Radioiodinated [D-Ala2, Met 5] enkephalin

Investigation of opioid receptor binding protein in adult and fetal mouse brain membranes by photoaffinity labeling

125I-[D-Ala2,p-N3-Phe4-Met5]Enkephalin was used to investigate the opioid receptor from brain membranes of adult (6 months old) and fetal (16 days gestation) mice. The photolabeled membranes were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. A 46,000-Da protein was specifically photo-labeled in the adult mouse brain membranes. The photolabeling of this protein was inhibited in the presence of [D-Ala2,Met5]enkephalin and a peptide ligand specific for the mu-opioid receptor. No specific labeling of any protein was detected in the brain membranes of the fetal mice. This apparent lack of the opioid receptor in the fetal mouse brain suggests that the appearance of the opioid receptor in the adult mouse brain is subject to developmental regulation.

Photoaffinity labeling of opioid receptor of rat brain membranes with 125I(D-Ala2, p-N3-Phe4-Met5)enkephalin

A photoreactive (D-Ala2, p-N3-Phe4-Met5)enkephalin derivative was prepared, iodinated with carrier-free 125I, and then purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified radioactive photoprobe was monoiodinated at the amino terminal tyrosine residue. This radioactive photoprobe was used to photoaffinity label membranes prepared from the rat brain (minus cerebellum) and the spinal cord. The photolabeled membranes were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. A 46,000-Da protein was specifically photolabeled in these membrane preparations. The photolabeling of this protein was inhibited by peptides related to enkephalin but not by unrelated substance P or gastrin tetrapeptide. A concentration-dependent inhibition of the photolabeling of the 46,000-Da protein was observed in the presence of competing ligands specific for the mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors. These data demonstrate that the radioactive photoprobe labels the mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors. Although there is no evidence available to show that the 46,000-Da protein is identical in all the cases, our data strongly suggest that it is a binding protein common to all of the opioid receptor subtypes.

Identification of mammalian brain and spinal cord opioid receptor by photoaffinity labeling

A radioiodinated photoreactive enkephalin derivative, 125I(D-Ala2, p-N3-Phe4-Met5)enkephalin, was used to photoaffinity label the opioid receptor from the membranes of four mammalian brains (without cerebellum) and spinal cords. These included the cat, rabbit, guinea pig and mouse. The photolabeled membranes were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. A 43,000-daltons protein was specifically photolabeled in all the membranes tested, as the specific labeling of this protein was inhibited in the presence of 14.5 microM of (D-Ala2, Met5)enkephalin. These data suggest that the 43,000-daltons protein is a binding protein of the opioid receptor in the different mammalian neural tissues.