Characterization of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors by a photoaffinity label. Site-specific modification of vasoactive intestinal peptide by derivatization of the receptor-bound peptide

Receptors for gut regulatory peptides

Receptors for regulatory peptides (hormones or neurotransmitters) play a pivotal role in the ability of cells to taste the rich neuroendocrine environment of the gut. Recognition of low concentration of peptides with a high specificity and translation of the peptide-receptor interaction into a biological response through different signalling pathways (adenylyl cyclase-cAMP or phospholipase C-phosphatidylinositol) are crucial properties of receptors. While many new receptors have been identified and thereafter characterized functionally during the 1980s, molecular biology now emerges as the privileged way for the structural characterization and discovery of receptors. Different strategies of receptor cloning have been developed which may or may not require prior receptor purification. Among cloning strategies that do not require receptor purification, homology screening of cDNA libraries, expression of receptor cDNA or mRNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes or in COS cells, and the polymerase chain reaction method achieved great success, e.g. cloning of receptors for cholecystokinin, gastrin, glucagon-like peptide 1, gastrin-releasing peptide/bombesin, neuromedin K, neuropeptide Y, neurotensin, opioids, secretin, somatostatin, substance K, substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide. All these receptors belong to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors which consist of a single polypeptide chain (350-450 amino acids) with seven transmembrane segments, an N-terminal extracellular domain and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. In this chapter, we have detailed the properties of three receptors which play an important role in digestive tract physiology and illustrate various signal transduction pathways: pancreatic beta-cell galanin receptors which mediate inhibition of insulin release and intestinal epithelial receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide and peptide YY, which mediate the stimulation and inhibition of water and electrolyte secretion, respectively.

Fine structural correlates of VIP-like immunoreactivity in the upper spinal dorsal horn after peripheral axotomy: possibilities of a neuro-glial translocation of a neuropeptide

After transection of the peripheral nerve, VIP-like immunoreactivity (VIPLI) increases markedly in the ipsilateral upper dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Immunoreactivity has been studied by means of light- and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Under normal conditions, there is little VIPLI present in the superficial dorsal horn, confined to small dot-like elements corresponding to axonal and glial profiles. At the electron microscopic level, immunostaining was found mainly in preterminal and, partly, also in en passant terminal swellings or varicosities. The reaction was confined to the axoplasm and, to a lesser extent, to large dense core vesicles. VIPLI is also present in several astroglial processes. 13, 19, and 25 d after transection of the sciatic nerve, increased immunoreactivity was present in the medial 2/3 of the superficial dorsal horn. Electron microscopically, VIPLI was seen mainly in preterminal axons and in many astroglial processes surrounding axon terminals while VIPLI in the en passant axon terminals themselves decreases. 2 months after peripheral axotomy, the amount of axonally localized VIPLI decreases considerably and most of the immunocytochemically detectable VIPLI is found in expansions and processes of astroglial cells. Perikarya of glial cells rarely exhibit VIPLI. VIPLI also increased after crushing the related peripheral nerve; however, as soon as the nerve fibers regenerate, VIPLI decreases again to normal levels. It appears that blockade of the retrograde axoplasmic transport induces a switch in the neuropeptide synthesizing machinery of dorsal root ganglion cells which results in the expression of VIP instead of substance P, somatostatin and CGRP. It is proposed that VIP is released from axon terminals affected by transganglionic degenerative atrophy. Subsequently, astroglial cells equipped with receptors for VIP, might bind and internalize the released VIP.

Molecular properties of the vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor in aorta and other tissues

The molecular weight of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor was assessed in bovine aorta, and rat liver, lung, and brain by covalent cross-linking and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The receptor in all four tissues was found to be a single polypeptide of approximate M(r) 54,000, contradicting previous claims for substantial heterogeneity in the molecular weight of this receptor. Guanine nucleotides inhibit cross-linking of 125I-VIP to its receptor, and cross-linking with ethylene glycolbis(succinimidylsuccinate) provides further evidence for complex formation between VIP, its receptor and a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (G-protein). The precise mechanism of receptor-G-protein coupling may differ between the aorta and other tissues.

Solubilization of active and stable receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide from rat liver

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors were solubilized from rat liver using the zwitterionic detergent CHAPS. Optimal conditions of solubilization were obtained with 5 mM CHAPS and 2.5 mg protein/ml. The binding of 125I-VIP to CHAPS extracts was time- and pH-dependent, saturable and reversible. The following order of potency of unlabeled VIP-related peptides for inhibiting 125I-VIP binding was observed: VIP greater than helodermin greater than peptide histidine isoleucine amide (PHI) greater than rat growth hormone releasing factor (rGRF) greater than secretin. This peptide specificity is identical to that of rat liver membrane-bound receptors. VIP binding activity in the CHAPS extract was destroyed by trypsin or dithiothreitol in accordance with the known sensitivity of membrane-bound receptors to these agents. VIP receptors in CHAPS extracts were stable for at least 5 days at 4 degrees C. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data indicated the presence in CHAPS extracts of high (H) and low (L) affinity binding sites with the following characteristics: KdH = 0.27 nM and BmH = 34 fmol/mg protein; KdL = 51 nM and BmL = 1078 fmol/mg protein. The guanine nucleotide GTP inhibited 125I-VIP binding to soluble receptors and enhanced the dissociation of soluble VIP-receptor complexes, suggesting that GTP-binding proteins were functionally associated with VIP receptors in solution. Gel filtration of solubilized VIP receptors on Sephacryl S-300 revealed a single binding component with a Stokes radius of 6.1 nm. It is concluded that active VIP receptors can be extracted from liver membranes by CHAPS. The availability of this CHAPS-soluble, stable and functional receptor from a tissue which can be obtained in large amounts represents a major step toward the purification of VIP receptors.

