Guinea worm disease--a chance for successful eradication in the Volta Region, Ghana

Parsley cells recognize the fungal phytopathogen Phytophthora sojae through a plasma membrane receptor. A 13 amino acid oligopeptide fragment (Pep-13) of a 42 kDa fungal cell wall glycoprotein was shown to bind to the receptor and stimulate a complex defense response in cultured parsley cells. The Pep-13 binding site solubilized from parsley microsomal membranes by non-ionic detergents exhibited the same ligand affinity and ligand specificity as the membrane-bound receptor. Chemical crosslinking and photoaffinity labeling assays with [125I]Pep-13 revealed that a monomeric 100 kDa integral plasma membrane protein is sufficient for ligand binding and may thus constitute the ligand binding domain of the receptor. Ligand affinity chromatography of solubilized microsomal membrane protein on immobilized Pep-13 yielded a 5000-fold enrichment of specific receptor activity.     

Structure-activity studies related to ABT-594, a potent nonopioid analgesic agent: effect of pyridine and azetidine ring substitutions on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding affinity and analgesic activity in mice

Analogs of A-98593 (1) and its enantiomer ABT-594 (2) with diverse substituents on the pyridine ring were prepared and tested for affinity to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding sites in rat brain and for analgesic activity in the mouse hot plate assay. Numerous types of modifications were consistent with high affinity for [3H]cytisine binding sites. By contrast, only selected modifications resulted in retention of analgesic potency in the same range as 1 and 2. Analogs of 2 with one or two methyl substituents at the 3-position of the azetidine ring also were prepared and found to be substantially less active in both assays.     

Solubilized rabbit striatal A2a-adenosine receptors: stability and antagonist binding

The A2a-adenosine binding subunit from rabbit striatal membranes was solubilized using 1% 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate and was characterized using the antagonist radioligand [3H]8-[4-[[[[2-aminoethyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]oxy] phenyl]-1,3-dipropylxanthine (XAC). The solubilized receptor was very stable, with 55% of the specific [3H]XAC binding remaining after storage for 15 days at 4 degrees C. The dissociation constant (Kd) for binding of [3H]XAC to solubilized A2 receptors was determined in saturation studies to be 4.0 nM, with a Bmax of 600 fmol/mg protein. Xanthine inhibitors displaced the specific binding of the adenosine antagonist [3H]XAC (in the presence of 50 nM 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine) at 25 degrees C, with Ki values consonant with the expected affinities at A2a receptors. Binding of [3H]XAC (1 nM) or the adenosine agonist [3H]2-(carboxyethylphenylethylamino)adenosine-5'-N-ethyl carboxamide (5 nM) to A2a receptors was diminished in the presence of 0.1 M Na+ in both membranes and solubilized preparations. Agonist binding was increased (by 280% for membranes and 180% for solubilized receptors), and antagonist binding was decreased in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+. Displacement of [3H]XAC by the agonist (R)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine was biphasic, corresponding to high (IC50 = 188 nM, RH = 30%) and low (IC50 = 9730 nM, RL = 70%) affinity sites. Preincubation with 100 microM GTP (10 mM Mg2+) converted the high affinity binding to low affinity, suggesting that receptor and G-protein are dissociated by the guanine nucleotide. The solubilized receptor was more easily inactivated by exposure to the reducing agent dithiothreitol (IC50 = 3 mM) than in membranes (IC50 = 220 mM), suggesting increased accessibility of structurally essential disulfide bridges.     

Identification of a unique ligand which has high affinity for all four bombesin receptor subtypes

