Identification of the D2--Dopamine Receptor Binding Subunit in Several Mammalian Tissues and Species by Photoaffinity Labeling

Photoaffinity labeling of the D2-dopamine receptor in plasma membrane preparations of various tissues from several mammalian species was performed using the recently developed D2-dopaminergic antagonist probe [125I]N-(p-azidophenethyl)spiperone ([125I]N3-NAPS). In tissues containing D2-receptors such as the corpus striatum from rat, dog, calf, hamster, guinea pig, and rabbit as well as the anterior pituitary of rat, bovine, and hamster, the probe covalently labels a peptide of Mr = 94,000. Specificity of the labeling is typically D2-dopaminergic in character. The covalent labeling is blocked by (+)-butaclamol but not by the inactive (-)isomer. Agonists block incorporation with the order of potency: N-n-propylnorapomorphine greater than apomorphine greater than dopamine. The D2-selective antagonist spiperone blocks labeling of the Mr = 94,000 peptide whereas the D1-selective antagonist SCH-23390 is ineffective. Thus, these results indicate that the ligand binding subunit of the D2-dopamine receptor resides on a Mr = 94,000 peptide in these various tissues from several species. Under conditions where proteolysis is not stringently controlled, peptides of lower Mr (32-38,000) are labeled at the expense of the Mr = 94,000 peptide. The most efficient protease inhibitor tested in these systems was EDTA, suggesting that the generation of these lower Mr receptor fragments might be the result of a metal-dependent proteolysis in the membrane preparations. In the rat neurointermediate lobe, a tissue containing D2-receptors, [125I]N3-NAPS specifically labels a major peptide of Mr approximately equal to 120,000 in addition to the Mr = 94,000 peptide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The D2-dopamine receptor of anterior pituitary is functionally associated with a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide binding protein

Dopaminergic inhibition of prolactin release from the anterior pituitary may be mediated through both the adenylate cyclase and Ca2+ mobilization/phosphoinositide pathways. The D2-dopamine receptor of the bovine anterior pituitary has been partially purified by affinity chromatography on CMOS-Sepharose (immobilized carboxymethyleneoximinospiperone). Reinsertion of these partially purified receptor preparations into phospholipid vesicles reconstituted guanine nucleotide-sensitive high affinity agonist binding, agonist-promoted GTPase and 35S-labeled guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) [( 35S]GTP gamma S) binding activity in these preparations. Pertussis toxin treatment of the purified receptor preparation abolished agonist-stimulated GTPase and guanine nucleotide-sensitive high affinity agonist binding. These observations suggest that the receptor copurifies with an endogenous, pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide binding protein (N). [32P]ADP-ribosylation of affinity-purified D2 receptor preparations by pertussis toxin revealed the presence of a substrate of Mr 39,000-40,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Peptide maps generated using elastase of the [32P]ADP-ribosylated endogenous N protein, transducin, and Ni and No from brain revealed similarities but not identity between the endogenous pituitary N protein and brain Ni and No. Immunoblotting of the partially purified D2 receptor preparations showed an Mr 39,000-40,000 band with an Ni-specific antiserum raised against a synthetic peptide, and with RV3, an No-specific anti-serum, but not with CW6, an antiserum strongly reactive with brain Ni. Several lines of evidence indicate that endogenous pituitary N protein is functionally coupled to the D2 receptor. As measured by [35S]GTP gamma S binding, ratios of 0.2-0.6 mol N protein/mol receptor were observed. Association of N protein with the D2 receptor was increased by agonist pretreatment and decreased by guanine nucleotides. These results suggest that No and/or a form of Ni distinct from the Mr 41,000 pertussis toxin substrate (Ni) is the predominant N protein functionally coupled with the D2-dopamine receptor of anterior pituitary.     

