Adenosine A1 and A2 receptors: structure--function relationships

Chemical modification and irreversible inhibition of striatal A2a adenosine receptors

The ligand recognition site of A2a-adenosine receptors in rabbit striatal membranes was probed using non-site-directed labeling reagents and specific affinity labels. Exposure of membranes to diethylpyrocarbonate at a concentration of 2.5 mM, followed by washing, was found to inhibit the binding of [3H]CGS 21680 and [3H]xanthine amine congener to A2a receptors, by 86 and 30%, respectively. Protection from diethylpyrocarbonate inactivation by an adenosine receptor agonist, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, and an antagonist, theophylline, suggested the presence of two histidyl residues on the receptor, one associated with agonist binding and the other with antagonist binding. Binding of [3H]CGS 21680 or [3H]xanthine amine congener was partially restored after incubation with 250 mM hydroxylamine, further supporting histidine as the modification site. Preincubation with disulfide-reactive reagents, dithiothreitol or sodium dithionite, at greater than 5 mM inhibited radioligand binding, indicating the presence of essential disulfide bridges in A2a receptors, whereas the concentration of mercaptoethanol required to inhibit binding was greater than 50 mM. A number of isothiocyanate-bearing affinity labels derived from the A2a-selective agonist 2-[(2-aminoethylamino) carbonylethylphenylethylamino]-5'-N- ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (APEC) were synthesized and found to inhibit A2a receptor binding in rabbit and bovine striatal membranes. Binding to rabbit A1 receptors was not inhibited. Preincubation with the affinity label 4-isothiocyanatophenylaminothiocarbonyl-APEC (100 nM) diminished the Bmax for [3H]CGS 21680 binding by 71%, and the Kd was unaffected, suggesting a direct modification of the ligand binding site. Reversal of 4-isothiocyanatophenylaminothiocarbonyl-APEC inhibition of [3H]CGS 21680 binding with hydroxylamine suggested that the site of modification by the isothiocyanate is a cysteine residue. A bromoacetyl derivative of APEC was ineffective as an affinity label at submicromolar concentrations.

Molecular modeling of adenosine receptors. I. The ligand binding site on the A1 receptor

The amino acid sequence of the canine adenosine A1 receptor and the atomic coordinates of a structurally related protein, bacteriorhodopsin, were combined to generate a three-dimensional model for the adenosine A1 receptor. This model consists of seven amphipathic alpha-helices, forming a pore that has a rather distinct partition between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. Subsequently, a highly potent and selective ligand, N6-cyclopentyladenosine, was docked into this cavity. A binding site is proposed that takes into account the conformational characteristics of the ligand, obtained from indirect modeling studies by the 'active analog approach'. Moreover, it involves two histidine residues that were shown to be important for ligand coordination from chemical modification studies. Finally, the deduced binding site was used to model other potent ligands that could all be accommodated consistent with earlier biochemical and pharmacological findings.