Four subtypes of bombesin receptors are identified (gastrin-releasing peptide receptor, neuromedin B receptor, the orphan receptor bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BB3 or BRS-3) and bombesin receptor subtype 4 (BB4)), however, only the pharmacology of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor has been well studied. This lack of data is due in part to the absence of a general ligand. Recently we have discovered a ligand, 125I-[D-Tyr6,betaAla11,Phe13,Nle14]bombesin-(6-1 4) that binds to BRS-3 receptors. In this study we investigate its ability to interact with all four bombesin receptor subtypes. In rat pancreatic acini containing only gastrin-releasing peptide receptor and in BB4 transfected BALB cells, this ligand and 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin, the conventional gastrin-releasing peptide receptor ligand, gave similar results for receptor number, affinity for bombesin and affinity for the unlabeled ligand. In neuromedin B receptor transfected BALB cells, this ligand and 125I-[D-Tyr0]neuromedin B, the generally used neuromedin B receptor ligand, gave similar results for receptor number, neuromedin B affinity or the unlabeled ligand affinity. Lastly, in BRS-3 transfected BALB cells, only this ligand had high affinity. For all four bombesin receptors this ligand had an affinity of 1-8 nM and was equal or greater in affinity than any other specific ligands for any receptor. The unlabeled ligand is specific for gastrin-releasing peptide receptors on rat pancreatic acini and did not inhibit binding of 125I-cholecystokinin octapeptide (125I-CCK-8), 125I-vasoactive intestinal peptide (125I-VIP) or 125I-endothelin to their receptors. The unlabeled ligand was an agonist only at the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in rat acini and did not interact with CCK(A) receptors or muscarinic M3 acetylcholine receptors to increase [3H]inositol phosphates. These results demonstrate 125I-[D-Tyr6,betaAla11,Phe13,Nle14]bombesin-(6-1 4) is a unique ligand with high affinity for all subtypes of bombesin receptors. Because of the specificity for bombesin receptors, this ligand will be a valuable addition for such pharmacological studies as screening for bombesin receptor agonists or antagonists and, in particular, for investigating BRS-3 cell biology, a receptor for which no ligand currently exists.     

Agonist-induced up-regulation of alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in M10 cells: pharmacological and spatial definition

Chronic nicotine up-regulates the number of high affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in mammalian brain. Here, we studied up-regulation of the nAChR composed of alpha4 and beta2 subunits in the M10 cell line by using [3H]epibatidine to measure nAChR in cells in situ and in membrane preparations. Cultures were exposed to drugs for 2 days before assay. All agonists up-regulated [3H]epibatidine binding sites with EC50 values typically 10-100-fold higher than their respective Ki values from competition binding assays. Maximum up-regulation ranged from 40% to 250% above control values. Maximally effective concentrations of the less efficacious agonists methylcarbamylcholine or (+/-)-epibatidine together with nicotine resulted in less up-regulation than that produced by nicotine alone, showing that they are partial up-regulatory agonists. The antagonists dihydro-beta-erythroidine, methyllycaconitine, d-tubocurarine, hexamethonium, decamethonium, and mecamylamine either failed to up-regulate [3H]epibatidine binding sites or up-regulated mildly at high concentrations. When tested at non-up-regulating concentrations, only d-tubocurarine significantly inhibited agonist-induced up-regulation; this inhibition seemed to be noncompetitive. Comparison of [3H]epibatidine displacement in intact M10 cells and membrane preparations by membrane-impermeant ligands indicated that 85% of [3H]epibatidine binding sites are intracellular. On chronic treatment with agonist, the proportion of surface receptors did not change significantly, indicating that most up-regulated [3H]epibatidine binding sites are internal. However, up-regulation is mediated at the cell surface because the impermeant ligand tetramethylammonium was as efficacious as nicotine in eliciting up-regulation, and methylcarbamylcholine (i.e., impermeant but with low efficacy) blocked nicotine induced up-regulation. Thus, agonists elicit up-regulation (mainly of intracellular receptors) by interacting with cell surface nAChRs that are not compatible with either an active or high affinity desensitized conformation.     

Phenylclindine-induced alteration in rat muscarinic cholinergic receptor regulation

A muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding profile was performed on 3 separate regions of the rat brain following administration of the drug phencyclidine (10 mg/kg, twice a day) for 10 days. Binding assays were performed on homogenates of the hippocampus, striatum and cortex using the ligand [3H]QNB. Scatchard analysis of the binding data revealed a statistically significant decrease in the number of [3H]QNB binding sites in all phencyclidine treated animals. Binding was 22% lower in the cortex and 16% lower in the hippocampus and striatum. Phencyclidine treatment did not significantly alter the affinity of the receptor for the ligands [3H]QNB, acetylcholine or phencyclidine. This decrease in CNS muscarinic receptors could be contributing to the underlying biochemical mechanism of tolerance to the drug.     

