Identification of agrin, a synaptic organizing protein from Torpedo electric organ

Extracts of the electric organ of Torpedo californica contain a proteinaceous factor that causes the formation of patches on cultured myotubes at which acetylcholine receptors (AChR), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) are concentrated. Results of previous experiments indicate that this factor is similar to the molecules in the synaptic basal lamina that direct the aggregation of AChR and AChE at regenerating neuromuscular junctions in vivo. We have purified the active components in the extracts 9,000-fold. mAbs against four different epitopes on the AChR/AChE/BuChE-aggregating molecules each immunoprecipitated four polypeptides from electric organ extracts, with molecular masses of 150, 135, 95, and 70 kD. Gel filtration chromatography of electric organ extracts revealed two peaks of AChR/AChE/BuChE-aggregation activity; one comigrated with the 150-kD polypeptide, the other with the 95-kD polypeptide. The 135- and 70-kD polypeptides did not cause AChR/AChE/BuChE aggregation. Based on these molecular characteristics and on the pattern of staining seen in sections of muscle labeled with the mAbs, we conclude that the electric organ-aggregating factor is distinct from previously identified molecules, and we have named it "agrin."     

Characterization of a membrane protein from cholinergic synaptic vesicles isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata

Rabbits were immunized with cholinergic synaptic vesicles isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata. The resultant antiserum had one major antibody activity against an antigen called the Torpedo vesicle antigen. This antigen could not be demonstrated in muscle, liver or blood and is therefore, suggested to be nervous-tissue specific. The vesicle antigen was quantified in various parts of the nervous system and in subcellular fractions of the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata and was found to be highly enriched in synaptic vesicle membranes. The antigen bound to concanavalin A, thereby demonstrating the presence of a carbohydrate moiety. By means of charge-shift electrophoresis, amphiphilicity was demonstrated, indicating that the Torpedo vesicle antigen is an intrinsic membrane protein. The antigen was immunochemically unrelated to other brain specific proteins such as 14-3-2, S-100, the glial fibrillary acidic protein and synaptin. Furthermore, it was unrelated to two other membrane proteins, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase, present in Torpedo electric organ. The antiserum against Torpedo synaptic vesicles did not react with preparations of rat brain synaptic vesicles or ox adrenal medullary chromaffin granules.     

Kinetics of cation-induced aggregation of Torpedo electric organ synaptic vesicles.

Synaptic vesicles from the Torpedo ray can be induced to aggregate in the presence of Ca2+ and K+ in the 4 mM and 50 mM range, respectively. The reactions are strikingly similar to those of chromaffin granule membranes reported previously (Morris, S.J., Chiu, V.C.K. and Haynes, D.H. (1979) Membrane Biochem. 2, 163-202). The Ca2+-induced reaction includes dimerization and higher order aggregation, and is shown to be due to electrostatic screening interactions and bindng to negatively-charged groups on the membrane surface. The K+-induced reaction includes only dimerization and is shown to be due to screening interactions alone. The kinetics of the dimerization reactions were studied using the stopped-flow rapid mixing technique. The Ca2+-induced reaction has a 'bimolecular' rate constant of 4.77 . 10(8) M-1 . s-1. These values are close to the limit of diffusion control (8.03 . 10(9) M-1 . s-1), indicating that no large energy barriers or structural barriers to aggregation exist. Arrhenius plots for the Ca2+-induced aggregation showed a break at 5 degrees C. Above this temperature, the activation energy is low (+0.65 kcal/mol), consistent with the above. Below this temperature, the activation energy is high, consistent with a membrane structure change increasing theenergetic and structural barriers. This information, and the observation of a high stability constant of the complex, were taken as evidence for the involvement of 'recognition sites' on the membrane surface. The results were analyzed in terms of an encounter complex model in which vesicles with separations of 26-126 A are considered capable of transformation into a stable complex. The rate constant of the transformation step is 1.4 . 10(3) s-1 for Ca2+ and approx. 1.6 . 10(5) s-1 for K+. The values are compared with previous results for chromaffin granule membranes and for phospholipid vesicles derived from chromaffin granule lipids and from acidic phospholipids. The half-time for Ca2+-induced transformation of the encounter complex into the stable complex is 435 microseconds. It is concluded that the recognition sites are almost as optimally deployed as the vesicle plasma membrane recognition sites involved in exocytotic release.     

