Characterization of a putative pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) receptor from the pheromone gland of Heliothis peltigera

The binding of ³H]tyrosyl-PBAN28-33NH₂ to pheromone gland membranes of the moth Heliothis peltigera was investigated. The study describes the development of a pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) radioreceptor assay and demonstrates the presence of a putative PBAN binding site on the pheromone gland. It also describes synthesis of a radioligand and optimization of binding conditions with respect to membrane preparation, number of gland equivalents, kinetics of ligand binding and composition of the binding solution. Binding was found to be optimal when membranes were freshly prepared from frozen glands, incubated at a concentration of one gland equivalent per reaction tube in the presence of 10 mM HCO₃ ⁻ ions. Equilibrium of ligand binding was obtained after 20 min. Presence of other components such as NaCl, KCl or SH reagents did not have any effect on binding. Binding was found to be saturable, with a K_d of 5.73 ± 1.05 × 10⁻⁶ M and a Bmax of 1.85 ± 0.22 nmol/mg protein. Binding was effectively displaced by unlabeled PBAN1-33NH₂ and PBAN28-33ΝΗ₂ with a K_i of 4.3 ± 1.1 × 10⁻⁶ M and 4.9 ± 2.6 × 10⁻⁶ M, respectively. Accepted: 4 February 1999