Preparation of an affinity chromatography matrix for the selective purification of the dopamine D2 receptor from bovine striatal membranes

A ligand affinity matrix has been developed and utilized to purify the dopamine D2 receptor approx. 2100 fold from bovine striatal membranes. 3-[2-Aminoethyl]-8-[3-(4-fluorobenzoyl)propyl]-4-oxo-1-phenyl-1,3,8- triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one (AES) was synthesized and used to prepare the affinity matrix by coupling to epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B (AES-Sepharose). AES (Ki approximately 1.7 nM) is similar in potency to the parent compound, spiperone (Ki approximately 0.8 nM), in competing for [3H]spiperone-binding activity. AES has no significant potency in competing for the dopamine D1 receptor as assessed by competition for [3H]SCH23390 binding (Ki greater than 1 microM). Covalent photoaffinity labeling of the dopamine D2 receptor in bovine striatal membranes with N-(p-azido-m-[125I]iodophenethyl)spiperone [( 125I]N3-NAPS) was prevented by AES at nanomolar concentrations. The dopamine D2 receptor was solubilized from bovine striatal membranes using 0.25% cholate in the presence of high ionic strength, followed by precipitation and subsequent treatment with 0.5% digitonin. Nearly 100% of the [3H]spiperone-binding activity in the cholate-digitonin solubilized preparation was absorbed at a receptor-to-resin ratio of 2:1 (v/v). Dopamine D2 receptor was eluted from the affinity resin using a competing dopaminergic antagonist molecule, haloperidol. Recovery of dopamine D2 receptor activity from the affinity matrix was approx. 9% of the activity adsorbed to the resin. The [3H]spiperone-binding activity in AES-Sepharose affinity purified preparations is saturable and of high affinity (0.2 nM). Affinity-purified preparations maintain the ligand-binding characteristics of a dopamine D2 receptor as assessed by agonist and antagonist competition for [3H]spiperone binding.     

Photoaffinity labeling of the D2-dopamine receptor using a novel high affinity radioiodinated probe

The ligand binding subunit of the D2 subtype of the dopamine receptor has been identified by photoaffinity labeling. In order to develop a specific covalent receptor probe, an analogue of the potent D2 selective antagonist spiperone, N-(p-aminophenethyl)spiperone (NAPS) has been synthesized. The aminophenethyl substituent of NAPS can be radioiodinated to theoretical specific radioactivity (2,175 Ci/mmol) and then the arylamine group converted to an arylazide to yield a photosensitive probe [( 125I]N3-NAPS). In rat striatal membranes, the nonradiolabeled azide probe (N3-NAPS) binds to the receptor with high affinity (KD congruent to 1.6 +/- 0.05 nM) and upon photoactivation irreversibly decreases the number of available receptors in these membranes as measured by [3H]spiperone binding. More importantly, however, incubation of rat striatal membranes with [125I]N3-NAPS leads to the photodependent covalent incorporation of the probe into a peptide of Mr = 94,000 as assessed by autoradiography of gels after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Labeling of this Mr = 94,000 peptide can be blocked specifically and stereoselectively by dopaminergic antagonists such as (+)- and (-)-butaclamol but not by non-dopaminergic antagonists. Moreover, dopaminergic agonists also attenuate the covalent labeling of this peptide with an order of potency which is typically D2-dopaminergic. Therefore, the specificity of [125I]N3-NAPS labeling of the Mr = 94,000 peptide suggests that this peptide represents the ligand binding subunit of the D2-dopamine receptor.     

Purification of brain D2 dopamine receptor.

D2 dopamine receptors have been extracted from bovine brain using the detergent cholate and purified approximately 20,000-fold by affinity chromatography on haloperidol-sepharose and wheat germ agglutinin-agarose columns. The purified preparation contains D2 dopamine receptors as judged by the pharmacological specificity of [3H]spiperone binding to the purified material. The sp. act. of [3H]spiperone binding in the purified preparation is 2.5 nmol/mg protein. The purified preparation shows a major diffuse band at Mr 95,000 upon SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and there is evidence for microheterogeneity either at the protein or glycosylation level. Photoaffinity labelling of D2 dopamine receptors also shows a species of Mr 95,000. The D2 dopamine receptor therefore is a glycoprotein of Mr 95,000.     