Phosphorylation in vitro of membrane fragments from Torpedo marmorata electric organ. Effect on membrane solubilization by detergents

Acetylcholine receptor-rich membrane fragments purified from Torpedo marmorata electric organ were phosphorylated, in vitro, by endogenous protein kinases. The 40 000-Mr chain, which carries the acetylcholine receptor site, was never labelled; on the other hand, protein bands of apparent molecular weights 43 000, 50 000 and 66 000, which are present in the acetylcholine receptor-rich membranes, were repeatedly phosphorylated. The phosphorylation of these three peptides required the presence of divalent cations, such as Mg2+ or Mn2+, and was, in addition, stimulated up to 3--5-fold by K+. The effect of Na+ ions appeared less specific since Na+ ions reduced the labelling of all the polypeptides susceptible to phosphorylation. Cholinergic agonists and antagonists, local anesthetics and cyclic nucleotides did not affect the phosphorylation of the receptor-rich membranes. Phosphorylation selectively modified the solubilization of several polypeptides by nondenaturing detergents: phosphorylated 43 000-Mr, 50 000-Mr and 66 000-Mr polypeptides were solubilized at lower concentrations of detergent than their non-phosphorylated counterparts. Two-dimensional gels revealed the existence of a charge heterogeneity of the 40 000-Mr and 43 000-Mr chains. The microheterogeneity of the 43 000-Mr chain, but not that of the 40 000-Mr chain, might result from a selective phosphorylation of this particular chain.     

Identification and partial purification of ABGP205, an integral membrane glycoprotein from brain that binds ankyrin.

1. A procedure was devised that allows the membrane-skeletal proteins brain spectrin and ankyrin to be extracted selectively from a membrane-skeletal preparation, together with some actin, an Mr-103,000 protein and a population of glycoproteins. 2. Ankyrin-binding activities of the glycoproteins were investigated by affinity chromatography. We detected only one, Mr 205,000, that binds ankyrin and is prevented from binding by the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3, the established erythrocyte-membrane-binding site for ankyrin. The Mr-205,000 glycoprotein, designated ABGP205, may be a candidate for a membrane-binding site for ankyrin.     

Alboaggregin-B: a new platelet agonist that binds to platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib.

A new protein, called alboaggregin-B (AL-B), has been isolated from Trimeresurus albolabris venom by ion-exchange chromatography. It agglutinated platelets without the need for Ca2+ or any other cofactor. The purified protein showed an apparent molecular mass on SDS-PAGE and gel filtration of about 23 kDa under nonreducing conditions. Ristocetin did not alter the binding of AL-B to platelets or affect AL-B-induced platelet agglutination. Agglutinating activity was not dependent on either proteolytic or lectin-like activity in AL-B. Binding analysis showed that AL-B bound to platelets with high affinity (Kd = 13.6 +/- 9.3 nM) at approximately 30,800 +/- 14,300 binding sites per platelet. AL-B inhibited the binding of labeled bovine von Willebrand factor (vWF) to platelets. Monoclonal antibodies against the 45-kDa N-terminal domain of platelet glycoprotein Ib inhibited the binding both of AL-B and of bovine vWF to platelets, and also inhibited platelet agglutination induced by AL-B and bovine vWF. Specific removal of the N-terminal domain of GPIb by treatment of the platelets with elastase or Serratia marcescens protease reduced the binding of labeled AL-B and bovine vWF to platelets and blocked platelet agglutination caused by both agonists. Monoclonal antibodies to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, to bovine vWF, and to bovine serum albumin did not show any effect on the binding of AL-B to platelets. Our results indicate that the binding domain for AL-B on platelet GPIb is close to or identical with the one for vWF. This new protein may be a very useful tool for studying the interaction between platelets and vWF.     

Purification, characterization and cellular localization of 5''-nucleotidase from Torpedo electric organ.

