Development of a high affinity and stereoselective photoaffinity label for the D-1 dopamine receptor: synthesis and resolution of 7-[125I]iodo-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-(4'-azidophenyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro- 1H-3-benzazepine

In an earlier paper, we reported the development of (+-)-7-iodo-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-(4'-azidophenyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro- 1H-3-benzazepine (I-MAB) and its 125I analogue ([125I]I-MAB) as selective, high affinity photoaffinity labels for the D-1 dopamine receptor. In this report, we now describe the complete synthesis and resolution of I-MAB and the pharmacological characterization of the stereoisomers in canine striatal membranes. R-(+)-I-MAB showed highly specific dopamine D-1 receptor binding (KD = 0.28 nM) and binds selectively and stereoselectively to the D-1 receptor. These results further confirm the previous suggestion that, in the benzazepine series of DA agonists and antagonists, the activity principally resides in the R-(+) enantiomer, the S-(-) enantiomer being considerably less potent or inactive. Moreover, R-(+)-[125I]I-MAB, upon photolysis, identifies the ligand-binding subunits of the neuronal D-1 receptor, with an apparent Mr of 74,000, 62,000, and 51,000 as assessed by autoradiography following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Photoincorporation of R-(+)-[125I]I-MAB into these polypeptides was stereoselectively blocked by D-1 dopaminergic ligands with an appropriate pharmacologic profile for the receptor. R-(+)-[125I]I-MAB should thus prove to be a useful stereoselective photoaffinity label for the further characterization of the D-1 receptors.

A lamin B receptor in the nuclear envelope

Using a solution binding assay, we show that purified 125I-labeled lamin B binds in a saturable and specific fashion to lamin-depleted avian erythrocyte nuclear membranes with a Kd of approximately 0.2 microM. This binding is significantly greater than the binding of 125I-labeled lamin A and is competitively inhibited by unlabeled ligand. We demonstrate that a 58-kDa integral membrane protein (p58) is a lamin B receptor by virtue of its abundance in the nuclear envelope and association with 125I-labeled lamin B in ligand blotting assays. Specific antibodies raised against p58 recognize one protein in isolated nuclei and partially block 125I-labeled lamin B binding to lamin-depleted nuclear membranes. Cell fractionation and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy show that p58 is located in the periphery of the nucleus. This protein may serve as a membrane attachment site for the nuclear lamina by acting as a specific receptor for lamin B.

A gentle method for preparing cyto- and nucleo-skeletons and associated chromatin

We describe a method for permeabilizing and extracting cells that preserves both structure and function whilst allowing the cell derivatives to be handled freely. Cells are encapsulated in microbeads of agarose; the coat of agarose, which is freely permeable to small molecules, forms a protective layer around fragile cell constituents. Cells are then permeabilized by the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 or antibody and complement in a buffer whose ionic composition mimics that of the cytoplasm. The resulting structures have been characterized morphologically (by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy) and biochemically. Lysis with Triton removes both cell and nuclear membranes, and extracts most of the cytoplasm to leave chromatin surrounded by cytoskeleton; nucleus and cytoplasm then become accessible to triphosphates, enzymes and antibodies. Lysis with complement permeabilizes the cell membrane but leaves the nuclear membrane intact; triphosphates and restriction enzymes, but not antibodies, can then enter both nucleus and cytoplasm. Both types of lysis yield preparations whose chromatin template remains essentially intact, and which is replicated and transcribed at rates close to, or greater than, those found in vivo. Treatment of complement-lysed cells with Triton reduces the very efficient DNA synthesis, implying that the nuclear membrane is involved, directly or indirectly, in replication.

Distribution of ATPase-positive Langerhans cells in normal adult human skin

The distribution of ATPase-positive Langerhans cells (LC) was investigated in 117 specimens of normal adult human skin and mucosa taken from different areas of the body. Although there were significant variations in the numbers of LC in each area examined, skin from the face and neck contained the highest density of cells (976 +/- 30.93/mm2). The densities of LC in trunk skin (740 +/- 28.97/mm2), scalp (693 +/- 69.56/mm2) and arm or leg skin (640 +/- 40.95/mm2) were similar. Buccal mucosa had significantly fewer LC (567 +/- 42.94/mm2) than trunk skin, and sacrococcyx skin and palm and sole skin displayed the smallest number of these cells (267 +/- 56.14/mm2 and, 189 +/- 19.15/mm2 respectively). No ATPase-positive LC were detected in the centre of two corneal specimens.