Ca2+-guanine nucleotide interactions in brain membranes. II. Characteristics of [3H]guanosine triphosphate and [3H] beta, gamma-imidoguanosine 5'-triphosphate binding and catabolism in the rat hippocampus and striatum

Differential effects of guanine nucleotides on kainic acid binding and on adenylate cyclase activity in chick optic tectum

In G protein-coupled receptors, neurotransmitter-induced binding of GTP to G proteins triggers the activation of effector systems while simultaneously decreasing the affinity of the transmitter for its specific binding site within the receptor-G protein complex. In the present study we show that, in the chick optic tectum, guanine nucleotides inhibit the binding of the glutamate analog, kainate, and activate adenylate cyclase by different mechanisms and acting on different sites. GMP-PNP, a non-hydrolyzable analog of GTP, binds tightly to G proteins so that the binding is stable even after exhaustive washing. By use of this property, we have prepared membrane samples in which G protein GTP-binding sites are pre-saturated with GMP-PNP. Experiments carried out with these membranes show that GMP-PNP, GDP-S and GMP inhibit the binding of [3H]kainate by interacting with site(s) unrelated to G proteins, whereas GMP-PNP activates adenylate cyclase activity by binding to G proteins.

Drug discrimination and receptor binding studies of N-isopropyl lysergamide derivatives

Isopropyl (IPLA), N-methyl-N-isopropyl (MIPLA), N-ethyl-N-isopropyl (EIPLA), and N,N-diisopropyl (DIPLA) lysergamides were evaluated for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-like activity. In rats trained to discriminate 0.08 mg/kg LSD tartrate from saline, each of the subject compounds completely substituted, with an ED50 two to three times larger than that of LSD except for DIPLA, which had an ED50 about eightfold greater. Similarly, all the compounds displaced [125I](R)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane ([125I]DOI) from rat cortical homogenates and displaced [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]8-OH-DPAT) from rat hippocampal homogenates with KI values similar to those of LSD, again with the exception of DIPLA, which had about nine- and fourfold lower affinities, respectively. Interestingly, all the compounds had four- to fivefold lower affinities than LSD in displacing [3H]ketanserin from 5-HT2 binding sites. Molecular modeling studies found that all the compounds had low energy conformations similar to LSD. No correlation between the activity of the compounds and the preferred conformation of the amide substituents was apparent. In summary, N-alkyl-N-isopropyl analogs of LSD retain LSD-like activity in drug discrimination and 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 agonist binding assays only until the N-alkyl substitution is as large as ethyl; LSD-like activity dramatically drops when the second alkyl substituent is N-isopropyl.

Physical evidence of the coupling of solubilized 5-HT1A binding sites with G regulatory proteins

Previous investigations (El Mestikawy et al., J Neurochem 51: 1031-1040, 1988) have shown that 5-HT1A binding sites (R[5-HT1A]) solubilized by CHAPS from rat hippocampal membranes can be modulated by guanine nucleotides, as expected from their solubilization together with associated G regulatory proteins (G). Studies of the hydrodynamic properties of solubilized R[5-HT1A] have been presently carried out in order to assess in a more direct way the presence of R[5-HT1A]-G complexes in the soluble extract. Under control conditions, the sedimentation of a CHAPS extract from hippocampal membranes through a 5-30% sucrose gradient (200,000 g, 17 hr, 4 degrees) gave two maxima of [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding activity corresponding to sedimentation coefficients of 8.0 S and 10.0 S, respectively. Running the gradient in the presence of 1 microM GTP revealed a significant reduction of the 10.0 S peak, as expected from the loss of material (probably a G protein) normally associated with R[5-HT1A]. Conversely, attempts to prevent the dissociation of R[5-HT1A]-G by treatment of CHAPS soluble hippocampal extracts with the cross-linking reagent disuccinimidyl suberate (0.1 mM) resulted in a significant increase (+70%) in [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding activity associated with the appearance of a new sedimenting material with a higher coefficient (16.5 S). Furthermore, [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding became almost completely insensitive to guanine nucleotides as expected from the irreversible coupling by disuccinimidyl suberate of R[5-HT1A] with G protein(s). WGA-agarose chromatography of CHAPS soluble hippocampal extract supplemented with GTP allowed the physical separation of R[5-HT1A] from the bulk of G proteins, and a concomitant decrease of [3H]8-OH-DPAT high affinity binding capacity. Partial recovery of the latter could be achieved by reconstituting R[5-HT1A]-G complexes upon the addition of a mixture of pure bovine Gi + Go to G-deprived soluble extracts. Finally in vivo treatment with Pertussis toxin (5 micrograms intracerebroventricularly, 48 hr before killing) resulted in a significant reduction of the specific binding of [3H]8-OH-DPAT (-36%) to hippocampal membranes and corresponding CHAPS soluble extracts, and a marked decrease in the inhibitory effect of GppNHp. Accordingly the G protein associated with R[5-HT1A] belongs probably to the Gi or Go families.