5'-Nucleotidase was isolated from the electric organ of the electric ray Torpedo marmorata after solubilization in Triton X-100 and deoxycholate by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and AMP-Sepharose. The purified enzyme has a Km for AMP of 38 microM, with a maximal velocity of 31 units/mg of protein. Of the purine and pyrimidine mononucleotides, AMP is hydrolysed most effectively. beta-Glycerophosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate and p-nitrophenyl phosphate are not substrates for the enzyme. Adenosine 5'-[alpha, beta-methylene]diphosphate, ADP and ATP are competitive inhibitors in this order of potency. Concanavalin A inhibits enzyme activity in a non-competitive manner. Whereas Mg2+, Ca2+ and Sr2+ activate enzyme activity in the millimolar range, Hg2+, and in particular Pb2+ and Zn2+, inhibit enzyme activity. On SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis the enzyme has an apparent Mr of 62000, whereas that of the native deoxycholate-enzyme complex is 131000. An antiserum raised against the native enzyme inhibits enzyme activity. Inhibition studies suggest the presence of tissue-specific variants of the enzyme. By immunohistochemical analysis the enzyme can be localized to the ramifications of nerve terminals in the electric organ.     

Comparison of asymmetric forms of acetylcholinesterase from the electric organ of Narke japonica and Torpedo californica

The asymmetric forms of acetylcholinesterase were purified from the electric organs of the electric rays Narke japonica and Torpedo californica, and their properties were compared. Asymmetric acetylcholinesterase was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography with a monoclonal antibody (Nj-601) to acetylcholinesterase. The MgCl2 extracts of these electric organs were applied to a column of Nj-601-Sepharose, and the bound acetylcholinesterase was eluted by lowering the pH of the eluent to 2.8. The purified asymmetric acetylcholinesterases gave peaks of 17 S (A12) and 13 S (A8) on sucrose density gradients. The enzyme from N. japonica contained more A8 than A12, while that of T. californica contained more A12. After treatment with collagenase, the enzymes gave three peaks on sedimentation; 20 S, 16 S and 11 S for N. japonica, and 19 S, 15 S and 11 S for T. californica, indicating the presence of collagen-like tails. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, the asymmetric acetylcholinesterase from N. japonica gave bands of Mr 140 000, 100 000, 70 000 and 60 000, while that from T. californica gave bands of Mr 140 000, 100 000, 70 000 and 55 000. The bands of Mr 70 000 and 140 000 were monomers and non-reducible dimers, respectively, of the catalytic subunits. The bands of Mr 60 000 and 55 000 were the tail subunits, since collagenase treatment of the purified enzymes markedly decreased the amounts of these components. The Mr 100 000 subunit constituted less than 3% of the total asymmetric acetylcholinesterase from N. japonica but 18% of that from T. californica. The tail subunits constituted 6-8% of the two preparations. The catalytic subunits and the Mr 100 000 subunits bound concanavalin A, indicating that they are glycoproteins. The amino acid compositions of the enzymes from N. japonica and T. californica were very similar. Both contained hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, characteristic of the collagen-like tails. The enzyme required divalent metal ions for activity, but only Mn2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ were effective. Mn2+ was effective at the lowest concentrations, while Mg2+ gave the highest activity.     

Purification of active synaptic vesicles from the electric organ of Torpedo californica and comparison to reserve vesicles

At least two distinguishable forms of synaptic vesicles exist, the active and reserve, but the reserve form is studied most because it has been difficult to purify the active vesicles. In the work reported here the active vesicles (termed VP₂) were highly enriched from the electric organ of Torpedo californica by an improved method developed for the reserve vesicles (termed VP₁) with the addition of density gradient centrifugation based on Percoll. No significant differences between the vesicular types were found in the amounts of SV1, SV2, and SV4 epitopes and P-type and V-type ATPase activities. The buoyant densities (g/ml) of VP₁ and VP₂ vesicles were determined by centrifugation in isosmotic sucrose (1.051, 1.069), Percoll (1.034, 1.040), and glycerol (1.087, 1.090) gradients. The radii were determined by dynamic quasi-elastic laser light-scattering to be (56.6 ± 10.8) nm and (55.0 ± 12.7) nm. For both vesicular types the volume of excluded sucrose is only about 37% of the volume of excluded Percoll, indicating that the surfaces are rough. Approx. 51% of the VP₁ and 32% of the VP₂ vesicular volumes are ‘osmotically active’ water that is exchangeable with glycerol. The different buoyant densities and amounts of osmotically active water in VP₁ and VP₂ vesicles probably are due to the different internal solutes. Previously observed differences in acetylcholine active transport and vesamicol binding by VP₁ and VP₂ synaptic vesicles cannot be explained by major alterations in the protein composition or conformation of the membranes in the two types of vesicles.     

