Opioid Signal Transduction in Intact and Fragmented SH-SY5Y Neural Cells

Parameters of ligand binding, stimulation of low-Km GTPase, and inhibition of adenylate cyclase were determined in intact human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and in their isolated membranes, both suspended in identical physiological buffer medium. In cells, the mu-selective opioid agonist [3H]Tyr-D-Ala-Gly(Me)Phe-Gly-ol ([3H]DAMGO) bound to two populations of sites with KD values of 3.9 and 160 nM, with less than 10% of the sites in the high-affinity state. Both sites were also detected at 4 degrees C and were displaced by various opioids, including quaternary naltrexone. The opioid antagonist [3H]naltrexone bound to a single population of sites, and in cells treated with pertussis toxin the biphasic displacement of [3H]naltrexone by DAMGO became monophasic with only low-affinity binding present. The toxin specifically reduced high-affinity agonist binding but had no effect on the binding of [3H]naltrexone. In isolated membranes, both agonist and antagonist bound to a single population of receptor sites with affinities similar to that of the high-affinity binding component in cells. Addition of GTP to membranes reduced the Bmax for [3H]DAMGO by 87% and induced a linear ligand binding component; a low-affinity binding site, however, could not be saturated. Compared with results obtained with membranes suspended in Tris buffer, agonist binding, including both receptor density and affinity, in the physiological medium was attenuated. The results suggest that high-affinity opioid agonist binding represents the ligand-receptor-guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) complex present in cells at low density due to modulation by endogenous GTP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sodium regulation of opioid agonist binding is potentiated by pertussis toxin

Pretreatment of intact NG108-15 cells with pertussis toxin suppresses opioid inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation mediated by the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein, Ni, which apparently also mediates the inhibitory nucleotide effects on opioid against binding. The toxin treatment had no effect on opioid agonist binding measured in NG108-15 cell membranes without sodium present. However, the toxin potentiated the inhibitory effect of sodium on agonist binding, leading to an agonist-specific reduction of opioid receptor affinity in the presence of sodium in the binding reaction. The potency of the stable GTP analog, GTP gamma S, to reduce agonist binding in the presence of sodium was little changed in membranes prepared from pertussis toxin-treated cells compared to control membranes, whereas the potency of the stable GDP analog, GDP beta S, was magnified. The data indicate that ADP-ribosylation of Ni by pertussis toxin potentiates sodium regulation of opioid agonist binding and that the communication between Ni and opioid receptors is not lost by the covalent modification of Ni.     

Opioid Receptors in Magnesium-Digitonin-Solubilized Rat Brain Membranes Are Tightly Coupled to a Pertussis Toxin-Sensitive Guanine Nucleotide-Binding Protein

Opioid receptors solubilized in Mg2+-digitonin (2%, wt/vol) from Mg2+-pretreated rat brain membranes maintain, in addition to high-affinity opioid agonist binding, the modulation by guanine nucleotides. One of the modes of expression of the latter property is an attenuation of agonist binding by guanine nucleotides in the presence of Na+. To investigate the molecular basis of this modulation and to identify the G protein(s) involved, the soluble receptors were [32P]ADP-ribosylated by means of Bordetella pertussis toxin and subjected to molecular size exclusion chromatography. In addition, soluble extracts were chromatographed on lectin and hydrophobic affinity columns. The binding of 35S- and 3H-labelled analogues of GTP was also monitored in the species separated. The oligomeric G protein-coupled opioid receptors and the guanine nucleotide/pertussis toxin-sensitive species showed similar chromatographic properties in all three systems. This indicates that the biochemically functional G protein-opioid receptor complex formed in Mg2+-pretreated membranes in the absence of an agonist is stable in digitonin solution and to chromatographic separation. Further analysis showed that the guanine nucleotide modulation of opioid receptors is via the pertussis toxin substrates with Mr of 41,000 and 39,000, which are identified as Gi and Go alpha subunits, respectively.     