Affinity chromatography of the anterior pituitary D2-dopamine receptor

The D2-dopamine receptor from bovine anterior pituitary has been solubilized with digitonin and purified approximately 1000-fold by affinity chromatography on a new affinity support. This support consists of a (carboxymethylene)oximino derivative of the D2-selective antagonist spiperone (CMOS) covalently attached to Sepharose 4B through a long side chain. The interaction of the solubilized receptor activity with the affinity gel was biospecific. Dopaminergic drugs blocked adsorption of solubilized receptor activity to the CMOS-Sepharose with the appropriate D2-dopaminergic potency and stereoselectivity. For agonists, (-)-N-n-propylnorapomorphine greater than 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxytetrahydronaphthalene approximately equal to apomorphine greater than dopamine, whereas for antagonists (+)-butaclamol much greater than (-)-butaclamol. The same D2-dopaminergic specificity was observed for elution of receptor activity from the gel. To observe eluted receptor binding activity, reconstitution of the eluted material into phospholipid vesicles was necessary. Typically, 70-80% of the solubilized receptor was adsorbed by CMOS-Sepharose, and 40-50% of the adsorbed activity could be recovered after reconstitution of the eluted material. The overall recovery of D2-receptor activity from bovine anterior pituitary membranes was 12-15% with specific binding activity of approximately 150 pmol/mg. The reconstituted affinity-purified receptor bound ligands with the expected D2-dopaminergic specificity, stereoselectivity, and rank order of potency.     

Attempts to obtain anti(D2 dopamine receptor) antibodies via the anti-idiotypic route.

Five stable hybridomas have been obtained that secrete monoclonal antibodies against the D2-dopamine receptor-selective drug spiperone. Each monoclonal antibody has been characterized in terms of its ability to bind a range of dopamine-receptor-selective ligands. One monoclonal antibody has been purified by Protein A affinity chromatography and used to immunize mice. Anti-idiotypic antisera and one hybridoma secreting an anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody were obtained and shown to inhibit [3H]spiperone binding to the anti-spiperone antibody used for immunization. Neither the antisera nor the anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody, however, inhibited binding of [3H]spiperone to D2-dopamine receptors.     

Localization of the strychnine binding site on the 48-kilodalton subunit of the glycine receptor

Amino acid residues that participate in antagonist binding to the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor (GlyR) have been identified by selectively modifying functional groups with chemical reagents. Moreover, a region directly involved with strychnine binding has been localized in the 48-kDa subunit of this receptor by covalent labeling and proteolytic mapping. Modification of tyrosyl or arginyl residues promotes a marked decrease of specific [3H]strychnine binding either to rat spinal cord plasma membranes or to the purified GlyR incorporated into phospholipid vesicles. Occupancy of the receptor by strychnine, but not by glycine, completely protects from the inhibition caused by chemical reagents. Furthermore, these tyrosine- or arginine-specific reagents decrease the number of binding sites (Bmax) for [3H]strychnine binding without affecting the affinity for the ligand (Kd). These observations strongly suggest that such residues are present at, or very close to, the antagonist binding site. In order to localize the strychnine binding domain within the GlyR, purified and reconstituted receptor preparations were photoaffinity labeled with [3H]strychnine. The radiolabeled 48-kDa subunit was then digested with specific chemical proteolytic reagents, and the peptides containing the covalently bound radioligand were identified by fluorography after gel electrophoresis. N-Chlorosuccinimide treatment of [3H]strychnine-labeled 48K polypeptide yielded a single labeled peptide of Mr approximately 7300, and cyanogen bromide gave a labeled peptide of Mr 6200.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

N-linked oligosaccharides are responsible for rat striatal dopamine D2 receptor heterogeneity

The glycoprotein nature of the binding subunit of the dopamine D2 receptor in rat striatum has been examined by photoaffinity labeling receptor preparations with N-(p-azido-m-[125I]iodophenethyl)spiperone followed by treatment of crude membrane receptor or receptor fractions isolated from sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels with endo- and exoglycosidases. The major photoaffinity labeled protein migrates as a heterogeneous species on 10% SDS polyacrylamide gels and ranges from 130,000 to 75,000 relative molecular mass (Mr). This heterogeneity can be explained by glycosylation of the receptor by complex-type N-linked oligosaccharides. Three fractions of labeled receptor were isolated from SDS polyacrylamide gels over a range of 130,000 to 75,000 Mr; after digestion with peptide-N4-[N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl] asparagine amidase, all fractions yielded a single peptide approximately 40,000 Mr. Treatment of photoaffinity labeled membranes with alpha-mannosidase was without effect. The dopamine D2 receptor appears to contain substantial amounts of sialic acid as treatment of photoaffinity labeled membranes with neuraminidase increased the receptor mobility on SDS polyacrylamide gels to a species of 50,000-54,000 Mr. Treatment of the receptor with neuraminidase followed by endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase did not change the electrophoretic migration pattern from that seen after neuraminidase treatment alone, suggesting that the binding peptide contains no serine- or threonine-linked oligosaccharides. A smaller binding peptide of approximately 31,000 Mr is also apparent in crude photoaffinity labeled membranes. This material also contains N-linked oligosaccharide. Complete removal of N-linked oligosaccharide from the dopamine D2 receptor did not change the rank order potency of agonist and antagonist compounds to compete for [3H]spiperone binding to crude membrane fractions. The dopamine D2 receptor represents a highly glycosylated neural receptor.     