[125I]-2-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)aminoethane ([125I]-2C-I) as a label for the 5-HT2 receptor in rat frontal cortex

Recent studies of 5-HT2 receptor binding have involved the use of radiolabeled agonists. This report describes the use of [125I]-2-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)aminoethane ([125I]-2C-I) as a label for low-density 5-HT2 agonist binding sites. A nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP, GppNHp, was found to inhibit the high affinity binding of [125I]-2C-I. 5-HT and several 5-HT2 agonists and antagonists displayed high affinity for this site. In addition, a significant decrease in the Bmax value, but not the KD for [125I]-2C-I was observed at 37 degrees C as compared to that observed at 24 degrees C. Several structure-activity relationships were investigated for displacement of [125I]-2C-I, and the results are consistent with the importance of this receptor in the mechanism of action of hallucinogens. This study demonstrates the utility of [125I]-2C-I as a novel radioligand and provides further data that the 5-HT2 receptor is significantly linked to hallucinogenic activity for several compounds.

Enzymatic degradation of GTP and its "stable" analogues produce apparent isomerization of opioid receptors

GTP reduces the affinity of agonists to opioid receptors in membranes from NG 108-15 cells. This can be demonstrated using a short incubation time in equilibrium binding and in dissociation experiments: GTP decreases equilibrium binding, increases the percentage of fast dissociating binding and produces a conversion of high into low affinity receptors. However, upon prolonged incubation time (more than 60 min) these effects of GTP are gradually lost. This loss of guanine nucleotide effect is also observed with other nucleotides, namely GDP, GTP gamma S and GppNHp. Incubation of radioactive GTP with membranes and subsequent analysis of the guanine nucleotides by TLC (thin layer chromatography) reveals that GTP is rapidly hydrolyzed to GDP and thereupon to the inactive nucleotide GMP and guanosine. The so-called "hydrolysis-resistant" analogues of GTP, GTP gamma S and GppNHp are also degraded under these experimental conditions. The hydrolysis is apparent with membranes from different tissues and occurs with half times of less than 5 min for GTP and of 10 - 30 min for GDP and "stable" GTP-analogues. Conditions that reduce the degradation of guanine nucleotides during incubation with membranes are described.

Characterization of high-affinity dopamine D2 receptors and modulation of affinity states by guanine nucleotides in cholate-solubilized bovine striatal preparations

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) D2 receptors, solubilized from bovine striatal membranes using a cholic acid-NaCl combination, exhibited the typical pharmacological characteristics of both agonist and antagonist binding. The rank order potency of the agonists and antagonists to displace [3H]spiroperidol binding was the same as that observed with membrane-bound receptors. Computer-assisted analysis of the [3H]spiroperidol/agonist competition curves revealed the retention of high- and low-affinity states of the D2 receptor in the solubilized preparations and the proportions of receptor subpopulations in the two affinity states were similar to those reported in membrane. Guanine nucleotide almost completely converted the high-affinity sites to low-affinity sites for the agonists. The binding of the high-affinity agonist [3H]N-n-propylnorapomorphine ([3H]NPA) was clearly demonstrated in the solubilized preparations for the first time. Addition of guanylyl-imidodiphosphate completely abolished the [3H]NPA binding. When the solubilized receptors were subjected to diethylaminoethyl-Sephacel chromatography, the dopaminergic binding sites eluted in two distinct peaks, showing six- to sevenfold purification of the receptors in the major peak. Binding studies performed on both peaks indicated that the receptor subpopulation present in the first peak may have a larger proportion of high-affinity binding sites than the second peak. The solubilized preparation also showed high-affinity binding of [35S]guanosine-5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate, a result suggesting the presence of guanine nucleotide binding sites, which may interact with the solubilized D2 receptors. These data are consistent with the retention of the D2 receptor-guanine nucleotide regulatory protein complex in the solubilized preparations and should provide a suitable model system to study the receptor-effector interactions.

Microsomal opiate receptors: characterization of smooth microsomal and synaptic membrane opiate receptors

In continuing studies on smooth microsomal and synaptic membranes from rat forebrain, we compared the binding properties of opiate receptors in these two discrete subcellular populations. Receptors in both preparations were saturable and stereospecific. Scatchard and Hill plots of [3H]naloxone binding to microsomes and synaptic membranes were similar to plots for crude membranes. Both synaptic membranes and smooth microsomes contained similar enrichments of low- and high-affinity [3H]naloxone binding sites. No change in the affinity of the receptors was observed. When [3H]D-ala2-D-leu5-enkephalin was used as ligand, microsomes possessed 60% fewer high-affinity sites than did synaptic membranes, and a large number of low-affinity sites. In competition binding experiments microsomal opiate receptors lacked the sensitivity to (guanyl-5'-yl)imidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] shown by synaptic and crude membrane preparations. In this respect microsomal opiate receptors resembled membranes that were experimentally guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-uncoupled with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Agonist binding to microsomal and synaptic membrane opiate receptors was decreased by 100 mM NaCl. Like NEM-treated crude membranes, microsomal receptors were capable of differentiating agonist and antagonists in the presence of 100 mM NaCl. MnCl2 (50-100 microM) reversed the effects of 100 mM NaCl and 50 microM GTP on binding of the mu-specific agonist [3H]dihydromorphine in both membrane populations. Since microsomal receptors are unable to distinguish agonists from antagonists in the presence of Gpp(NH)p, they are a convenient source of guanine nucleotide-uncoupled opiate receptors.

