide N alpha(3)1-18 with slightly lower affinity (Kd approximately 500 nM). Preincubation of 125I-kappa-BGT with peptides N alpha(3)51-70 or N alpha(3)1-18 resulted in greater than 90% inhibition of kappa-125I-BGT binding to native N-nAChR expressed on the neuronal cell line PC12. Under the same conditions, two additional peptides, N alpha(3)180-199 and N alpha(3)183-201, were found to inhibit kappa-125I-BGT binding to PC12 by approximately 50%. These latter peptides represent sequences that are homologous to those shown previously to bind alpha-bungarotoxin. Peptide N alpha(3)51-70 (400 microM) also reduced by approximately 4-fold the observed rate of association of kappa-BGT to PC12 cells. The results of these experiments identify sequence segments of the alpha 3 subunit which are likely to interact with kappa-BGT and may indicate the relative contribution that these segments make in the formation of the high affinity kappa-BGT-binding site of this N-nAChR subtype.     

Two peptides from the alpha 2A-adrenergic receptor alter receptor G protein coupling by distinct mechanisms.

Peptides derived from various regions of the alpha 2A-adrenergic receptor (alpha 2A-AR) were used to study receptor-G protein interactions. Binding of the partial agonist [125I]-p-iodoclonidine and the full agonist [3H]bromoxidine (UK14,304) to membrane preparations from human platelet was potently reduced by peptides (12-14 amino acids) from the second cytoplasmic loop (A) and the C-terminal side of the third cytoplasmic loop (Q). Binding of the antagonist [3H]yohimbine was significantly less affected. Five other peptides had no significant effects on ligand binding at concentrations less than 100 microM. The IC50 values for peptides A and Q were 7 and 27 microM for [125I]-p-iodoclonidine binding at the platelet alpha 2A receptor, 15 and 71 microM for the neuroblastoma-glioma (NG108-15) alpha 2B receptor, and greater than 300 microM for yohimbine binding at both alpha 2A and alpha 2B receptors. Competition studies demonstrate that at concentrations of 100 microM, peptides A and Q reduce the affinity of bromoxidine for the platelet alpha 2A-AR and this effect was abolished in the presence of guanine nucleotide. Alpha 2A-AR-stimulated GTPase activity in platelet membranes was inhibited by peptide Q with an IC50 of 16 microM but A was inactive. These data suggest that both the second cytoplasmic loop and the C-terminal part of the third cytoplasmic loop of the alpha 2A-AR are important in the interaction between the alpha 2-AR and Gi protein. Peptide Q appears to destabilize the high affinity state of the alpha 2-AR by binding directly to Gi thus preventing it from coupling to the receptor under both binding and GTPase assay conditions. The peptide from the second cytoplasmic loop (A) also reduces high affinity agonist binding in a G protein-dependent manner but its interaction with receptor and G protein is distinct in that it does not prevent activation of the G protein. These results provide new information about regions of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor involved in G protein coupling and high affinity agonist binding.     

Myasthenogenicity of human acetylcholine receptor synthetic alpha-subunit peptide 125-147 does not require intramolecular disulfide cyclization

This study reports the synthesis of a disulfide-looped peptide corresponding to residues 125-147 (Cys 128-Cys 142) of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of human skeletal muscle, H alpha 125-147 (Lys-Ser-Tyr-Cys-Glu-Ile-Ile-Val-Thr-His-Phe-Pro-Phe-Asp-Glu-Gln- Asn-Cys-Ser-Nle-Lys Leu-Gly), and a nondisulfide-looped analogue, H alpha 125-147(S) (Lys-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Glu-Ile-Ile-Val-Thr-His-Phe-Pro-Phe-Asp-Glu- Gln-Asn-Cys-Ser-Nle-Lys-Leu-Gly), in which the amino acid Cys 128 was replaced with serine. Both peptides induced antigen-specific helper T cell responses, as evidenced in vitro by lymph node cell proliferation and in vivo by production of anti-AChR antibodies. Rats immunized with 100 micrograms of either synthetic peptide, without conjugation to a carrier, produced anti-peptide antibodies which bound to native AChR in immunoprecipitation assays and induced modulation of membrane-bound AChR from cultured human myotubes. Both peptides also induced electrophysiologic and biochemical signs of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Thus, region 125-147 of the AChR alpha-subunit is at least partly exposed extracellularly in human muscle and contains one or more autoantigenic sites capable of stimulating T cells and B cells. Disulfide-linkage between residues Cys 128 and Cys 142 is not essential for myasthenogenicity.     

Synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences of snake venom neurotoxins and rabies virus glycoprotein bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Peptides corresponding to portions of loop 2 of snake venom curare-mimetic neurotoxins and to a structurally similar region of rabies virus glycoprotein were synthesized. Interaction of these peptides with purified Torpedo electric organ acetylcholine receptor was tested by measuring their ability to block the binding of 125I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin to the receptor. In addition, inhibition of alpha-bungarotoxin binding to a 32-residue synthetic peptide corresponding to positions 173-204 of the alpha-subunit was determined. Neurotoxin and glycoprotein peptides corresponding to toxin loop 2 inhibited labeled toxin binding to the receptor with IC50 values comparable to those of nicotine and the competitive antagonist d-tubocurarine and to the alpha-subunit peptides with apparent affinities between those of d-tubocurarine and alpha-cobratoxin. Substitution of neurotoxin residue Arg37, the proposed counterpart of the quaternary ammonium of acetylcholine, with a negatively charged Glu residue reduced the apparent affinity about 10-fold. Peptides containing the neurotoxin invariant residue Trp29 and 10- to 100-fold higher affinities than peptides lacking this residue. These results demonstrate that relatively short synthetic peptides retain some of the binding ability of the native protein from which they are derived, indicating that such peptides are useful in the study of protein-protein interactions. The ability of the peptides to compete alpha-bungarotoxin binding to the receptor with apparent affinities comparable to those of other cholinergic ligands indicates that loop 2 of the neurotoxins and the structurally similar segment of the rabies virus glycoprotein act as recognition sites for the acetylcholine receptor. Invariant toxin residues Arg37 and Trp29 and their viral homologs play important, although not essential, roles in binding, possibly by interaction with complementary anionic and hydrophobic subsites on the acetylcholine receptor. The alpha-subunit peptide most likely contains all of the determinants for binding of the toxin and glycoprotein peptides present on the alpha-subunit, because these peptides bind to the 32-residue alpha-subunit peptide with the same or greater affinity as to the intact subunit.     

Monoclonal antibodies to Torpedo acetylcholine receptor. Characterisation of antigenic determinants within the cholinergic binding site

Thirteen monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) from Torpedo marmorata showed high avidity for the receptor but none exhibited binding to muscle AChR solubilised from seven other animal species. Five mAb and Fab monomer fragments prepared from two of them, inhibited alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha BuTx) binding to receptor by a maximum of 50%. In the presence of excess mAb the 125I-alpha BuTx bound could be precipitated by anti-IgG indicating that the mAb bound to only one of the two alpha BuTx binding sites on each AChR monomer. This site appeared to have a lower affinity for d-tubocurarine and decamethonium than the non-mAb site. Binding of five anti-site mAb was mutually competitive and four of them (AS2-AS5) were inhibited by other cholinergic ligands and influenced by four non-toxin binding site antibodies. One (AS1) bound within the toxin binding site yet outside the main neurotransmitter binding region. It is concluded that these five mAb distinguish between the two alpha BuTx binding sites on the Torpedo AChR, and bind only to the site which displays lower affinity for d-tubocurarine and other competitive ligands.     

Ion and Temperature Effects on the Binding of γ-Aminobutyrate to Its Receptors and the High-Affinity Transport System

A set of procedures was developed to study the binding of gamma-[3H]aminobutyric acid ([3H]GABA) to GABAA and GABAB receptors, and to the Na(+)-dependent transport carrier, at 25 and 37 degrees C in the presence of physiological concentrations of Na+. The membrane preparation used in these procedures was not subjected to freeze-thawing or treatment with Triton X-100. Isoguvacine, (-)-baclofen, and (-)-nipecotate were used to block selectively the binding to GABAA receptors, GABAB receptors, and the transport site, respectively. Analysis of the binding characteristics of [3H]GABA to the GABAA receptor suggested the existence of high-(KD less than 30 nM), middle- (KD = 100-500 nM), and low-affinity (KD greater than 5 microM) binding sites. However, the binding data in the middle-affinity region (100-1,000 nM) were often indicative of cooperativity. The affinity between GABA and the GABAA receptor was reduced modestly by increases in temperature and by the presence of Cl- at physiological concentrations. Binding to the GABAB receptor required Ca2+ and Cl-. Apparent binding to the transport carrier required both Na+ and Cl-. A comparison of Bmax values in three brain regions revealed an inverse relationship between the high-affinity site of the GABAA receptor and the transport binding site.     

