Identification of Voltage Operated Calcium Channels by Binding Studies: Differentiation of Subclasses of Calcium Antagonist Drugs with 3H-Nimodipine Radioligand Binding

Abstract

³H-Nimodipine (³H -NIM) is a high affinity radioligand suitable to study Ca²⁺ -channels in a variety of tissues. The binding is saturable, reversible, and stereospecific in purified bovine heart and partially purified guinea-pig brain membranes. In the latter a Bmax of 600fmol/mg protein, dissociation constants (K_D) of 0.4-0.8nM and a Hill slope of 1.0 are found. At 37^C the optimal pH in 50mM TRIS-HCl buffer is 7.1-7.4. The calcium channel is a metalloprotein, and the divalent cation which is essential for the binding of ³ H -NIM can be removed by EDTA (EC₅₀ 20μM); the nimodipine binding site of the channel may then be reconstituted by divalent cations with Mn²⁺ > Ca²⁺>Mg²⁺>Sr²⁺. Ca²⁺-antagonist drugs can be divided into three main classes based on their interaction with the ³H -NIM binding site: Class I has one site law of mass action-displacement isotherms with ³H -NIM, Class II exhibits complex biphasic inhibition profiles and Class III drugs increase the affinity of 1,4 dihydropyridines for the Ca²⁺ -channel. Diltiazem is a Class III Ca²⁺ -antagonist. Our in vitro studies lead us to conclude that the Ca²⁺ -channel contains multiple regulatory sites at which drugs can act.