Effects of sodium and GTP on the binding kinetics of [3H]diprenorphine in NG 108-15 cell membranes

Comparison of [Dmt1]DALDA and DAMGO in binding and G protein activation at mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors

[Dmt1]DALDA (H-Dmt-d-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH2; Dmt = 2',6'-dimethyltyrosine) binds with high affinity and selectivity to the mu opioid receptor and is a surprisingly potent and long-acting analgesic, especially after intrathecal administration. In an attempt to better understand the unique pharmacological profile of [Dmt1]DALDA, we have prepared [3H][Dmt1]DALDA and compared its binding properties with that of [3H]DAMGO ([d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin). Kinetic studies revealed rapid association of [3H][Dmt1]DALDA when incubated with mouse brain membranes (K+1 = 0.155 nM(-1) min(-1)). Dissociation of [3H][Dmt1]DALDA was also rapid (K(-1) = 0.032 min(-1)) and indicated binding to a single site. [3H][Dmt1]DALDA binds with very high affinity to human mu opioid receptor (hMOR) (Kd = 0.199 nM), and Kd and Bmax were reduced by sodium but not Gpp(NH)p [guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate]. Similar Kd values were obtained in brain and spinal cord tissues and SH-SY5Y cells. The hMOR:hDOR (human delta opioid receptor) selectivity of [Dmt1]DALDA ( approximately 10,000) is 8-fold higher than DAMGO. However, [Dmt1]DALDA is less selective than DAMGO against hKOR (human kappa opioid receptor) (26-versus 180-fold). The Ki values for a number of opioid ligands were generally higher when determined by competitive displacement binding against [3H][Dmt1]DALDA compared with [3H]DAMGO, with the exception of Dmt1-substituted peptide analogs. All Dmt1 analogs showed much higher affinity for the mu receptor than corresponding Tyr1 analogs. [35S]GTPgammaS (guanosine 5'-O -(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate) binding showed that [Dmt1]DALDA and DAMGO are full agonists at hMOR and hDOR but are only partial agonists at hKOR. The very high affinity and selectivity of [3H][Dmt1]DALDA for the mu receptor, together with its very low nonspecific binding (10-15%) and metabolic stability, make [3H][Dmt1]DALDA an ideal radioligand for labeling mu receptors.

Guanine nucleotide-mediated inhibition of opioid agonist binding. Modulatory effects of ions and of receptor occupancy

We have analysed the potency of GTP, GDP and their analogues in reducing [3H]DADLE binding to opioid receptors in NG 108-15 cell membranes. Under conditions where non-specific hydrolysis and transphosphorylation is inhibited, the following rank order of potency was found: GDP greater than or equal to GTP gamma S greater than GTP greater than GDP beta S greater than or equal to GDPNH2 greater than GppNHp much greater than GMP. Remarkably, the slopes for the inhibition curves of GTP, GDP and their thiosubstituted analogues, but not of GDPNH2 and GppNHp, were extremely shallow, indicating either negative cooperativity or the existence of two states for the guanine nucleotide binding proteins, that both can mediate the effect of nucleotides on agonist receptor binding. The potencies of the different guanine nucleotide analogues, except that of GppNHp, were increased by the presence of sodium or chloride ions in the assay medium. Magnesium also affected GTP-mediated inhibition of opioid agonist binding since it decreased the IC50 of the nucleotide and steepened the slope of the inhibition curve. The IC50s of nucleotides and the slopes of their inhibition curves were also dependent on the extent of receptor occupancy by the agonist. From these data we conclude that (1) either diphospho- or triphosphonucleotides can regulate agonist binding. (2) Magnesium, sodium and chloride, by acting at different components of the receptor/G protein complex produce similar effects on nucleotide mediated regulation of agonist binding. (3) A mutual influence exists between receptor occupancy by agonists and G protein-mediated guanine nucleotide effect on the receptor.

Opioid receptors of neuroblastoma cells are in two domains of the plasma membrane that differ in content of G proteins

Opioid receptors of NG 108-15 cell membranes are distributed in two membrane fractions sedimenting at 20,000 g (P2) and 200,000 g(P3). The number of receptors is identical in P2 and P3, but in P2 all sites are present in one high-affinity state (2 nM), whereas in P3 60% of these receptors display lower affinity (150 nM). Upon addition of GTP or pretreatment with pertussis toxin, 80% of the sites exist in low affinity in both P2 and P3. Therefore, the effect of GTP and pertussis toxin on agonist binding appears to be smaller in P2 than in P3. In contrast, sodium inhibits agonist binding in P2 and P3 to the same extent and with identical potency. Opioid-mediated stimulation of GTPase is much greater in P2 than in P3, whereas inhibition of adenylate cyclase does not differ in the two fractions. Using site-specific antibodies and pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation, we found that the amount of G proteins in P3 is only 30-50% of that in P2. Treatment of intact cells with the hydrophilic protein-modifying agent sulfosuccinimido-biotin results in biotinylation of proteins from both fractions and in a similar reduction of opioid binding in P2 and P3. Likewise, exposure of intact cells to the alkylating opioid antagonist, chlornaltrexamine, produces identical degrees of receptor inactivation in P2 and P3. The rate of in vivo pertussis toxin-mediated modification of G proteins is not different in the two fractions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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.