Nucleoside transport. Photoaffinity labelling of high-affinity nitrobenzylthioinosine binding sites in rat and guinea pig lung

Binding of the potent nucleoside transport inhibitor [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine to rat and guinea pig lung membranes was investigated. Reversible high-affinity binding was found in both species (apparent KD approximately 0.3nM). Binding was inhibited by nitrobenzylthioguanosine, adenosine and uridine. Dipyridamole was also an effective inhibitor of [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine binding to guinea pig membranes. In contrast, rat membranes were relatively insensitive to dipyridamole. Exposure of site-bound [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine to high intensity U.V. light resulted in the photoaffinity labelling of lung proteins with apparent molecular weights similar to that of the human erythrocyte nucleoside transporter (45,000-65,000).