A human melanoma-derived cell line (IGR39) with a very high number of vasoactive-intestinal-peptide (VIP) receptors. 1. Molecular characterization of the binding site

Using mono[125I]iodinated vasoactive intestinal peptide (125I-VIP), a very high number of specific binding sites for VIP were identified at the surface of the human melanoma cell line IGR39. The Scatchard analysis of competitive displacement experiments between native VIP and 125I-VIP was consistent with the existence of two classes of VIP-binding sites. IGR39 cells possess 0.54 x 10(6) high-affinity sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.66 nM and 1.3 x 10(6) sites of moderate affinity with a Kd of 4.7 nM. Pharmacological studies indicated that the order of potency in inhibiting 125I-VIP binding of the VIP/secretin family peptides was VIP much greater than peptide histidine methioninamide greater than human growth-hormone-releasing factor(1-44) greater than secretin. Glucagon has no effect on the binding of the labelled peptide. By means of photoaffinity labelling a polypeptide of Mr 63,000 was characterized. The labelling of this species was completely abolished by native VIP. The order of potency of VIP-related peptides in inhibiting 125I-VIP cross-linking to its receptor was the same as in the competition experiments. The glycoprotein nature of the VIP-binding sites of IGR39 cells has been investigated by affinity chromatography on wheat-germ-agglutinin-Sepharose.

Molecular characteristics and evidence for internalization of vasoactive-intestinal-peptide (VIP) receptors in the tumoral rat-pancreatic acinar cell line AR 4-2 J

1. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors were investigated in the tumoral acinar cell line AR 4-2 J derived from rat pancreas [125I]Iodo-VIP binding to cell membranes showed the following IC50 values for unlabeled peptides: VIP, 0.3 nM; peptide His-IleNH2, 2 nM; helodermin, 30 nM; secretin, 100 nM. After incubation with 20 nM dexamethasone, the binding capacity increased twofold but affinities were unchanged. External [125I]iodo-VIP binding to intact cells reached steady state after 5 min at 37 degrees C, while the sequestration-internalization of the [125I]iodo-VIP-receptor complex (tested by cold acid washing) increased progressively, reaching 75% of total binding after 1 h. This phenomenon was blocked at 4 degrees C. Further data with dexamethasone, tunicamycin, cycloheximide, low temperature, and/or phenylarsine oxide, suggested a half-life of 2 days for VIP receptors and the necessity of N-glycosylation for proper translocation. 2. For chemical [125I]iodo-VIP cross-linking bis[2-(succinimidooxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]sulfone gave the best yield when compared with five other bifunctional reagents. In membranes, the main specifically cross-linked peptide had Mr 66,000 under nonreducing conditions, and migrated with lower velocity (-5%) under reducing conditions. Cross-linking was suppressed by VIP, peptide His-IleNH2 and helodermin (competitively) and also by GTP. In intact cells, the Mr of [125I]iodo-VIP-cross-linked peptides depended on the mode of cell solubilization. After direct solubilization, the major cross-linked radioactivity migrated as a smear of Mr 130,000-180,000 but an Mr-66,000 peptide was also detectable. In contrast, the solubilization of cross-linked cells detached by mild trypsinisation gave mainly the Mr-66,000 labeled peptide. This suggests that most VIP receptors in intact, attached cells were in a high-Mr complex and that mild cell treatment was sufficient to disrupt this complex.

Species differences in the molecular characteristics of vasoactive-intestinal-peptide receptors in the pancreas from rat and guinea-pig

1. The receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) present in dispersed acini and membranes from rat and guinea-pig pancreas differed in selectivity pattern, i.e. in the displacement of [125I]iodo-VIP by parent peptides, as revealed by a VIP:secretin IC50 ratio at least ten times higher in rat than in guinea-pig preparations. The molecular properties of these VIP receptors were therefore investigated. 2. When comparing six succinimidyl ester cross-linkers, bis[2-(succinimidooxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]sulfone proved to be the most universal [125I]iodo-VIP cross-linker for all pancreatic preparations. 3. In intact rat acini the main labeled peptide had an Mr of 80,000, whereas the main labeled peptide in intact guinea-pig acini was a smear of Mr 160,000. In both rat and guinea-pig pancreatic membranes, the main labeled peptide ([125I]iodo-VIP-binding-protein complex) had an Mr of 66,000. In addition, variable proportions of an Mr-80,000 peptide and an Mr-83,000 peptide were visualized in, respectively, rat and guinea-pig membranes. The labeling of all peptides was suppressed by VIP and by GTP. Reducing conditions allowed only a better resolution, making the presence of intermolecular disulfide bridges unlikely. 4. Taking into account the Mr of VIP it is thus plausible that the main native Mr-77,000 VIP-binding site present in rat acini could be easily converted to an Mr-63,000 peptide during membrane preparation, while in guinea-pig acini Mr-80,000 and/or Mr-63,000 VIP-binding sites were often closely associated with another membrane component in the native state. These molecular differences between VIP receptors in intact rat and guinea-pig acini are in keeping with functional differences.

Identification of nuclear receptors for VIP on a human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide with broad tissue distribution. Although its precise function is unknown, it is thought to exert its effect, at least in part, by interacting with cell surface receptors. Nuclear receptors for VIP have now been identified by specific binding of 125I-labeled VIP to nuclei of a human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line (HT29) and by cross-linking of 125I-labeled VIP to its receptor on intact nuclei. In contrast, 125I-labeled transferrin shows only background binding to nuclei but significant binding to intact cells. Purity of the isolated nuclei was further substantiated by electron microscopy. The apparent molecular sizes of the VIP--cross-linked nuclear and cell surface receptors are similar but not identical.