Photoaffinity labeling of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor by physostigmine

The plant alkaloid physostigmine, an established anti-cholinesterase agent of the carbamate type, has recently been shown to bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo marmorata electrocytes [Okonjo, K. O., Kuhlmann, J. & Maelicke, A. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 200, 671-677]. Pharmacological studies of physostigmine-induced ion flux into nicotinic-acetylcholine-receptor-rich membrane vesicles, indicated distinct binding sites for physostigmine and acetylcholine. As shown in this study by photoaffinity labeling with [phenyl-(n)-3H](-)physostigmine, the physostigmine-binding site is located within the same subunit (alpha polypeptide) of the receptor as the acetylcholine-binding site. Using a variety of proteolytic cleavage conditions for the purified alpha polypeptide, several [3H]physostigmine-labeled peptides were isolated and sequenced. From the radioactivity released in the course of the Edman degradations of the labeled peptides, it was found that the label was associated in all cases with Lys125. These results identify a novel ligand-binding site for the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that is different in location from binding sites identified previously for acetylcholine, its established agonists and antagonists, and direct channel blockers.     

In vitro evaluation of 11C-labeled (S)-nicotine, (S)-3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, and (R,S)-1-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)azetidine as nicotinic receptor ligands for positron emission tomography studies

The binding characteristics of the novel 11C-labeled nicotinic ligands (R,S)-1-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl) azetidine (MPA) and (S)-3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole (ABT-418) were investigated in comparison with those of (S)-[11C]nicotine in vitro in the rat brain to be able to predict the binding properties of the new ligands for positron emission tomography studies in vivo. The data from time-resolved experiments for all ligands indicated fast binding kinetics, with the exception of a slower dissociation of [11C]MPA in comparison with (S)-[11C]nicotine and [11C]ABT-418. Saturation experiments revealed for all ligands two nicotinic receptor binding sites with affinity constants (K(D) values) of 2.4 and 560 nM and binding site densities (Bmax values) of 65.5 and 223 fmol/mg of protein for (S)-[11C]nicotine, K(D) values of 0.011 and 2.2 nM and Bmax values of 4.4 and 70.7 fmol/mg of protein for [11C]MPA, and K(D) values of 1.3 and 33.4 nM and Bmax values of 8.8 and 69.2 fmol/mg of protein for [11C]ABT-418. In competing with the 11C-ligands, epibatidine was most potent, followed by cytisine. A different rank order of potencies was found for (-)-nicotine, (+)-nicotine, MPA, and ABT-418 displacing each of the 11C-ligands. Autoradiograms displayed a similar pattern of receptor binding for all ligands, whereby [11C]MPA showed the most distinct binding pattern and the lowest nonspecific binding. We conclude that the three 11C-labeled nicotinic ligands were suitable for characterizing nicotinic receptors in vitro. The very high affinity of [11C]MPA to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, its low nonspecific binding, and especially the slower dissociation kinetics of the [11C] MPA from the putative high-affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding site compared with (S)-[11C]nicotine and [11C]ABT-418 raise the level of interest in [11C]MPAfor application in positron emission tomography.     

Comparative laminar distribution of various autoradiographic cholinergic markers in adult rat main olfactory bulb

To provide anatomical information on the complex effects of acetylcholine (ACh) in the olfactory bulb (OB), the distribution of different cholinergic muscarinic and nicotinic receptor sub-types was studied by quantitative in vitro autoradiography. The muscarinic M1-like and M2-like sub-types, as well as the nicotinic bungarotoxin-insensitive (alpha 4 beta 2-like) and bungarotoxin-sensitive (alpha 7-like) receptors were visualized using [3H]pirenzepine, [3H]AF-DX 384, [3H]cytisine and [125I] alpha-bungarotoxin (BTX), respectively. In parallel, labelling patterns of [3H]vesamicol (vesicular acetylcholine transport sites) and [3H]hemicholinium-3 (high-affinity choline uptake sites), two putative markers of cholinergic nerve terminals, were investigated. Specific labelling for each cholinergic radioligand is distributed according to a characteristic laminar and regional pattern within the OB revealing the lack of a clear overlap between cholinergic afferents and receptors. The presynaptic markers, [3H]vesamicol and [3H]hemicholinium-3, demonstrated similar laminar pattern of distribution with two strongly labelled bands corresponding to the glomerular layer and the area around the mitral cell layer. Muscarinic M1-like and M2-like receptor sub-types exhibited unique distribution with their highest levels seen in the external plexiform layer (EPL). Intermediate M1-like and M2-like binding densities were found throughout the deeper bulbar layers. In the glomerular layer, the levels of muscarinic receptor subtypes were low, the level of M2-like sites being higher than M1. Both types of nicotinic receptor sub-types displayed distinct distribution pattern. Whereas [125I] alpha-BTX binding sites were mostly concentrated in the superficial bulbar layers, [3H]cytisine binding was found in the glomerular layers, as well as the mitral cell layer and the underlying laminae. An interesting feature of the present study is the visualization of two distinct cholinoceptive glomerular subsets in the posterior OB. The first one exhibited high levels of both [3H]vesamicol and [3H]hemicholinium-3 sites. It corresponds to the previously identified atypical glomeruli and apparently failed to express any of the cholinergic receptors under study. In contrast, the second subset of glomeruli is not enriched with cholinergic nerve terminal markers but displayed high amounts of [3H]cytisine/nicotinic binding sites. Taken together, these results suggest that although muscarinic receptors have been hypothesized to be mostly involved in cholinergic olfactory processing and short-term memory in the OB, nicotinic receptors, especially of the cytisine/ alpha 4 beta 2 sub-type, may have important roles in mediating olfactory transmission of efferent neurons as well as in a subset of olfactory glomeruli.     