Solubilization of a guanine nucleotide-sensitive form of vasopressin V2 receptors from porcine kidney

Vasopressin (V2) receptors were solubilized from porcine kidney membranes with the detergent egg lysolecithin. Binding of [3H]vasopressin to the solubilized fraction was rapid, specific, and saturable. The agonist dissociation constants observed in membranes and solubilized fractions were 1.7 +/- 0.3 and 2.3 +/- 0.2 nM, respectively. In competition binding experiments, the solubilized fraction exhibited the same pharmacological profile as the membranes. Chemical crosslinking of [125I]vasopressin to the solubilized fraction followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis demonstrated a 62-kDa band which was specifically labeled with [125I]vasopressin. Vasopressin binding sites from the solubilized fractions were resolved by gel filtration and ultracentrifugation on a sucrose gradient. In addition, agonist high affinity binding to V2 receptors and its sensitivity to guanine nucleotides were preserved even after solubilization in the absence of prebound agonist prior to solubilization. Addition of guanine nucleotides such as GTP gamma S decreased the specific binding of [3H]arginine vasopressin to these solubilized fractions in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the solubilization of a V2 receptor-G protein complex. [32P]ADP ribosylation of the solubilized fraction by cholera and pertussis toxins revealed specifically labeled proteins with molecular weights of 42,000-43,000 and 39,000-41,000, respectively, on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. Furthermore [35S]GTP gamma S binding to these solubilized fractions was enhanced by vasopressin, confirming that a significant proportion of the vasopressin receptors must be closely coupled to G proteins even when these receptors are solubilized in the absence of agonist. These results are in contrast with those reported for beta, alpha 2 adrenergic and D2 dopaminergic receptor systems, but in agreement with D1 dopaminergic and A1 adenosine receptors. The molecular mechanism responsible for this difference remains to be determined.     

Sodium modulates opioid receptors through a membrane component different from G-proteins. Demonstration by target size analysis

The target size for opioid receptor binding was studied after manipulations known to affect the interactions between receptor and GTP-binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins). Addition of GTP or its analogs to the binding reaction, exposure of intact cells to pertussis toxin prior to irradiation, or treatment of irradiated membranes with N-ethylmaleimide did not change the target size (approximately equal to 100 kDa) for opioid receptors in NG 108-15 cells and rat brain. These data suggest that the 100-kDa species does not include an active subunit of a G-protein or alternatively that GTP does not promote the dissociation of the receptor-G-protein complex. The presence of Na+ (100 mM) in the radioligand binding assay induced a biphasic decay curve for agonist binding and a flattening of the monoexponential decay curve for a partial agonist. In both cases the effect was explained by an irradiation-induced loss of the low affinity state of the opioid receptor produced by the addition of Na+. This suggests that an allosteric inhibitor that mediates the effect of sodium on the receptor is destroyed at low doses of irradiation, leaving receptors which are no longer regulated by sodium. The effect of Na+ on target size was slightly increased by the simultaneous addition of GTP but was not altered by pertussis toxin treatment. Thus, the sodium unit is distinct from G-proteins and may represent a new component of the opioid receptor complex. Assuming a simple bimolecular model of one Na+ unit/receptor, the size of this inhibitor can be measured as 168 kDa.     

Guanosine nucleotides regulate B2 kinin receptor affinity of agonists but not of antagonists: discussion of a model proposing receptor precoupling to G protein

The effect of nucleotides on binding of the B2 kinin (BK) receptor agonist [3H]BK and the antagonist [3H]NPC17731 to particulate fractions of human foreskin fibroblasts was studied. At 0 degrees C, particulate fractions exhibited a single class of binding sites with a Kd of 2.3 nM for [3H]BK and a Kd of 3.8 nM for the antagonist [3H]NPC17731. Incubation with radioligands at 37 degrees C for 5 min gave a reduction of agonist, as well as antagonist, binding that was between 0-40% depending on the preparation, even in the absence of guanosine nucleotides. As shown by Scatchard analysis, this reduction in specific binding was due to a shift in the affinity of at least a fraction of the receptors. The presence at 37 degrees C of the guanine nucleotides GTP, GDP and their poorly hydrolyzable analogs left [3H]NPC17731 binding unaffected, but reduced the receptor affinity for [3H]BK to a Kd of about 15 nM. The maximal number of receptors, however, was unchanged. This affinity change was strongly dependent on the presence of bivalent cations, in particular Mg2+. It was reversed by incubation at 0 degrees C. The rank order of the guanosine nucleotides for [3H]BK binding reduction was GTP[gammaS] = Gpp[NH]p > GTP = GDP > GDP[betaS]. GMP, ATP, ADP and AMP showed no influence on agonist binding. A model for the interaction of the B2 kinin receptor with G proteins is discussed.     