Dopamine D2 Receptors in the Anterior Pituitary: A Single Population Without Reciprocal Antagonist/Agonist States

Although dopamine agonists can recognize two states of the D2 dopamine receptor in the anterior pituitary (D2high and D2low), we examined whether the dopamine antagonists such as [3H]spiperone could recognize these two sites with different affinities. Using up to 30 concentrations of [3H]spiperone, however, we could only detect a single population of binding sites (porcine anterior pituitary homogenates) with a dissociation constant (KD) of 130 pM. When specific [3H]spiperone binding was defined by a low concentration of (+)-butaclamol (100 nM), the apparent density was low. When defined by a high concentration of (+)-butaclamol (10 microM), nonspecific sites became detectable, thus revealing two apparent populations of sites for [3H]spiperone, only one of which was specific for dopamine. Sodium chloride reduced the KD of the single population of specific D2 sites to 64 pM. Guanine nucleotide by itself had no effect on the KD, but enhanced the density by 25%. Since the density-enhancement could be eliminated by extensive washing of membranes, and could be restored by preincubation with dopamine, the nucleotide-induced elevation of D2 density appeared to be a result of the release of tightly bound endogenous dopamine. Thus, monovalent cations and guanine nucleotides appear to have separate regulatory effects on the anterior pituitary D2 receptor that modulate antagonist-receptor interactions. Several maneuvers were used to test whether [3H]spiperone could differentiate between the two agonist-detected subpopulations of sites. Twentyfold different concentrations of [3H]spiperone (47 pM and 1000 pM) were found to label identical proportions of receptors in the D2high and D2low states as detected by the agonist 6,7-dihydroxyaminotetralin (ADTN), suggesting that spiperone labelled equal proportions of D2high and D2low sites without differential affinity for them. In addition, competition of spiperone for D2high sites selectively labelled by the agonist [3H]n-propylnorapomorphine (NPA) had a virtually identical KD for spiperone as did the total D2 receptor population as determined by direct binding studies (75 pM versus 64 pM). [3H]Spiperone also bound to a uniform population of D2low sites induced by preincubation with guanine nucleotide with identical affinity as to the total D2 population. Thus, these data do not support a "reciprocal model" for the D2 receptor (i.e., antagonist having low affinity for D2high and high affinity for D2low in a manner reciprocal to agonists).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Solubilization of D2 Dopamine Receptor Coupled to Guanine Nucleotide Regulatory Protein from Bovine Striatum

D2 dopamine receptor from bovine striatum was solubilized in a form sensitive to guanine nucleotides, by means of a zwitterionic detergent, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS). The presence of sodium ion markedly increased the solubilization yield. Treatment of the membranes with 10 mM CHAPS and 0.72 M NaCl solubilized 26% of the stereospecific [3H]spiperone binding sites in the original membrane preparations. The solubilized [3H]spiperone binding sites possessed characteristics of the D2 dopamine receptor: (a) localization of the site in the striatum but not in the cerebellum; (b) high affinity to nanomolar concentrations of [3H]spiperone; (c) displacement of [3H]spiperone binding by nanomolar concentrations of neuroleptics, but only by micromolar concentrations of dopamine and apomorphine; (d) equal activity of various dopamine agonists and antagonists in the soluble and membrane preparations. Guanine nucleotides decreased the affinity of the solubilized D2 dopamine receptor for dopamine agonists, but not for antagonists. The solubilized receptor complex was eluted in Sepharose CL-4B column chromatography as a large molecule, with a Stokes radius of approximately 90 A. These results indicate that the complex between the D2 dopamine receptor and GTP binding protein remains intact throughout the solubilization procedure.     