The control of the interaction of sex hormone-binding globulin with its receptor by steroid hormones

Sex hormone-binding globulins (SHBG) is a plasma glycoprotein that binds certain steroids. It, in turn, binds to a specific receptor on cell membranes. This work was undertaken to investigate the role of steroids in the interaction of SHBG with its receptor. Because the probe for the interaction of SHBG with its receptor is 125I-SHBG, we first showed that 125I-SHBG binds [3H]dihydrotestosterone (DHT) at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C with KD values similar to those published previously for pure radioinert SHBG. 125I-SHBG could be prevented from binding to its receptor by a variety of steroids whose relative inhibitory activity (dihydrotestosterone much greater than 2-methoxyestradiol greater than testosterone greater than estradiol much greater than methyltrienolone greater than cortisol) was almost identical to their relative ability to bind to SHBG. Because significant binding of [3H]DHT to the SHBG receptor could not be demonstrated, steroid inhibition of SHBG binding must be noncompetitive. If steroids bound to SHBG prevent binding to the SHBG receptor, then liganded SHBG should have a higher apparent KD for its receptor than unliganded SHBG. This is the case. The KD was 0.86 +/- 0.25 nM for the high affinity receptor site using liganded SHBG and 0.19 +/- 0.024 nM for unliganded SHBG. Thus, only liganded SHBG assumes a conformation that prohibits interaction with the SHBG receptor. However, when unliganded SHBG was prebound to its receptor, it retained its ability to bind [3H] DHT. The model that emerges from these observations is as follows. Unliganded SHBG can bind either steroids or receptor in a reversible reaction; SHBG bound to a steroid cannot bind to the receptor, but unliganded SHBG that first binds to the receptor can subsequently bind steroids.     

Substitution of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor alpha 1-subunit residues with snake alpha 1- and rat nerve alpha 3-subunit residues in recombinant fusion proteins: effect on alpha-bungarotoxin binding.

A fusion protein consisting of the TrpE protein and residues 166-211 of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor alpha 1 subunit was produced in Escherichia coli using a pATH10 expression vector. Residues in the Torpedo sequence were changed by means of oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to residues present in snake alpha 1 subunit and rat nerve alpha 3 subunit which do not bind alpha-bungarotoxin. The fusion protein of the Torpedo sequence bound 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin with high affinity (IC50 = 2.5 x 10(-8) M from competition with unlabeled toxin, KD = 2.3 x 10(-8) M from equilibrium saturation binding data). Mutation of three Torpedo residues to snake residues, W184F, K185W, and W187S, had no effect on binding. Conversion of two additional Torpedo residues to snake, T191S and P194L, reduced alpha-bungarotoxin binding to undetectable levels. The P194L mutation alone abolished toxin binding. Mutation of three Torpedo alpha 1 residues to neuronal alpha 3-subunit residues, W187E, Y189K, and T191N, also abolished detectable alpha-bungarotoxin binding. Conversion of Try-189 to Asn which is present in the snake sequence (Y189N) abolished toxin binding. It is concluded that in the sequence of the alpha subunit of Torpedo encompassing Cys-192 and Cys-193, Try-189 and Pro-194 are important determinants of alpha-bungarotoxin binding. Tyr-189 may interact directly with cationic groups or participate in aromatic-aromatic interactions while Pro-194 may be necessary to maintain a conformation conductive to neurotoxin binding.     

Nicotine binding to native and substituted peptides comprising residues 188-207 of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, alpha5, and alpha7 subunits

Structural determinants of L-[(3)H]nicotine binding to synthetic peptides comprising residues 188-207 of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha subunits were invesitigated by equilibrium binding analysis. Two binding components were detected, one of low affinity (K(d) approximately 1.5 microM) that did not differ significantly among peptides and another of high affinity. The high affinity binding component was higher for the neuronal peptides (K(d) = 14-23 nM) than the muscle alpha1 peptides (K(d) = 52 nM). The following nonconservative substitutions in the alpha4 peptide resulted in a significant decrease in nicotine affinity for the peptide: Y190A, Y190D, C192G, E195A, E195-, P199A, P199-, and Y203A. Substitution of alpha4P199 with a leucine which is present in the alpha1 sequence decreased the affinity of the alpha4 peptide for nicotine and substitution of alpha1L199 with a proline (alpha4) or a glutamine (alpha3) increased the affinity of the alpha1 peptide. It is concluded that aromatic residues contribute to the binding site for nicotine on the alpha4 subunit and that the residue present at position 199 partly determines differences in nicotine affinity for different alpha subunits.     

Three possible disulfides in the acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit

The cysteinyl residues of the acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit of Torpedo californica were analyzed. All seven cysteines could be accounted for. Three possible disulfide bridges and one unpaired cysteine were indicated. The disulfide linkages were as follows: Cys128 to Cys142; Cys192 to Cys193; Cys412 to Cys418 (Cys222 is unpaired). The identification of cysteinyl residues was accomplished by a modified protein blot procedure. Cysteinyl residues of intact nicotinic acetylcholine receptor were selectively biotinylated with 3-(N-maleimidopropionyl)biocytin and subsequently detected by the 125I-labeled avidin overlay of blotted Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteolyzed alpha-subunits. Two pairs of cysteines (Cys128/Cys142 and Cys412/Cys418) could be demonstrated only after Na(BH4) reduction of the acetylcholine receptor. Cysteine residues 192 and 193 are particularly sensitive to reduction; 0.1 mM dithiothreitol is sufficient.