Co-purification of A1 adenosine receptors and guanine nucleotide-binding proteins from bovine brain

A1 adenosine receptors and guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) solubilized with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate have been co-purified from bovine cerebral cortex. A portion of solubilized receptors which displays high affinity GTP-sensitive agonist binding (40-50%) adheres tightly to agonist affinity columns composed of N6-aminobenzyladenosine-agarose. A1 adenosine receptors and G proteins are rapidly and selectively coeluted from agonist columns by the addition of 8-p-sulfophenyltheophylline, but only in combination with Mg2+-GTP or N-ethylmaleimide, agents which lower the affinity of receptors for agonists. Purified receptors and G protein alpha-subunits can be detected with the potent A1-selective antagonist radioligand, [125I]3-(4-amino-3-iodo)phenethyl-1-propyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (125I-BW-A844U) and [35S]guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate [( 35S]GTP gamma S), respectively. Pretreatment of solubilized receptors with 0.1 mM N-ethylmaleimide or 0.1 mM R-phenylisopropyladenosine abolishes adsorption of receptors and G proteins to affinity columns. Following removal of 8-p-sulfophenyltheophylline and GTP, purified receptors bind agonists (2 sites) and antagonists (1 site) with affinities similar to crude soluble receptors and typical of A1 receptors. Some receptors may be denatured as a result of purification since only 23% of the radioligand binding sites which adhere to the affinity column can be detected in the eluate. The Bmax of purified receptors, 820 +/- 100 pmol/mg protein (n = 3) is 1800-fold higher than crude soluble receptors. The specific activity of [35S]GTP gamma S binding sites in affinity column eluates is 4640 pmol/mg protein. Assuming a 1:1 stoichiometry, this specific activity indicates that receptor-G protein complexes are greater than 50% pure following affinity chromatography. The photoaffinity labeled purified receptor was identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a single band with a molecular mass of 35 kDa which when deglycosylated undergoes a characteristic shift in molecular mass to a sharp band at 32 kDa. In addition to the receptor, silver staining revealed polypeptides with molecular masses of 39 and 41 kDa, which are ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin, and 36 kDa corresponding to G protein beta-subunits.     

The human delta opioid receptor activates G(i1)alpha more efficiently than G(o1)alpha

To assess the relative capacity of the human delta opioid receptor to activate closely related G proteins, fusion proteins were constructed in which the alpha-subunits of either G(i1) or G(o1), containing point mutations to render them insensitive to the actions of pertussis toxin, were linked in-frame with the C-terminus of the receptor. Following transient and stable expression in HEK 293 cells, both constructs bound the antagonist [(3)H]naltrindole with high affinity. D-ala(2),D-leu(5) Enkephalin effectively inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in intact cells in a concentration-dependent, but pertussis toxin-insensitive, manner. The high-affinity GTPase activity of both constructs was also stimulated by D-ala(2),D-leu(5) enkephalin with similar potency. However, enzyme kinetic analysis of agonist stimulation of GTPase activity demonstrated that the GTP turnover number produced in response to D-ala(2),D-leu(5) enkephalin was more than three times greater for G(i1)alpha than for G(o1)alpha. As the effect of agonist in both cases was to increase V:(max) without increasing the observed K:(m) for GTP, this is consistent with receptor promoting greater guanine nucleotide exchange, and thus activation, of G(i1)alpha compared with G(o1)alpha. An equivalent fusion protein between the human mu opioid receptor-1 and G(i1)alpha produced a similar D-ala(2),D-leu(5) enkephalin-induced GTP turnover number as the delta opioid receptor-G(i1)alpha fusion construct, consistent with agonist occupation of these two opioid receptor subtypes being equally efficiently coupled to activation of G(i1)alpha.     