Purification by affinity chromatography of the glycine receptor of rat spinal cord

The glycine receptor of rat spinal cord was solubilized with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 and subsequently purified by affinity chromatography on aminostrychnine-agarose and wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose. An overall purification of 1950-fold was achieved. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and mercaptoethanol revealed three glycine receptor-associated polypeptides of Mr = 48,000, 58,000, and 93,000. [3H]Strychnine was incorporated irreversibly into the Mr = 48,000 polypeptide upon UV-illumination. The dissociation constant (KD) of [3H]strychnine binding to the purified glycine receptor was 9.3 +/- 0.6 nM. The glycine receptor agonists glycine, beta-alanine, and taurine inhibited the binding of [3H]strychnine to the purified receptor. Gel filtration and sedimentation in sucrose/H2O and sucrose/D2O gradients gave a Stokes radius of 7.7 nm, a partial specific volume of 0.780 +/- 0.005 ml/g and a sedimentation coefficient s20,w of 8.2 +/- 0.2 S for the purified glycine receptor. From these data, a molecular weight of 246,000 +/- 6,000 was calculated for the glycine receptor protein.     

Effect of Phospholipase Digestion and Lysophosphatidylcholine on Dopamine Receptor Binding

[3H]Spiperone specific binding by microsomal membranes isolated from sheep caudate nucleus is decreased by trypsin and phospholipase A2 (Vipera russeli), but is insensitive to neuraminidase. The inhibitory effect of phospholipase A2 is correlated with phospholipid hydrolysis. After 15 min of phospholipase (5 micrograms/mg protein) treatment, a maximal effect is observed; the maximal lipid hydrolysis is about 56% and produces 82% reduction in [3H]spiperone binding. Equilibrium binding studies in nontreated and treated membranes showed a reduction in Bmax from a value of 388 +/- 9.2 fmol/mg protein before phospholipase treatment to a value of 52 +/- 7.8 fmol/mg protein after treatment, but no change in affinity (KD = 0.24 +/- 0.042 nM) was observed. Albumin washing of treated membranes removes 47% of lysophosphatidylcholine produced by phospholipid hydrolysis without recovering [3H]spiperone binding activity. However, the presence of 2.5% albumin during phospholipase A2 action (1.5 micrograms/mg protein) prevents the inhibitory effect of phospholipase on [3H]spiperone binding to the membranes, although 28% of the total membrane phospholipid is hydrolysed. Lysophosphatidylcholine, a product of phospholipid hydrolysis, mimics the phospholipase A2 effect on receptor activity, but the [3H]spiperone binding inhibition can be reversed by washing with 2.5% defatted serum albumin. Addition of microsomal lipids to microsomal membranes pretreated with phospholipase does not restore [3H]spiperone stereospecific binding. It is concluded that the phospholipase-mediated inhibition of [3H]spiperone binding activity results not only from hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids, but also from an alteration of the lipid environment by the end products of phospholipid hydrolysis.     

Purification and characterization of the glycine receptor of pig spinal cord

A large-scale purification procedure was developed to isolate the glycine receptor of pig spinal cord by affinity chromatography on aminostrychnine agarose. After an overall purification of about 10 000-fold, the glycine receptor preparations contained three major polypeptides of Mr 48 000, 58 000, and 93 000. Photoaffinity labeling with [3H]strychnine showed that the [3H]strychnine binding site is associated with the Mr 48 000 and, to a much lesser extent, the Mr 58 000 polypeptides. [3H]Strychnine binding to the purified receptor exhibited a dissociation constant KD of 13.8 nM and was inhibited by the agonists glycine, taurine, and beta-alanine. Gel filtration and sucrose gradient centrifugation gave a Stokes radius of 7.1 nm and an apparent sedimentation coefficient of 9.6 S. Peptide mapping of the [3H]strychnine-labeled Mr 48 000 polypeptides of purified pig and rat glycine receptor preparations showed that the strychnine binding region of this receptor subunit is highly conserved between these species. Also, three out of six monoclonal antibodies against the glycine receptor of rat spinal cord significantly cross-reacted with their corresponding polypeptides of the pig glycine receptor. These results show that the glycine receptor of pig spinal cord is very similar to the well-characterized rat receptor protein and can be purified in quantities sufficient for protein chemical analysis.     