The high affinity state of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor is a functional state

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) is a second messenger responsible for the rapid and discontinuous release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. In this study, the effects of the sulfhydryl reagent thimerosal were investigated on Ca2+ mobilization and on InsP3 binding. Thimerosal was shown to release Ca2+, in a dose-dependent manner, with an EC50 of 135.8 +/- 5.2 microM, from bovine adrenal cortex microsomes. Thimerosal-induced Ca2+ release was not prevented by heparin (250 micrograms/ml), ruling out a participation of InsP3 receptor in that effect. The slow rate of thimerosal-induced Ca2+ release rather suggested an inhibition of microsomal Ca2+ ATPase. At submaximal concentration, thimerosal (100 microM) was also shown to potentiate the release of Ca2+ induced by InsP3. Dose-response experiments revealed that thimerosal enhanced the apparent affinity of InsP3 by a factor 2.21 +/- 0.28, without modifying the maximal amount of Ca2+ released by InsP3. Thimerosal also enhanced, in a dose-dependent manner, [3H]InsP3 binding to adrenal cortex microsomes (EC50 = 43.3 +/- 7.6 microM). A similar effect was also observed on [3H]InsP3 binding to solubilized receptors, suggesting a direct modification of the receptor protein by thimerosal. The effects of thimerosal on Ca2+ release and [3H]InsP3 binding were abolished in the presence of the reducing agent dithiothreitol (1 mM), suggesting a modification by thimerosal of specific thiol groups on these microsomal proteins. Scatchard analysis revealed that thimerosal (100 microM) increased InsP3 receptor affinity by 1.87 +/- 0.26-fold. Kinetic analysis indicated that this increased affinity was due to an enhancement of InsP3 association rate constant. The concomitant increases of binding affinity and Ca2+ releasing potency suggest that the high affinity state of InsP3 receptor is a functional state.     

An approach for assaying benzodiazepine receptor binding with radioiodinated ligand: 125I-labeled diazepam derivative

[125I]2'-Iododiazepam (IDZ) was prepared and its application in a benzodiazepine receptor binding assay was studied. [125I]2'-IDZ binds to the rat cortical membrane with a high affinity (Kd, 0.66 nM). Various benzodiazepines showed competition with [125I]2'-IDZ for the binding sites in the rat cortical membrane, and the specificity of its binding correlated well with that of [3H]diazepam (r = 0.992, p < 0.001). These findings suggested that [125I]2'-IDZ binds to the same sites as [3H]diazepam and indicated that [125I]2'-IDZ can be used in a benzodiazepine receptor assay.     

Pharmacological properties of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on adrenal chromaffin cells and their modification by hypoxic exposure

To characterize the properties of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in autonomic ganglia, we examined specific L-[3H]nicotine binding to membrane fraction prepared from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, using a modified filtration method. Binding of L-[3H]nicotine to non-treated glass fiber filters interfered with detection of specific binding to the membrane fraction. Presoaking the glass fiber filters in 3% or greater concentrations of polyethyleneimine solution (sixty times higher than the reported concentration) for more than 5 h could reduce the binding of L-[3H]nicotine to the filters to background level. Furthermore, specific L-[3H]nicotine binding to the membrane fraction was detected only when the membrane fraction was prepared in buffer containing no divalent cations such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ (EDTA and EGTA were added) and protease inhibitors. Specific binding of L-[3H]nicotine was saturable and reversible. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of high affinity binding sites with an average Kd of 8.7 nM and a Bmax of 43.2 fmol/mg protein. Specific binding was sensitive to cholinergic agonists (carbamylcholine and L-nicotine) and ganglionic stimulating agents (lobeline and DMPP), but was resistant to neuromuscular blocking agents (alpha-bungarotoxin, d-tubocurarine) and hexamethonium. These results suggest that high-affinity nicotine binding sites on adrenal chromaffin cells are nAChRs of ganglion-type, which have properties different from nAChRs on the neuromuscular junction but similar to nAChRs in the brain.     

