Guanine nucleotide regulation of [125I]beta-endorphin binding to NG108-15 and SK-N-SH cell membranes: specific cation requirements

Evidence for kappa- and mu-opioid receptor expression in C6 glioma cells

The astrocytoma cell line rat C6 glioma has been used as a model system to study the mechanism of various opioid actions. Nevertheless, the type of opioid receptor(s) involved has not been established. Here we demonstrate the presence of high-affinity U69,593, endomorphin-1, morphine, and beta-endorphin binding in desipramine (DMI)-treated C6 cell membranes by performing homologous and heterologous binding assays with [3H]U69,593, [3H]morphine, or 125I-beta-endorphin. Naive C6 cell membranes displayed U69,593 but neither endomorphin-1, morphine, nor beta-endorphin binding. Cross-linking of 125I-beta-endorphin to C6 membranes gave labeled bands characteristic of opioid receptors. Moreover, RT-PCR analysis of opioid receptor expression in control and DMI-treated C6 cells indicate that both kappa- and mu-opioid receptors are expressed. There does not appear to be a significant difference in the level of mu nor kappa receptor expression in naive versus C6 cells treated with DMI over a 20-h period. Collectively, the data indicate that kappa- and mu-opioid receptors are present in C6 glioma cells.

Characterization of [125I]beta-endorphin binding sites in the rat caudal dorsomedial medulla

[125I]beta-endorphin bound to high affinity (Kd = 0.25 nM) receptors in the caudal dorsomedial medulla of rats with a Bmax of 97 fmol/mg protein. The relative potency for displacement of [125I]beta-endorphin binding was: beta-endorphin(1-31) > beta-endorphin(1-27) > DAMGO > naloxone > N-acetyl-beta-endorphin(1-31) > U50488 > DPDPE. The Bmax for [3H]DAMGO binding was 81 fmol/mg protein, indicating that most [125I]beta-endorphin binding corresponds to mu-opioid receptors. [3H]DAMGO binding was not influenced by lesioning noradrenergic nerve terminals in the caudal dorsomedial medulla. Our findings indicate that beta-endorphin interacts primarily with mu-opioid receptors in the caudal dorsomedial medulla. These receptors are not affected by noradrenergic denervation.

Interaction of [3H]orphanin FQ and 125I-Tyr14-orphanin FQ with the orphanin FQ receptor: kinetics and modulation by cations and guanine nucleotides

The heptadecapeptide orphanin FQ (OFQ) has been identified as the endogenous ligand for a G protein-coupled receptor (OFQ-R), which, despite its high degree of sequence similarity to opioid receptors, fails to bind opioid ligands. We developed two radioligands for the OFQ-R: a tritiated native OFQ peptide ([3H]OFQ) and a radioiodinated form in which Leu14 was substituted by tyrosine (125I-Tyr14-OFQ). Their binding properties were examined in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells heterologously expressing the OFQ-R at different levels (HEK 293 expressed 40-fold more OFQ-R than did CHO). Both ligands exhibited rapid, monophasic association kinetics in each cell line. Dissociation of both ligands from OFQ-R expressed in HEK 293 cells was biphasic, whereas dissociation of 125I-Tyr14-OFQ from OFQ-R expressed in CHO cells was monophasic and slow. Saturation binding analysis revealed two affinity states in HEK 293 cells with binding parameters in accord with those determined kinetically. In CHO cells, 125I-Tyr14-OFQ detected a single affinity state with an intermediate Kd value of 54 pM. Optimal binding of the radioligands required 1-5 mM MgCl2, whereas millimolar concentrations of ZnCl2, CaCl2, MnCl2, and NaCl reduced specific binding of both ligands. A nonhydrolyzable GTP analog [guanosine-5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate] reduced the affinity of both OFQ ligands to their receptor without significant changes in the total binding capacity, indicating functional interactions between the OFQ-R and G proteins. In rat brain membranes, specific, saturable binding of 125I-Tyr14-OFQ was demonstrated to be pharmacologically identical to the heterologously expressed OFQ-R. Taken together, these results indicate that 125I-Tyr14-OFQ and [3H]OFQ exhibit virtually identical characteristics and are suitable for the pharmacological analysis of the OFQ-R.