Affinity chromatography of the bovine cerebral cortex A1 adenosine receptor

An approximate 140-fold purification of the A1 adenosine receptor of bovine cerebral cortex has been obtained via affinity chromatography. The affinity column consists of Affi-Gel 10 coupled through an amide linkage to XAC, a high-affinity A1 adenosine receptor antagonist. As assessed by [3H]XAC binding, bovine brain membranes solubilized with the detergent CHAPS had a specific binding activity of 1.1 pmol/mg protein. Interaction of solubilized A1 adenosine receptors with the XAC-Affi-Gel was biospecific and 30% of the receptor activity was bound by the gel. Demonstration of [3H]XAC binding in the material eluted from the column with R-PIA required insertion of receptor into phospholipid vesicles. The specific activity of the affinity column purified receptor was 146 +/- 22 pmol/mg protein with typically 5-15% of the bound receptor recovered. The purified receptor displayed high-affinity antagonist binding and bound agonists with the potency order expected of the bovine brain A1 adenosine receptor: R-PIA greater than S-PIA greater than NECA. In purified preparations, the photoaffinity probe [125I]PAPAXAC-SANPAH specifically labelled a protein of molecular mass 38,000 which has previously been shown to be the A1 adenosine receptor binding subunit.     

Coupling of a cloned rat dopamine-D2 receptor to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and prolactin secretion.

We have previously described a cDNA which encodes a binding site with the pharmacology of the D2-dopamine receptor (Bunzow, J. R., VanTol, H. H. M., Grandy, D. K., Albert, P., Salon, J., Christie, M., Machida, C., Neve, K. A., and Civelli, O. (1988) Nature 336, 783-787). We demonstrate here that this protein is a functional receptor, i.e. it couples to G-proteins to inhibit cAMP generation and hormone secretion. The cDNA was expressed in GH4C1 cells, a rat somatomammotrophic cell strain which lacks dopamine receptors. Stable transfectants were isolated and one clone, GH4ZR7, which had the highest levels of D2-dopamine receptor mRNA on Northern blot, was studied in detail. Binding of D2-dopamine antagonist [3H]spiperone to membranes isolated from GH4ZR7 cells was saturable, with KD = 96 pM, and Bmax = 2300 fmol/mg protein. Addition of GTP/NaCl increased the IC50 value for dopamine competition for [3H]spiperone binding by 2-fold, indicating that the D2-dopamine receptor interacts with one or more G-proteins. To assess the function of the dopamine-binding site, acute biological actions of dopamine were characterized in GH4ZR7 cells. Dopamine, at concentrations found in vivo, decreased resting intra- and extracellular cAMP levels (EC50 = 8 +/- 2 nM) by 50-70% and blocked completely vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) induced enhancement of cAMP levels (EC50 = 6 +/- 1 nM). Antagonism of dopamine-induced inhibition of VIP-enhanced cAMP levels by spiperone, (+)-butaclamol, (-)-sulpiride, and SCH23390 occurred at concentrations expected from KI values for these antagonists at the D2-receptor and was stereoselective. Dopamine (as well as several D2-selective agonists) inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by 45 +/- 6%, with EC50 of 500-800 nM in GH4ZR7 membranes. Dopaminergic inhibition of cellular cAMP levels and of adenylyl cyclase activity in membrane preparations was abolished by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (50 ng/ml, 16 h). Dopamine (200 nM) abolished VIP- and thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced acute prolactin release. These data show conclusively that the cDNA clone encodes a functional dopamine-D2 receptor which couples to G-proteins to inhibit adenylyl cyclase and both cAMP-dependent and cAMP-independent hormone secretion.     

The fat cell beta-adrenergic receptor. Purification and characterization of a mammalian beta 1-adrenergic receptor

The beta 1-adrenergic receptor of rat fat cells was effectively solubilized with digitonin and purified by affinity chromatography and steric exclusion high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The purification strategy described permits an approximately 24,000-fold purification of the beta 1-adrenergic receptor of fat cells with an overall recovery of approximately 70%. Purified receptor preparations demonstrate a specific activity for (-) [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding of 12 nmol/mg of protein. The purified receptor was shown to migrate in steric exclusion HPLC as a Mr = 67,000 protein. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of radioiodinated purified receptor revealed a single, major peptide of Mr = 67,000. The binding of (-) [3H]dihydroalprenolol to purified receptor preparations displayed stereoselectivity and affinities for antagonists similar in nature to the membrane-bound and digitonin-solubilized beta 1-adrenergic receptor. In addition to the Mr = 67,000 component, a Mr = 140,000 form of the receptor was identified in HPLC runs of freshly prepared, affinity chromatographed receptor preparations that had not been frozen. This larger form of the receptor yielded binding activity of Mr = 67,000 on sequential HPLC runs and was shown to contain the Mr = 67,000 peptide. The beta 1-receptor from this mammalian source, composed of a single Mr = 67,000 peptide, is clearly quite distinct from the purified avian beta 1-, amphibian beta 2-, and mammalian beta 2-adrenergic receptors described by others.     