Developmental changes of cerebral cortical [3H]clonidine binding in rats: influences of guanine nucleotide and cations

Cerebral cortical [3H]clonidine binding and influences of GTP and cations were investigated in developing rats. The results from Scatchard plots were compatible with the presence of two populations of binding sites [high-affinity binding (KD = 0.59 nM) and low-affinity binding (KD = 7.12 nM)] in 70-day-old rats but only high-affinity binding (KD = 0.27 nM) on day 1. Low-affinity binding was detectable on day 7. KD values in high- and low-affinity binding were not significantly changed during development after 7 days. Bmax of high-affinity binding reached a peak on day 15, and the value of low-affinity binding gradually increased with age. The addition of 10 microM GTP caused a significant reduction in Bmax of high-affinity binding after day 7. Neither KD nor Bmax of low-affinity binding was affected by 10 microM GTP during development. NaCl (10 and 100 mM) diminished the binding on days 7 and 70. MnCl2 (0.1 and 1.0 mM) markedly increased the binding on days 15 and 70 but not on day 7. It is suggested that: (1) single binding sites of alpha 2-adrenoceptors with higher affinity seem to be present on day 1; (2) low-affinity binding appears on day 7; (3) the number of high-affinity binding sites reaches a peak on day 15, followed by changes in populations of high-affinity as well as low-affinity sites without changing affinity; (4) the regulatory mechanism in alpha 2-receptors by guanine nucleotide reaches functional maturity between days 1 and 7; and (5) the involvement of Na+ and Mn2+ in alpha 2-receptor binding becomes functional by days 7 and 15, respectively.

Striatal [3H]GTP binding in developing rats: involvement of sulfhydryl residues, Ca2+ and Mg2+

The influence of sulfhydryl reagents and cations on specific [3H]GTP binding to striatal membranes was investigated in developing rats. Two components of non-cooperative [3H]GTP binding sites were observed in 15, 30, 70 and 360 day old rats but only a single component in 1 and 7 day old ones. The KD for low affinity binding increased with age. Bmax values for both high and low affinity binding increased with age and reached a peak at 30 days, followed by a decrease at 70 and 360 days. At 7 and 70 days, NaCl 1-100 mM did not affect [3H]GTP binding but CaCl2 and MgCl2 significantly inhibited the binding over a concentration range of 1-100 mM. TLC analysis of [3H]GTP and the metabolites in the binding medium and membranes showed that [3H]GTP in both membranes and in the medium was decreased by addition of 1 mM CaCl2 and 1 mM MgCl2 into the binding medium. On days 7 and 70, p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonate strongly inhibited [3H]GTP binding, and dithiothreitol significantly increased binding but dopamine, apomorphine, spiperone and alpha-flupenthixol did not increase binding up to 0.1 mM. It is suggested that sulfhydryl residues, Ca2+ and Mg2+ are involved in the regulation of guanine nucleotide binding and that the regulatory mechanism becomes functional at 7 days. Ca2+ and Mg2+ seem to act by stimulating degradation of [3H]GTP. In addition, the density of GTP binding sites reaches a peak at around 30 days and the affinity decreases with age.

Long-term local and distal increases in tryptophan hydroxylase activity following intracerebral kainic acid injections in the rat

The administration of kainic acid (1--2 micrograms) into the right striatum of adult rats resulted in a marked local increase in tryptophan hydroxylase activity (+ 54--106%). This change was significant as soon as on the second day after the treatment and persisted for at least 12 days. In addition, long-lasting elevations of tryptophan hydroxylase activity were also observed in the anterior raphe area, septum and ipsilateral hippocampus and cerebral cortex. In contrast, the intrahippocampal injection of kainic acid (1 microgram) induced a long-term increase in tryptophan hydroxylase activity only in the injected structure. In all cases, the changes in tryptophan hydroxylase activity were associated with significant increases in the Vmax of the enzyme with no alteration of its apparent affinities for tryptophan and the pterin cofactor. Studies of the sensitivity of tryptophan hydroxylase from control and from kainic acid-treated rats to in vitro activating conditions (Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation, partial trypsinization, exposure to sodium dodecyl sulfate) suggest that the intrastriatal injection of the neurotoxin induced a long-lasting activation of the enzyme. These findings indicate that intracerebral injections of kainic acid may be a valuable approach to explore further the mechanisms controlling tryptophan hydroxylase activity in vivo.