G-proteins in Torpedo marmorata electric organ. Differential distribution in pre- and post-synaptic membranes and synaptic vesicles

The nature of the G-proteins present in the pre- and post-synaptic plasma membranes and in the synaptic vesicles of cholinergic nerve terminals purified from the Torpedo electric organ was investigated. In pre- and post-synaptic plasma membranes, Bordetella pertussis toxin, known to catalyze the ADP-ribosylation of the alpha-subunit of several G-proteins, labels two substrates at 41 and 39 kDa. The 39 kDa subunit detected by ADP-ribosylation in the synaptic plasma membrane fractions was immunologically similar to the Go alpha-subunit purified from calf brain. In contrast to bovine chromaffin cell granules, no G-protein could be detected in Torpedo synaptic vesicles either by ADP-ribosylation or by immunoblotting.     

Specificity of association of a Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase with cholinergic synaptic vesicles from Torpedo electric organ.

Cholinergic synaptic vesicles from the electric organ of $\text{Torpedo}$$\text{californica}$ have been subjected to analytical scale separation techniques not utilized in the isolation procedure, and the ATPase activity of separated fractions determined. Most of the ATPase activity migrated with the vesicles. Sensitivity of the ATPase activity to 16 potential inhibitors also was determined. Most of the ATPase activity was inhibited by low concentrations of 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-oxadiazole (NBD-C1) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), but not by a water soluble carbodiimide. The close association of the ATPase with the vesicles and the pattern of inhibition obtained provide further support for the authentic presence of a membrane bound $\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ ATPase in the cholinergic synaptic vesicle.     

The basement membrane glycoprotein entactin promotes cell attachment and binds calcium ions

Mouse entactin derived from the extracellular matrix of M1536-B3 cells and from insect cells infected with a recombinant virus containing entactin sequences were shown to promote the attachment of mouse mammary tumor, human melanoma, and other cells. The cell attachment was inhibited by antibodies against mouse entactin but not by anti-fibronectin or anti-laminin antibodies. On a weight basis entactin was as effective as laminin in promoting the attachment of mouse mammary tumor cells. The attachment of cells to entactin was in part mediated by the integrin recognition RGD peptide sequence. This was demonstrated by the cell attachment properties of peptides derived from entactin which contained this sequence. Furthermore, the peptide RGDS could inhibit the attachment of mouse mammary tumor cells to entactin to approximately 60% of control. It is suggested that additional cell recognition sequences may be present in entactin. The direct binding of calcium ions to entactin was observed. It is probable that the binding sites reside in peptide sequences located toward the NH2 terminus region of entactin. This conclusion was supported by the demonstration that synthetic peptides, containing potential calcium binding sequences derived from entactin, bound calcium. In addition, a recombinant peptide containing the amino-terminal 330 amino acids of entactin also bound calcium ions. The significance of these properties of entactin is discussed.     

Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activity in synaptic plasma membranes derived from the electric organ of Torpedo ocellata.

Synaptic plasma membranes obtained by hypo-osmotic treatment of purified Torpedo ocellata synaptosomes, contain an electrogenic Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange system. The dependence of the initial reaction rate on [Ca2+] reveals a single binding site for Ca2+ with an average apparent Km of 13.66 (S.D. = 12.07) microM [Ca2+] and maximal reaction velocity of Vmax = 11.33 (S.D. = 5.93) nmol/mg protein per s. The dependence of the initial rate of the Na+ gradient dependent Ca2+ influx on the internal [Na+] exhibits a sigmoidal curve which reaches half-maximal reaction rate at 170.8 (S.D. = 19.9) mM [Na+]. Addition of ATP gamma S does not change the K0.5 to Na+. The average Hill coefficient is 3.09 (S.D. = 0.86) indicating that 3-4 Na+ ions are exchanged for each Ca2+. Na+ gradient dependent Ca2+ uptake in Torpedo SPMs takes place also in the absence of K+ suggesting that K+ co-transport is not obligatory. The temperature dependence of the initial and steady-state rates of Na+ gradient dependent Ca2+ influx reveal that maximal reaction velocities of the Torpedo exchanger are attained between 15 and 20 degrees C. The energy of activation between 0 and 20 degrees C is 20,826 cal/mol. In comparison, rat brain synaptic plasma membrane Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger reaches maximal reaction rates between 30 and 40 degrees C. Reconstitution of Torpedo or rat brain Na(+)-Ca2+ exchangers into a membrane composed of either Torpedo or brain phospholipids, does not alter the temperature dependence of the native Torpedo or rat brain Na(+)-Ca2+ exchangers; inspite of considerable differences in the composition of the fatty acyl chains that are esterified to brain and Torpedo phospholipid head groups and differences in membrane fluidity that were detected. An ATP-dependent Ca2+ pump, which is insensitive to FCCP, is also present in the same synaptic membrane.     