Correlation of nicotinic binding with neurochemical markers in Alzheimer's disease

The loss of neocortical synapses that occurs in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been shown to correlate with cognitive decline. In addition, marked losses in the cholinergic system in AD, specifically choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and high affinity presynaptic neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs), have also been described. We hypothesized that in AD, the loss of [3H]-ligand binding to nAChRs, which are largely presynaptic, would correlate with changes in two other presynaptic markers: synaptophysin (Syn), a measure of synaptic density, and ChAT activity. The midfrontal (MF) cortex of 36 autopsy confirmed (NIA and CERAD criteria) AD patients (mean death age +/- SD 80.1 +/- 8.4 years) who met NINDS-ADRDA criteria for a clinical diagnosis of probable or possible AD, and 11 nondemented controls (mean death age +/- SD 77.9 +/- 8.0) were examined. Synapse counts were quantified by a dotimmunobinding assay for Syn. ChAT activity was assessed by standard biochemical assays. Nicotinic cholinergic receptor binding was assayed using the high affinity nicotinic agonist [3H]-(+/-)-epibatidine ([3H]-EPI). The mean +/- SD Syn in AD (83.4 +/- 31.9 arbitrary units (AU)/mg protein) was significantly lower than controls (126.1 +/- 19.9, p = 0.0003; t-test). The mean ChAT activity in AD (139.0 +/- 75.6 nmol ACh/hr/100 mg protein) was significantly lower than controls (219.6 +/- 70.8, p = 0.004). The mean [3H]-EPI total binding in AD (6.2 +/- 2.8 fmol/mg protein) was significantly lower than controls (14.8 +/- 3.2; p < 0.0001). Syn correlated with [3H]-EPI binding in AD (r = 0.48, p = 0.006; Pearson) but ChAT did not (r = -0.20, p = 0.34). We conclude that loss of high affinity nAChR binding correlates with loss of synapses in AD. The lack of correlation between [3H]-EPI binding and ChAT activity suggests that the targeted receptor populations may not be located exclusively on cholinergic neurons.     

The specific binding of the platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist WEB 2086 and the benzodiazepine flunitrazepam to rat hepatocytes

Thieno-triazolodiazepines WEB 2086 and BN 50739 have been described as the potent PAF receptor antagonists. Binding of radiolabeled [3H]WEB 2086 has been widely employed to characterize PAF receptors in different cells. In a search for a PAF receptor in isolated rat hepatocytes, we discovered that the binding of [3H]WEB to rat hepatocytes was highly specific but had a relatively low affinity with a Kd of 113 nM and Bmax of 0.65 pmol/10(6) cells in freshly isolated cell suspension and Kd of 1.65 muM and Bmax of 2.0 pmol/plate in cultured hepatocytes. No consistent specific binding of [3H]PAF itself was found in the same cell preparations. The binding of [3H]flunitrazepam in the presence of the peripheral type of benzodiazepine receptor antagonist Ro 5-4864 was saturated and exhibited a K(i) of 3.8 nM and Bmax of 3.5 pmol/plate. The central type of benzodiazepine receptor antagonist clonazepam was competed for the [3H]flunitrazepam binding, however with a much lower affinity. Various antagonists inhibited the binding of [3H]WEB 2086 with a rank order BN 50739>Ro 5-4864 > or = clonazepam. Interestingly, bicuculline, specific antagonist of GABA(A) recognition sites, also significantly reduced the binding of [3H]WEB 2086. The binding of [3H]flunitrazepam was inhibited with a rank potency BN 50739>WEB 2086. Taken together, these findings suggest that the specific binding of PAF receptor antagonists WEB 2086 and BN 50739 in rat hepatocytes does not involve PAF receptors and occurs via peripheral benzodiazepine and, possibly GABA(A) receptor sites.     

