Key Residues Defining the μ-Opioid Receptor Binding Pocket: A Site-Directed Mutagenesis Study

Abstract: Structural elements of the rat μ-opioid receptor important in ligand receptor binding and selectivity were examined using a site-directed mutagenesis approach. Five single amino acid mutations were made, three that altered conserved residues in the μ, δ, and κ receptors (Asn¹⁵⁰ to Ala, His²⁹⁷ to Ala, and Tyr³²⁶ to Phe) and two designed to test for μ/δ selectivity (Ile¹⁹⁸ to Val and Val²⁰² to Ile). Mutation of His²⁹⁷ in transmembrane domain 6 (TM6) resulted in no detectable binding with [³H]DAMGO (³H-labeled d -Ala², N -Me-Phe⁴,Gly-ol⁵-enkephalin), [³H]bremazocine, or [³H]ethylketocyclazocine. Mutation of Asn¹⁵⁰ in TM3 produces a three- to 20-fold increase in affinity for the opioid agonists morphine, DAMGO, fentanyl, β-endorphin_1–31, JOM-13, deltorphin II, dynorphin_1–13, and U50,488, with no change in the binding of antagonists such as naloxone, naltrexone, naltrindole, and nor-binaltorphamine. In contrast, the Tyr³²⁶ mutation in TM7 resulted in a decreased affinity for a wide spectrum of μ, δ, and κ agonists and antagonists. Altering Val²⁰² to Ile in TM4 produced no change on ligand affinity, but Ile¹⁹⁸ to Val resulted in a four- to fivefold decreased affinity for the μ agonists morphine and DAMGO, with no change in the binding affinities of κ and δ ligands.     

Pulmonary gas exchange is not impaired 24 h after extravehicular activity.

Extravehicular activity (EVA) during spaceflight involves a significant decompression stress. Previous studies have shown an increase in the inhomogeneity of ventilation-perfusion ratio (VA/Q) after some underwater dives, presumably through the embolic effects of venous gas microemboli in the lung. Ground-based chamber studies simulating EVA have shown that venous gas microemboli occur in a large percentage of the subjects undergoing decompression, despite the use of prebreathe protocols to reduce dissolved N(2) in the tissues. We studied eight crewmembers (7 male, 1 female) of the International Space Station who performed 15 EVAs (initial cabin pressure 748 mmHg, final suit pressure either approximately 295 or approximately 220 mmHg depending on the suit used) and who followed the denitrogenation procedures approved for EVA from the International Space Station. The intrabreath VA/Q slope was calculated from the alveolar Po(2) and Pco(2) in a prolonged exhalation maneuver on the day after EVA and compared with measurements made in microgravity on days well separated from the EVA. There were no significant changes in intrabreath VA/Q slope as a result of EVA, although there was a slight increase in metabolic rate and ventilation (approximately 9%) on the day after EVA. Vital capacity and other measures of pulmonary function were largely unaltered by EVA. Because measurements could only be performed on the day after EVA because of logistical constraints, we were unable to determine an acute effect of EVA on VA/Q inequality. The results suggest that current denitrogenation protocols do not result in any major lasting alteration to gas exchange in the lung.     

Epithelium removal alters responsiveness of guinea pig trachea to substance P

Removal of epithelium from mammalian tracheae has been shown to enhance responsiveness to a variety of contractile and relaxant agents. One of the most dramatic shifts reported has been for guinea pig tracheal tissue denuded of epithelium and treated with substance P. We investigated whether this shift in responsiveness was because of 1) removal of an epithelium-associated enzyme, neutral endopeptidase, which degrades substance P and 2) loss of an epithelium-derived noncyclooxygenase relaxant factor. Using a muscle bath preparation we performed concentration-response curves with substance P and acetylcholine on indomethacin-treated tissues with and without intact epithelium and with and without pretreatment with the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, phosphoramidon. Epithelium removal potentiated the mean agonist concentration calculated to causes 30% of the maximal contractile response by 148-fold for substance P and by 7-fold for acetylcholine. Phosphoramidon potentiated the contractile response to substance P, but not to acetylcholine, by both the epithelium-intact and denuded tissues (P less than 0.05). However, the degree of enhancement by phosphoramidon was much greater in the intact tissues. With phosphoramidon treatment, therefore, the difference in responsiveness to substance P between the intact and denuded tissues was reduced from 148-fold to 18-fold. This effect of phosphoramidon suggests that the hyperresponsiveness to substance P of epithelium-denuded airway tissue is largely because of removal of neutral endopeptidase. Because all tissues were treated with indomethacin, the leftward shifts in substance P and in acetylcholine responsiveness induced by epithelium removal further suggest that an epithelium-derived noncyclooxygenase factor other than neutral endopeptidase also modulates the contractile response to substance P and to acetylcholine.     