G regulatory proteins and muscarinic receptor signal transduction in mucous acini of rat submandibular gland

The involvement of G regulatory proteins in muscarinic receptor signal transduction was examined in electrically permeabilized rat submandibular acinar cells. The guanine nucleotide analog, GTP gamma S, caused the dose dependent hydrolysis of membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to release IP3. This response was insensitive to pertussis toxin treatment and was duplicated by NaF but not by GDP beta S. Enhanced IP3 synthesis was observed with a combination of GTP gamma S and carbachol. Exogenous IP3, as well as carbachol and GTP gamma S, provoked the release of sequestered 45Ca2+ from non-mitochondrial stores. In intact cells, carbachol significantly reduced the level of cyclic AMP induced by the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, to 69% of its normal value. Pertussis toxin abolished this inhibitory action of carbachol on cyclic nucleotide levels. These results suggest that muscarinic receptors are coupled to two separate G regulatory proteins in submandibular mucous acini-the pertussis toxin-insensitive Gp of the phosphoinositide transduction pathway associated with elevated cytosolic calcium levels, and the pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi inhibitory protein of the adenylate cyclase complex.     

Neurotensin Decreases the Affinity of Dopamine D2 Agonist Binding by a G Protein-Independent Mechanism

To examine whether GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) mediate the ability of neurotensin to lower the affinity of dopamine D2 agonist binding, the modulation by neurotensin in vitro of N-[3H]propylnorapomorphine [( 3H]-NPA) binding was investigated following pretreatment with pertussis toxin and N-ethylmaleimide in rat neostriatal membranes. Preincubation with N-ethylmaleimide (100 microM) markedly inhibited pertussis toxin-induced back-ADP ribosylation of three proteins with apparent molecular masses of 41, 40, and 39 kDa, respectively. This inhibition was prevented by adding dithiothreitol (250 microM) during the preincubation. N-Ethylmaleimide increased the KD (180 +/- 30%) and decreased the Bmax (-31 +/- 9%) of [3H]NPA binding sites but did not affect the binding properties of the selective D2 antagonist [3H]raclopride. N-Ethylmaleimide pretreatment did not affect the neurotensin (3 nM)-induced increase in the KD of [3H]NPA binding sites. Pertussin toxin treatment in vivo and in vitro was similarly ineffective. In conclusion, the present study indicates that neurotensin modulation of D2 agonist binding in neostriatal membranes is not mediated by G proteins.     

Prostaglandin E2 receptors in the heart are coupled to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase via a pertussis toxin sensitive G protein.

In previous studies we have identified and isolated a prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptor from cardiac sarcolemmal (SL) membranes. Binding of PGE2 to this receptor in permeabilized SL vesicles inhibits adenylyl cyclase activity. The purpose of this study was to determine if the cardiac PGE2 receptor is coupled to adenylyl cyclase via a pertussis toxin sensitive guanine nucleotide binding inhibitory (Gi) protein. Incubation of permeabilized SL vesicles in the presence of 100 microM 5'-guanylamidiophosphate, Gpp(NH)p, a nonhydrolyzable analogue of GTP, resulted in a shift in [3H]PGE2 binding from two sites, one of high affinity (KD = 0.018 +/- 0.003 nM) comprising 7.7% of the total available binding sites and one of lower affinity (KD = 1.9 +/- 0.7 nM) to one site of intermediate affinity (KD = 0.52 +/- 0.01 nM) without a significant change in the total number of PGE2 binding sites. A shift from two binding sites to one binding site in the presence of Gpp(NH)p was also observed for [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding to permeabilized cardiac SL. When permeabilized SL vesicles were pretreated with activated pertussis toxin, ADP-ribosylation of a 40- to 41-kDa protein corresponding to Gi was observed. ADP-ribosylation of SL resulted in a shift in [3H]PGE2 binding to one site of intermediate affinity without significantly changing the number of binding sites. In alamethicin permeabilized SL vesicles, 1 nM PGE2 significantly decreased (30%) adenylyl cyclase activity. Pretreatment with activated pertussis toxin overcame the inhibitory effects of PGE2. These results demonstrate that the cardiac PGE2 receptor is coupled to adenylyl cyclase via a pertussis toxin sensitive Gi protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of Pertussis Toxin on Radioligand Binding to Rat Brain Adenosine A1 Receptors

In a previous study we showed that in vivo treatment with pertussis toxin could inhibit some, but not all, effects of adenosine in the rat hippocampus. In this study we investigated the effect of pertussis toxin on the binding of adenosine analogues to A1 receptors in rat brain. Intraventricular injection of pertussis toxin (10 micrograms into the lateral ventricle) did not affect A1 receptor binding in any brain region studied, as evaluated by autoradiography. In vitro treatment of brain sections (10 microns) with pertussis toxin for 5 h, under conditions when greater than 80% of the G proteins were ADP ribosylated, did not alter radioligand binding to adenosine A1 receptors. GTP (10 microM) virtually abolished the high-affinity agonist binding to the A1 receptor. On the other hand, in solubilized cortical membrane preparations, pertussis toxin pretreatment induced a complete shift of the A1 receptors to the low-affinity state. This suggests that the ability of pertussis toxin to affect G proteins coupled to A1 receptors in brain depends not only on the distribution of the toxin but also on the configuration of receptors and G proteins.     