The mammalian beta 2-adrenergic receptor: purification and characterization

The beta 2-adrenergic receptors from hamster, guinea pig, and rat lungs have been solubilized with digitonin and purified by sequential Sepharose-alprenolol affinity and high-performance steric-exclusion liquid chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of iodinated purified receptor preparations reveal a peptide with an apparent Mr of 64 000 in all three systems that coincides with the peptide labeled by the specific beta-adrenergic photoaffinity probe (p-azido-m-[125I]iodobenzyl)carazolol. A single polypeptide was observed in all three systems, suggesting that lower molecular weight peptides identified previously by affinity labeling or purification in mammalian systems may represent proteolyzed forms of the receptor. Purification of the beta-adrenergic receptor has also been assessed by silver staining, iodinated lectin binding, and measurement of the specific activity (approximately 15 000 pmol of [3H]dihydroalprenolol bound/mg of protein). Overall yields approximate 10% of the initial crude particulate binding, with 1-3 pmol of purified receptor obtained/g of tissue. The purified receptor preparations bind agonist and antagonist ligands with the expected beta 2-adrenergic specificity and stereoselectivity. Peptide mapping and lectin binding studies of the hamster, guinea pig, and rat lung beta 2-adrenergic receptors reveal significant similarities suggestive of evolutionary homology.     

A novel photoaffinity ligand for the phencyclidine site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor labels a Mr 120,000 polypeptide

A radiolabeled photoaffinity ligand has been developed for the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-preferring excitatory amino acid receptor complex. [3H]3-Azido-(5S, 10R)(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H- dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine [3H]3-azido-MK-801 demonstrated nearly identical affinity, density of binding sites, selectivity, pH sensitivity, and pharmacological profile in reversible binding assays with guinea pig brain homogenates to those displayed by its parent compound, MK-801. When employed in a photo-labeling protocol designed to optimize specific incorporation, [3H]3-azido-MK-801 labeled a single protein band which migrated in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with Mr = 120,000. Incorporation of tritium into this band was completely inhibited when homogenates and [3H]3-azido-MK-801 were coincubated with 10 microM phencyclidine. These data suggest that the phencyclidine site of the NMDA receptor complex is at least in part comprised of a Mr = 120,000 polypeptide.     

The gamma-aminobutyrate/benzodiazepine receptor from pig brain. Purification and characterization of the receptor complex from cerebral cortex and cerebellum.

The gamma-aminobutyrate/benzodiazepine-receptor complex has been purified from a Triton X-100 extract of crude synaptic membranes from pig cerebral cortex and cerebellum by a combination of affinity and ion-exchange chromatography. [3H]Flunitrazepam binding activity was purified 2200-fold from cortex with an overall yield of 2%. The dissociation constants for the binding of [3H]muscimol and [3H]flunitrazepam to the receptor complex were 14 +/- 3 nM and 14 +/- 2 nM respectively. The ratio of [3H]muscimol to [3H]flunitrazepam binding sites was in the range 2.2-2.8. There appeared to be no selective inactivation of either binding site during the purification procedure. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed two major polypeptides of Mr 49 000 and 55 000 from both cortex and cerebellum. When the receptor from cortex was photoaffinity labelled with [3H]flunitrazepam, radioactivity was incorporated predominantly into the Mr-49 000 polypeptide, although some radioactivity was detectable in the Mr-55 000 band. The cerebellar receptor was photoaffinity labelled on the 49 000-Mr polypeptide but not on the polypeptide of Mr 55 000. In addition, some radioactivity was detected in a minor polypeptide of Mr 43 000. When purified in the presence of 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulphonate the same major polypeptide components (Mr 49 000 and 55 000) were isolated, but the receptor now retained its ability to be modulated by secobarbital and by the anaesthetic propanidid.