Identification of a region in the cytoplasmic domain of the platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib-IX complex that binds to purified actin-binding protein.

The platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex is a major site of attachment of the platelet membrane skeleton to the plasma membrane. This association is mediated by the interaction of actin-binding protein with the GP Ib-IX complex. The aim of the present work was to identify domains on the GP Ib-IX complex that interact with actin-binding protein. Synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences of the GP Ib alpha-chain and beta-chain cytoplasmic domains were analyzed for their ability to bind to purified actin-binding protein. Two overlapping peptides encompassing a sequence (Thr-536-Phe-568) from the central region of the cytoplasmic domain of GP Ib alpha were the most effective in binding 125I-actin-binding protein, as assessed by a microtiter well approach and peptide affinity chromatography. One of the active peptides (Thr-536-Leu-554) was chosen to evaluate the likelihood that the central region of the cytoplasmic domain of GP Ib alpha is involved in binding of the intact complex to actin-binding protein. This peptide could be specifically cross-linked to purified actin-binding protein in solution. Rabbit polyclonal antibody against this peptide inhibited the binding of purified actin-binding protein to the purified GP Ib-IX complex. Finally, as in intact platelets, the calpain-induced hydrolytic fragments of purified actin-binding protein (M(r) = 200,000 and M(r) = 91,000) showed little binding to the GP Ib alpha peptide. Taken together, these results provided evidence that a region between Thr-536 and Phe-568 of the cytoplasmic domain of GP Ib alpha participates in the interaction of the GP Ib-IX complex with actin-binding protein.     

Ion channels from synaptic vesicle membrane fragments reconstituted into lipid bilayers.

Cholinergic synaptic vesicles were isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo californica. Vesicle membrane proteins were reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers by the nystatin/ergosterol fusion technique. After fusion, a variety of ion channels were observed. Here we identify four channels and describe two of them in detail. The two channels share a conductance of 13 pS. The first is anion selective and strongly voltage dependent, with a 50% open probability at membrane potentials of -15 mV. The second channel is slightly cation selective and voltage independent. It has a high open probability and a subconductance state. A third channel has a conductance of 4-7 pS, similar to the subconductance state of the second channel. This channel is fairly nonselective and has gating kinetics different from those of the cation channel. Finally, an approximately 10-pS, slightly cation selective channel was also observed. The data indicate that there are one or two copies of each of the above channels in every synaptic vesicle, for a total of six channels per vesicle. These observations confirm the existence of ion channels in synaptic vesicle membranes. It is hypothesized that these channels are involved in vesicle recycling and filling.     

Gadd45 beta forms a homodimeric complex that binds tightly to MKK7

Gadd45α, β, and γ proteins, also known as growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible factors, have a number of cellular functions, including cell-cycle regulation and propagation of signals produced by a variety of cellular stimuli, maintaining genomic stability and apoptosis. Furthermore, Gadd45β has been indicated as a major player in the endogenous NF-κB-mediated resistance to apoptosis in a variety of cell lines. In fibroblasts this mechanism involves the inactivation of MKK7, the upstream activator of JNK, by direct binding within the kinase ATP pocket. On the basis of a number of experimental data, the structures of Gadd45β and the Gadd45β-MKK7 complex have been predicted recently and data show that interactions are mediated by acidic loops 1 and 2, and helices 3 and 4 of Gadd45β. Here, we provide further evidence that Gadd45β is a prevailingly α-helical protein and that in solution it is able to form non covalent dimers but not higher-order oligomers, in contrast to what has been reported for the homologous Gadd45α. We show that the contact region between the two monomers is comprised of the predicted helix 1 (residues Q17-Q33) and helix 5 (residues K131-R146) of the protein, which appear to be antiparallel and to form a large dimerisation surface not involved in MKK7 recognition. The results suggest the occurrence of a large complex containing at least an MKK7-Gadd45β:Gadd45β-MKK7 tetrameric unit whose complexity could be further increased by the dimeric nature of the isolated MKK7.     

Molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase from Torpedo californica: their relationship to synaptic membranes.

The 16S and 8S forms of acetylcholinesterase (AchE), which are composed of an elongated tail structure in addition to the more globular catalytic subunits, were extracted and purified from membranes from Torpedo californica electric organs. Their subunit compositions and quaternary structures were compared with 11S lytic enzyme which is derived from collagenase or trypsin treatment of the membranes and devoid of the tail unit. Upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the absence of reducing agent, appreciable populations of monomeric through tetrameric species are observed for the 11S form. Under the same conditions, the 16S form yields only monomer and dimer in addition to a higher molecular weight species. If complete reduction is effected, only the 80,000 molecular weight monomer is dominant for both the 11S and 16S forms. Cross-linking of the 11S form by dimethyl suberimidate followed by reduction yields monomer through tetramer in descending frequency, while the 16S form again shows a high molecular weight species. A comparison of the composition of the 11S and 16S forms reveals that the latter has an increased glycine content, and 1.1 and 0.3 mol % hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, respectively. Collagenases that have been purified to homogencity and are devoid of amidase and caseinolytic activity, but active against native collagen, will convert 16S acetylcholinesterase to the 11S form. Thus, composition and substrate behavior of the 16S enzyme are indicative of the tail unit containing a collagen-like sequence. A membrane fraction enriched in acetylcholinesterase and components of basement membrane can be separated from the major portion of the membrane protein. The 16S but not the 11S form reassociates selectively with this membrane fraction. These findings reveal distinct similarities between the tail unit of acetylcholinesterase and basement membrane components and suggest a primary association of AchE with the basement membrane.     

Electrophysiological evidence that glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex is involved in calcium channel activation on human platelet plasma membrane.

The involvement of platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex in calcium channel activity on the plasma membrane was investigated using an electrophysiological approach. Plasma membrane vesicles were prepared from thrombin-stimulated platelets and incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. Voltage-independent Ca2+ channel currents with a conductance of about 10 pS (in 53 mM Ba2+) were observed, in membranes derived from thrombin-stimulated, but not unstimulated platelet membranes. These channel activities were markedly reduced by exposure of membranes to EGTA at 37 degrees C. This reduction was specifically related to the dissociation of the GPIIb-IIIa complex since preincubation of the membranes with a monoclonal antibody to the GPIIb-IIIa complex (AP-2) could protect the channel activities from the effect of EGTA. Thrombasthenic platelets, which lack the GPIIb-IIIa complex, showed impaired channel activities characterized by decreased open probability and lowered conductance states. Furthermore, when platelets were stimulated by thrombin in the presence of EGTA, AP2, or the synthetic peptide RGDS, to prevent fibrinogen binding to the GPIIb-IIIa complex, open probabilities of the channel currents in these membrane vesicles were also decreased. These results suggest that the GPIIb-IIIa complex is involved in platelet Ca2+ channel activation and that ligand binding to the complex during platelet activation may modify the activation of Ca2+ channels.     

The acetylcholine receptor as part of a protein complex in receptor-enriched membrane fragments from Torpedo californica electric tissue

The acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica electric tissue consisting of polypeptide chains of molecular weight 42000 (+/- 2000) is part of a protein complex. Cross-linking experiments with bifunctional reagents have shown that this complex has possibly a pentameric structure with a molecular weight of 270000 (+/- 30000). Besides the receptor subunit (alpha-chain), at least three further classes of polypeptide chains are part of the complex: beta (Mr 48000), gamma (Mr 62000) and delta (Mr 68000). This can be shown by cross-linking the proteins extracted from receptor-enriched membrane fractions with a cleavable reagent: From the 270000 molecular weight particle the four predominant polypeptide chains of the membrane, alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, can be obtained. The gamma-polypeptide chains appear to form a dimer connected by an inter-chain disulphide bridge.