Human μ—opioid receptor overexpressed in Sf9 insect cells functionally coupled to endogenous Gi／0 proteins

Human mu-opioid receptor (HmuOR) with a tag of six consecutive histidines at its carboxyl terminus had been expressed in recombinant baculovirus infected Sf9 insect cells. The maximal binding capacity for the [3H] diprenorphine and [3H]ohmefentanyl (Ohm) were 9.1 +/- 0.7 and 6.52 +/- 0.23 nmol/g protein, respectively. The [3H] diprenorphine or [3H] Ohm binding to the receptor expressed in Sf9 cells was strongly inhibited by mu-selective agonists [D-Ala2, N-methyl-Phe4, glyol5]enkephalin (DAGO), Ohm, and morphine, but neither by delta nor by kappa selective agonist. Na+ (100 mM) and GTP (50 microM) could reduce HmuOR agonists etorphine and Ohm affinity binding to the overexpressed HmuOR. mu-selective agonists DAGO and Ohm effectively stimulated [35S]GTP-gammaS binding (EC50 = 2.7 nM and 6.9 nM) and inhibited forskolin- stimulated cAMP accumulation (IC50 = 0.9 nM and 0.3 nM). The agonist-dependent effects could be blocked by opioid antagonist naloxone or by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin (PTX). These results demonstrated that HmuOR overexpressed in Sf9 insect cells functionally coupled to endogenous G(i/o) proteins.     

A1 adenosine receptors of bovine brain couple to guanine nucleotide-binding proteins Gi1, Gi2, and Go

A1 adenosine receptors and associated guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) were purified from bovine cerebral cortex by affinity chromatography (Munshi, R., and Linden, J. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 14853-14859). In this study we have identified the pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein subunits that co-purify with A1 adenosine receptors by immunoblotting with specific antipeptide antisera. Gi alpha 1, Gi alpha 2, Go alpha, G beta 35, and G beta 36 were detected. Of the total [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate [( 35S]GTP gamma S) binding sites, Gi alpha 1 and Go alpha each accounted for greater than 37% whereas Gi alpha 2 comprised less than 13%. G beta 35 was found in excess over G beta 36. Low molecular mass (21-25 kDa) GTP-binding proteins were not detected. We also examined the characteristics of purified receptors and various purified bovine brain G proteins reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. All three alpha-subunits restored GTP gamma S-sensitive high affinity binding of the agonist 125I-aminobenzyladenosine to a fraction (25%) of reconstituted receptors with a selectivity order of Gi2 greater than Go greater than or equal to Gi1 (ED50 values of G proteins measured as fold excess over the receptor concentration were 4.7 +/- 1.2, 24 +/- 5, and 34 +/- 7, respectively). Furthermore, receptors occupied with the agonist R-phenylisopropyladenosine catalytically increased the rate of binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to reconstituted G proteins by 6.5-8.5-fold. These results suggest that A1 adenosine receptors couple indiscriminately to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins.     

Effect of tumor necrosis factor on GTP binding and GTPase activity in HL-60 and L929 cells