In vivo imaging of brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with 5-[123I]iodo-A-85380 using single photon emission computed tomography

The distribution and kinetics of 5-[123I]iodo-A-85380, a novel ligand for brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), were evaluated in the Rhesus monkey using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Peak levels of radioactivity were measured in brain at 90 min after injection of the tracer. Accumulation of radioactivity was highest in the thalamus, intermediate in the frontal cortex and basal ganglia, and lowest in the cerebellum. The ratio of specific to nonspecific binding (V3") in the thalamus, estimated from the (thalamic-cerebellar)/cerebellar radioactivity ratio, reached a value of 6 at 4 h post-injection. Specific binding was reduced by subcutaneous injection of 1 mg/kg cytisine at 2.25 h after injection of radiotracer. At 2.5 h after cytisine administration, radioactivity in the thalamus was reduced by 84%, in the frontal cortex, by 76%, and in the basal ganglia, by 57% of the level measured at the time of cytisine administration, demonstrating that the binding was reversible. On the basis of these findings, together with other data indicating high affinity, receptor subtype selectivity, low nonspecific binding and lack of toxicity in animals, 5-[123I]iodo-A-85380 appears to be a promising ligand for SPECT imaging of nAChRs in the human brain.     

Stereospecific, high affinity binding of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin by hepatic cytosol. Evidence that the binding species is receptor for induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase

We previously hypothesized that the genetic trait of aromatic hydrocarbon nonresponsiveness (the failure in certain inbred strains of mice of polycyclic hydrocarbons to induce aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity, and the diminished sensitivity to the more potent inducer 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is due to mutation which results in an induction receptor with a diminished affinity for the inducing compound. Following the intraperitoneal administration of [14C]TCDD (6 nmol/kg), hepatic accumulation of the radiolabel was greatest in C57BL/6J mice, intermediate in the hybrid B6D2F1/J mice, and least in DBA/2J mice, a pattern which mirrors the strain sensitivity to hydroxylase induction by TCDD (C57BL/6J greater than B6D2F1/J greater than DBA/2J). These data are compatible with receptor mutation theory and suggested that the hepatic uptake of TCDD is determined by the affinity of the receptor. In vitro experiments on the binding of [3H]TCDD to hepatic cytosol from C57BL/6J mice revealed a small pool of high affinity sites which stereospecifically and reversibly bind TCDD. The specific binding of [3H]TCDD to hepatic cytosol had an equilibrium dissociation constant KD of 0.27 nM and a maximum binding capacity of 84 fmol/mg of cytosol protein. Much less high affinity specific binding of [3H]TCDD was observed in hepatic cytosol from DBA/2J mice, but the KD was not estimated because of the limited aqueous solubility of the ligand. The binding affinity of 23 halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans for this hepatic cytosol-binding species closely correlated with the potencies of these compounds as inducers of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity. The polycyclic hydrocarbons that induce hepatic hydroxylase activity competed with [3H]TCDD for hepatic cytosol binding, but phenobarbital, pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile, and the steroid hormones had no specific binding. The data suggest that the hepatic cytosol species which binds TCDD is the receptor for the induction of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity, and that the mutation in nonresponsive mice results in an altered receptor with a diminished affinity for inducing compounds.     

Repeated administration of opioids alters characteristics of membrane-bound phorbol ester binding in rat brain

Scatchard analysis of saturation binding data indicated that dissociation constant (KD) of [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) binding to the membrane-bound protein kinase C of rat cortex and midbrain was significantly decreased following systemic repeated administration of morphine (mu-opioid receptor agonist) and butorphanol (mu/delta/kappa-mixed opioid receptor agonist). No change in the receptor density (Bmax) of [3H]PDB binding was found following repeated treatment with morphine and butorphanol. On the other hand, neither the Bmax nor KD values in pons/medulla were altered in these rats. These results suggest that systemic repeated opioid treatment, such as morphine and butorphanol leads to an increased affinity for phorbol ester binding to the membrane-bound protein kinase C in rat cortex and midbrain.     