mu-Opioid receptor-stimulated guanosine-5'-O-(gamma-thio)-triphosphate binding in rat thalamus and cultured cell lines: signal transduction mechanisms underlying agonist efficacy

G protein activation by different mu-selective opioid agonists was examined in rat thalamus, SK-N-SH cells, and mu-opioid receptor-transfected mMOR-CHO cells using agonist-stimulated guanosine-5'-O-(gamma-thio)-triphosphate ([35S]GTP gamma S) binding to membranes in the presence of excess GDP. [D-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly5-ol]Enkephalin (DAMGO) was the most efficacious agonist in rat thalamus and SK-N-SH cells, followed by (in rank order) fentanyl = morphine > > buprenorphine. In mMOR-CHO cells expressing a high density of mu receptors, no differences were observed among DAMGO, morphine or fentanyl, but these agonists were more efficacious than buprenorphine, which was more efficacious than levallorphan. In all three systems, efficacy differences were magnified by increasing GDP concentrations, indicating that the activity state of G proteins can affect agonist efficacy. Scatchard analysis of net agon stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding revealed two major components responsible for agonist efficacy differences. First, differences in the KD values of agonist-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding between high efficacy agonists (DAMGO, fentanyl, and morphine) and classic partial agonists (buprenorphine and levallorphan) were observed in all three systems. Second, differences in the Bmax value of agonist-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding were observed between DAMGO and morphine or fentanyl in rat thalamus and SK-N-SH cells and between the high efficacy agonists and buprenorphine or levallorphan in all three systems. These results suggest that mu-opioid agonist efficacy is determined by the magnitude of the receptor-mediated affinity shift in the binding of GTP (or[35S]GTP gamma S) versus GDP to the G protein and by the number of G proteins activated per occupied receptor.

Kappa opioid binding sites on the R1.1 murine lymphoma cell line: sensitivity to cations and guanine nucleotides

The present study describes the characterization of an opioid binding site on membranes prepared from the R1.1 cell line, a murine thymoma. Specific (-)[3H]bremazocine binding was saturable, stereoselective, and limited to a single high affinity binding site with a Kd value of 15.2 +/- 1.6 pM and a Bmax value of 54.8 +/- 6.0 fmol/mg of protein. The kappa-selective alkaloids and dynorphin peptides inhibited (-)[3H]bremazocine binding with Ki values of less than 1 nM, in contrast to mu- and delta-selective ligands. The high affinity of this site for alpha-neo-endorphin and U50,488 suggests that this kappa opioid binding site resembles the kappa 1b subtype. NaCl, as well as other mono- and divalent cations, inhibited (-)[3H]bremazocine binding. In the presence of NaCl, the nucleotides GTP, GDP, and the nonhydrolyzable analog guanylyl-5'-imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) also decreased (-)[3H]bremazocine binding, suggesting that this kappa opioid binding site is coupled to a G-protein. In summary, R1.1 cells possess a single high affinity kappa opioid receptor that shares many properties with brain kappa 1b opioid receptors.

125I-beta-endorphin binding to neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 cells: distribution of delta opioid receptors

The mouse neuroblastoma x rat glioma hybrid NG108-15 was previously shown to express delta opioid receptors. Because neuroblastoma cells display different phenotypes and cloned cell lines are heterogenous, we studied the characteristics and distribution of human 125I-beta-endorphin (125I-beta E) binding sites in cultures of NG108-15 cells with the use of micro-autoradiography and light microscopy. 125I-beta E labeled delta sites in NG108-15 in the presence of the non-opioid blocking peptide, beta-endorphin (6-31) (beta E (6-31)). Silver grains resulting from 125I-beta E binding to the opioid sites occurred in diffuse patches over several cells, with preferential location in dense cell patches. Pretreatment of NG108-15 with the delta agonist DADLE, previously shown to decrease beta E binding to delta sites on intact cells, also reduced silver grain density; however, some cells located in dense cell clusters were resistant to substantial agonist induced loss of labeling. These results suggest that delta opioid binding has a heterogenous cellular distribution in NG108.