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a monokine that induces pleiotropic events in both transformed and normal cells. These effects are initiated by the binding of TNF to high affinity cell surface receptors. The post-receptor events and signaling mechanisms induced by TNF, however, have remained unknown. The present studies demonstrate the presence of a single class of high affinity receptors on membranes prepared from HL-60 promyelocytic leukemic cells. The interaction of TNF with these membrane receptors was associated with a 3.8-fold increase in specific binding of the GTP analogue, GTP gamma S. Scatchard analysis of GTP gamma S binding data demonstrated that TNF stimulates GTP binding by increasing the affinity of available sites. The TNF-induced stimulation of GTP binding was also associated with an increase in GTPase activity. Moreover, the increase in GTPase activity induced by TNF was sensitive to pertussis toxin. The results also demonstrate that TNF similarly increased GTP binding and pertussis toxin-sensitive GTPase activity in membranes from mouse L929 fibroblasts, thus indicating that these effects are not limited to hematopoietic cells. Analysis of HL-60 membranes after treatment with pertussis toxin in the presence of [32P]NAD revealed three substrates with relative molecular masses of approximately Mr 41,000, 40,000, and 30,000. In contrast, L929 cell membranes had only two detectable pertussis toxin substrates of approximately Mr 41,000 and 40,000. Although the Mr 41,000 pertussis toxin substrate represents the guanine nucleotide-binding inhibitory protein Gi, the identities of the Mr 40,000 and Mr 30,000 substrates remain unclear. In any event, inhibition of the TNF-induced increase in GTPase activity and ADP-ribosylation of Gi by pertussis toxin suggested that TNF might act by increasing GTPase activity of the Gi protein. However, the results further indicate that TNF has no detectable effect on basal or prostaglandin E2-stimulated cAMP levels in HL-60 cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein other than Gi, and possibly the Mr 40,000 substrate, is involved in the action of TNF. Finally, the demonstration that pertussis toxin inhibited TNF-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells supports the presence of a GTP-binding protein which couples TNF-induced signaling to a biologic effect.     

GTP-binding proteins in etiolated epicotyls of Pisum sativum (Alaska) seedlings

Seven fractions of GTP-binding proteins separated by gel filtration of an extract of epicotyls of Pisum sativum seedlings were partially characterized. Seven fractions of GTP-binding proteins tentatively designated GP1 to GP7 had the capacity to be ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin. Pooled fractions of GP2 to GP7 showed Km values 2, 20, 50, 10, 3 and 1 nM, respectively. The binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to GTP-binding proteins was prevented competitively in the presence of 0.1 mM GTP and also prevented in the presence of 0.1 mM ATP. Binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to the proteins produced a decrease in their molecular weights.     

Expression and purification of functional G protein alpha subunits using a baculovirus expression system.

The alpha subunits of the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins Gi1, Gi2, Gi3, G0, and Gs have been overexpressed in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus expression system. The Gi1 alpha, Gi2 alpha, Gi3 alpha, and G0 alpha have been purified to homogeneity from infected Spodoptera frugiperda (SF9) cells and characterized. Yields of up to 1.8 mg of purified recombinant G alpha have been obtained from 300-ml cultures of infected cells. The recombinant alpha subunits are myristoylated and are ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin only in the presence of beta gamma subunits. They bind guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) with low nM dissociation constants and stoichiometries of 0.8 mol/mol or greater. The rGi1 alpha, rGi2 alpha, and rGi3 alpha are capable of interacting with angiotensin II receptors based on their ability to restore high affinity angiotensin II binding in rat liver membranes shifted to a low affinity state with GTP gamma S.     

The epidermal growth factor receptor is coupled to a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide regulatory protein in rat hepatocytes.

Activation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors stimulates inositol phosphate production in rat hepatocytes via a pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism, suggesting the involvement of a G protein in the process. Since the first event after receptor-G protein interaction is exchange of GTP for GDP on the G protein, the effect of EGF was measured on the initial rates of guanosine 5'-O-(3-[35S]thiotriphosphate) [( 35S]GTP gamma S) association and [alpha-32P]GDP dissociation in rat hepatocyte membranes. The initial rate of [35S]GTP gamma S binding was stimulated by EGF, with a maximal effect observed at 8 nM EGF. EGF also increased the initial rate of [alpha-32P]GDP dissociation. The effect of EGF on [35S]GTP gamma S association was blocked by boiling the peptide for 5 min in 5 mM dithiothreitol or by incubation of the membranes with guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S). EGF-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding was completely abolished in hepatocyte membranes prepared from pertussis toxin-treated rats and was inhibited in hepatocyte membranes that were treated directly with the resolved A-subunit of pertussis toxin. The amount of guanine nucleotide binding affected by occupation of the EGF receptor was approximately 6 pmol/mg of membrane protein. Occupation of angiotensin II receptors, which are known to couple to G proteins in hepatic membranes, also stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S association with and [alpha-32P]GDP dissociation from the membranes. The effect of angiotensin II on [alpha-32P]GDP dissociation was blocked by the angiotensin II receptor antagonist [Sar1,Ile8]angiotensin II, demonstrating that the guanine nucleotide binding was receptor-mediated. In A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells, EGF stimulates inositol lipid breakdown, but the effect is not blocked by treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin. In these cells, EGF had no effect on [35S]GTP gamma S binding. Occupation of the beta-adrenergic receptor in A431 cell membranes with isoproterenol did stimulate [35S] GTP gamma S binding, and the effect could be completely blocked by l-propranolol. These results support the concept that in hepatocyte membranes, EGF receptors interact with a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein via a mechanism similar to other hormone receptor-G protein interactions, but that in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells, EGF may activate phospholipase C via different mechanisms.     