Unchanged [3H]MK-801 binding and increased [3H]flunitrazepam binding in turtle forebrain during anoxia

In order to determine if functional changes in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and GABAA receptors play a role in the remarkable anoxia tolerance of freshwater turtle brain, we used autoradiographic techniques to assay [3H]MK-801 and [3H]flunitrazepam binding in turtle forebrain after turtles had been subjected to anoxia for 2 or 6 h. The effects of glutamate, glycine, competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists, glycine antagonists, polyamines, magnesium, and zinc on [3H]MK-801 binding were the same in anoxic and control turtle forebrains. These results indicate that NMDA receptor regulation plays no role in the adaptive responses to anoxia in turtle brain. In contrast, [3H]flunitrazepam binding was significantly increased in the anoxic dorsal cortex and striatum. The most parsimonious explanation for elevated benzodiazepine receptor binding is that the rise in extracellular GABA levels known to accompany anoxia enhances benzodiazepine receptor affinity. It is possible, however, that GABAA receptor upregulation during anoxia increases the effectiveness of the inhibitory action of released GABA and contributes to the anoxia tolerance of turtles.     

Binding characterization of a putative cGMP transporter in the cell membrane of human erythrocytes

Cyclic GMP is an intracellular signal molecule whose biological and pharmacological role is not well understood. Recent studies with human erythrocytes and other cell types (normal and transformed) have shown that the extrusion of cGMP is an ATP-dependent and saturable process. In this paper, we present our studies on binding of [3H]-cGMP to human erythrocyte ghost and its solubilized extracts. At 4 degrees C, an apparent dissociation constant of 0.15 microM was found in the samples. Maximum specific binding values in ghost and solubilized extracts were 9.0 pmol/mg of protein and 1.0 pmol/mg of protein, respectively. The low dissociation constant was confirmed by kinetic studies with a value of 0.16 microM. Specific [3H]-cGMP binding was inhibited by cAMP, cGMP, and cIMP with KD values of 0.22 microM, 0.09 microM, and 0.17 microM, respectively. Unlabeled cGMP and cIMP inhibited [3H]-cGMP binding completely whereas cAMP inhibited only 70%. The membrane-localized cGMP-binding protein discriminates between cyclic and noncyclic nucleotides, since GMP, IMP, and AMP were unable to displace [3H]-cGMP. A zwitterionic detergent, CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfate), was able to solubilize a protein with identical binding affinity. The results of this study show that erythrocyte ghosts possess a cGMP-binding protein which is not a kinase (due to a similar affinity for cAMP, cGMP, and cIMP) or phosphodiesterase (due to the inability of IBMX, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, to inhibit specific [3H]-cGMP binding). We hypothesize that this protein is the cell membrane cGMP transporter.     

Identification of dihydropyridine (DHP) binding sites on cultured monkey renal cells (GMRC) with a photoaffinity probe (-)-[3H]-azidopine

The low affinity binding sites identified in crude membranes from different excitable tissues with the dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium (Ca2+) channel ligands have confused researches in the field of Ca2+ channels as they can represent low affinity state(s) of the DHP receptor, or they can be labelled with DHP-type Ca2+ channel ligands. The aim of this communication was to provide more evidence for the existence of separate DHP binding sites on the surface of cultured green monkey renal cells (GMRC). The saturation ligand binding experiments with [3H]-nitrendipine (NTP) and photoaffinity labelling studies with (-)-[3H]-azidopine (AZI) were performed in order to identify and further characterize the DHP receptor on cultured GMRC. Specific high affinity sites identified on GMRC with [3H]-NTP (Bmax = 0.78 +/- 0.03 pmol/mg protein and KD = 0.06 +/- 0.1 nmol/l in native cells) and photolabelled with AZI represent DHP receptor on L-type Ca2+ channels. The low affinity binding sites photolabelled with AZI on GMRC (9.84 +/- 2.4 pmol/mg protein and KD = 3.21 +/- 1.25 nmol/l in native cells) were significantly increased after preincubation of GMRC with low concentrations of DHPs nitrendipine and nisoldipine. Preincubation of GMRC with Ca2+ channel agonist (-)BAYK 8644 significantly reduced specific photolabelling with AZI on GMRC and increased low affinity labelling. Preincubation of (+)BAYK 8644 was without any effect. Niguldipine (DHP with the voluminous substituent on the port side of the DHP ring) partially inhibited specific photolabelling with AZI on GMRC and also partially reduced the maximal number of low affinity binding sites labelled with AZI. Our results support the hypothesis of separate subsites in the region of DHP receptor of GMRC and the existence of the "marginal" photolabelling of specific DHP binding sites identified on Ca2+ channels.