Propagation of mouse mammary tumor cell lines and production of mouse mammary tumor virus in a serum-free medium

Summary Five different mouse mammary tumor cell lines were propagated in a serum free medium. Evaluation of growth characteristics, including logarithmic growth, cell population increase, protein production and days to confluency, showed serum-free medium comparable to serum-containing medium. Mouse mammary tumor virus expression and production, in C₃H and GR tumor cell lines, as determined by virus particle counting and RNA dependent DNA polymerase assays, subsequent to dexamethasone stimulation revealed equivalent to higher levels of virus in serum-free medium as compared to serum-containing medium.     

Purification and characterization of the rat liver vasopressin (V1) receptor

Utilizing a proteoliposome reconstitution system, we have purified the rat liver V1 vasopressin receptor to near homogeneity. The receptor was purified approximately 21,000-fold from rat liver membranes, using differential detergent solubilization, size exclusion gel filtration, lectin affinity, and ion-exchange chromatography. The purified receptor exhibits a Kd of 6 nM, when, prior to solubilization, the membranes were exposed to 1 microM vasopressin. This resulted in the association of a pertussis toxin-insensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein with the receptor during most of the purification procedure. In the absence of this association, the receptor had a Kd of approximately 30 nM. Association of the receptor with a G-protein was confirmed by the ability of vasopressin to stimulate the hydrolysis of [gamma-32P]GTP. The specific activity of the vasopressin-stimulated hydrolysis was 25 nmol/min/mg, approximately 8,000-fold higher than values obtained with crude reconstituted receptor preparations. Cross-linking of 125I-vasopressin to a partially purified preparation of receptor demonstrated that the receptor had a molecular weight of approximately 68,000 under reducing conditions, and 58,000 under nonreducing conditions. The purification procedure may prove useful in purifying a number of small peptide hormone receptors (e.g. bradykinin, angiotensin II) and perhaps their associated G-proteins as well.     

Focusing of electric fields in the active site of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase: effects of ionic strength and amino-acid modification

In this paper we report the implementation of a finite-difference algorithm which solves the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation for molecules of arbitrary shape and charge distribution and which includes the screening effects of electrolytes. The microcoding of the algorithm on an ST-100 array processor allows us to obtain electrostatic potential maps in and around a protein, including the effects of ionic strength, in about 30 minutes. We have applied the algorithm to a dimer of the protein Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and compared our results to those obtained from uniform dielectric models based on coulombic potentials. We find that both the shape of the protein-solvent boundary and the ionic strength of the solvent have a profound effect on the potentials in the solvent. For the case of SOD, the cluster of positive charge at the bottom of the active site channel produces a strongly enhanced positive potential due to the focusing of field lines in the channel-a result that cannot be obtained with any uniform dielectric model. The remainder of the protein is surrounded by a weak negative potential. The electrostatic potential of the enzyme seems designed to provide a large cross-sectional area for productive collisions. Based on the ionic strength dependence of the size of the positive potential region emanating from the active site and the repulsive negative potential barrier surrounding the protein, we are able to suggest an explanation for the ionic strength dependence of the activity of the native and chemically modified forms of the enzyme.     

Transport of the membrane glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus to the cell surface in two stages by clathrin-coated vesicles

The G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is transported from its site of synthesis in the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane via the Golgi apparatus. Pulse-chase experiments suggest that G is transported to the cell surface in two successive waves of clathrin-coated vesicles. The oligosaccharides of G protein carried in the early wave are of the "high-mannose" (G1) form, whereas the oligosaccharides in the second, later wave are of the mature "complex" (G2) form. the early wave is therefore proposed to correspond to transport of G in coated vesicles from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus, and the succeeding wave to transport from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane. The G1- and G2-containing coated vesicles appear to be structurally distinct, as judged by their differential precipitation by anticoated vesicle serum.