Colony-stimulating factor 1-induced Na+ influx into human monocytes involves activation of a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) regulates the survival, growth, and differentiation of monocytes through binding to a single class of high affinity receptors. The present studies demonstrate that the interaction of CSF-1 with monocyte membranes is associated with a 2.4-fold increase in specific binding of the GTP analogue, GTP gamma S. Scatchard analysis of the GTP gamma S binding data indicated that CSF-1 stimulates GTP binding by increasing the affinity, rather than the number, of available sites. This stimulation of GTP binding by CSF-1 was also associated with an increase in GTPase activity. Furthermore, the CSF-1-induced stimulation of GTPase activity was sensitive to pertussis toxin. We also demonstrate that CSF-1 stimulates Na+ influx into monocytes by an amiloride-sensitive mechanism, presumably the Na+/H+ antiport. This CSF-1-stimulated influx of Na+ was further associated with an increase in Na+,K+-ATPase activity. Moreover, this stimulation of Na+ influx and Na+,K+-ATPase activity by CSF-1 was sensitive to pertussis toxin. Finally, we demonstrate that CSF-1-induced proliferation is also a pertussis toxin-sensitive event. The present findings thus suggest: 1) that the CSF-1 receptor is linked to a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein; and 2) that a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein is involved in the induction of Na+ influx by CSF-1.     

Expression of the μ-Opioid Receptor in CHO Cells: Ability of μ-Opioid Ligands to Promote α-Azidoanilido[32P]GTP Labeling of Multiple G Protein α Subunits

Abstract: The identities of heterotrimeric G proteins that can interact with the μ-opioid receptor were investigated by α-azidoanilido[³²P]GTP labeling of α subunits in the presence of opioid agonists in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-MORIVA3 cells, a CHO clone that stably expressed μ-opioid receptor cDNA (MOR-1). This clone expressed 1.01 × 10⁶μ-opioid receptors per cell and had higher binding affinity and potency to inhibit adenylyl cyclase for the μ-opioid-selective ligands [d -Ala²,N-MePhe⁴,Gly-ol]-enkephalin and [N-MePhe³,d -Pro⁴]-morphiceptin, relative to the δ-selective opioid agonist [d -Pen²,d -Pen⁵]-enkephalin or the κ-selective opioid agonist U-50,488H. μ-Opioid ligands induced an increase in α-azidoanilido[³²P]GTP photoaffinity labeling of four Gα subunits in this clone, three of which were identified as G_i3α, G_i2α, and G_o2α. The same pattern of simultaneous interaction of the μ-opioid receptor with multiple Gα subunits was also observed in two other clones, one expressing about three times more and the other 10-fold fewer receptors as those expressed in CHO-MORIVA3 cells. The opioid-induced increase of labeling of these G proteins was agonist specific, concentration dependent, and blocked by naloxone and by pretreatment of these cells with pertussis toxin. A greater agonist-induced increase of α-azidoanilido[³²P]GTP incorporation into G_i2α (160–280%) and G_o2α (110–220%) than for an unknown Gα (G_?α) (60%) or G_i3α (40%) was produced by three different μ-opioid ligands tested. In addition, slight differences were also found between the ability of various μ-opioid agonists to produce half-maximal labeling (ED₅₀) of any given Gα subunit, with a rank order of G_i3α > G_o2α > G_i2α = G_?α. In any case, these results suggest that the activated μ-opioid receptor couples to four distinct G protein α subunits simultaneously.