Regulation of (3H) arginine8 vasopressin binding to the rat renal medulla by guanine nucleotides

A new Kunitz-type snake toxin family associated with an original mode of interaction with the vasopressin 2 receptor

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Venomous animals express numerous Kunitz-type peptides. The mambaquaretin-1 (MQ1) identified from the Dendroaspis angusticeps venom is the most selective antagonist of the arginine-vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R) and the unique Kunitz-type peptide active on a GPCR. We aimed to exploit other mamba venoms to enlarge the V2R-Kunitz peptide family and gain insight into the MQ1 molecular mode of action.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We used a bio-guided screening assay to identify novel MQs and placed them phylogenetically. MQs were produced by solid phase peptide synthesis and characterized in vitro by binding and functional tests and in vivo by diuresis measurement in rats.

KEY RESULTS

Eight additional MQs were identified with nanomolar affinities for the V2R, all antagonists. MQs form a new subgroup in the Kunitz family, close to the V2R non-active dendrotoxins and to 2 V2R active cobra toxins. Sequence comparison between active and non-active V2R Kunitz peptides highlighted 5 positions, belong which, four are involved in V2R interaction and which belong to the 2 large MQ1 loops. We finally determined that 8 positions, part of these 2 loops, interact with the V2R. The variant MQ1-K39A showed higher affinity for the hV2R but not for the rat V2R.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

A new function and mode of action is now associated with the Kunitz-peptides. The number of MQ1 residues involved in V2R binding is large and may explain its absolute selectivity. MQ1-K39A represents the first step in the improvement of the MQ1 design for medicinal perspective.

[3H]desGly-NH2(9)-d(CH2)5[D-Ileu2,Ileu4]AVP: an AVP V2 receptor antagonist radioligand

Binding characteristics of the selective V2 antagonist radioligand [3H]desGly-NH2(9)-d(CH2)5[D-Ileu2,Ileu4]AVP to rat kidney were determined. Binding was specific, saturable and reversible. The peptide bound to a single class of high-affinity binding sites with Bmax 69.4 +/- 6.8 fmol/mg protein and KD 2.8 +/- 0.3 nM. AVP and other related peptides displaced [3H]desGly-NH2(9)-d(CH2)5[D-Ileu2,Ileu4]AVP binding. The order of potency of inhibition was desamino-D-AVP greater than AVP greater than d(CH2)5[D-Ileu2,Ileu4]AVP greater than oxytocin greater than d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2]AVP greater than d(CH2)5[sarcosine7]AVP, which is typical of a selective V2 radioligand. Autoradiographic localization of [3H]desGly-NH2(9)-d(CH2)5[D-Ileu2,Ileu4]AVP binding sites in kidney showed dense binding in the inner and outer medulla with less binding in the cortex, which is consistent with known renal V2 receptor distribution.

Solubilization of a guanine nucleotide-sensitive form of vasopressin V2 receptors from porcine kidney

Vasopressin (V2) receptors were solubilized from porcine kidney membranes with the detergent egg lysolecithin. Binding of [3H]vasopressin to the solubilized fraction was rapid, specific, and saturable. The agonist dissociation constants observed in membranes and solubilized fractions were 1.7 +/- 0.3 and 2.3 +/- 0.2 nM, respectively. In competition binding experiments, the solubilized fraction exhibited the same pharmacological profile as the membranes. Chemical crosslinking of [125I]vasopressin to the solubilized fraction followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis demonstrated a 62-kDa band which was specifically labeled with [125I]vasopressin. Vasopressin binding sites from the solubilized fractions were resolved by gel filtration and ultracentrifugation on a sucrose gradient. In addition, agonist high affinity binding to V2 receptors and its sensitivity to guanine nucleotides were preserved even after solubilization in the absence of prebound agonist prior to solubilization. Addition of guanine nucleotides such as GTP gamma S decreased the specific binding of [3H]arginine vasopressin to these solubilized fractions in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the solubilization of a V2 receptor-G protein complex. [32P]ADP ribosylation of the solubilized fraction by cholera and pertussis toxins revealed specifically labeled proteins with molecular weights of 42,000-43,000 and 39,000-41,000, respectively, on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. Furthermore [35S]GTP gamma S binding to these solubilized fractions was enhanced by vasopressin, confirming that a significant proportion of the vasopressin receptors must be closely coupled to G proteins even when these receptors are solubilized in the absence of agonist. These results are in contrast with those reported for beta, alpha 2 adrenergic and D2 dopaminergic receptor systems, but in agreement with D1 dopaminergic and A1 adenosine receptors. The molecular mechanism responsible for this difference remains to be determined.

Direct identification of the rat hepatocyte arginine8 vasopressin receptor with a radiolabelled V1-selective antagonist

We compared [3H] arginine8 vasopressin (AVP) and [3H] 1-beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid, O-methyl tyrosine2, arginine8 vasopressin (d(CH2)5 Tyr(Me)AVP), a selective V1 receptor antagonist, as radioligands for the rat hepatocyte V1 receptor. Both radioligands bound with high affinity to a site in partially purified membranes prepared from Long Evans rat hepatocytes. The binding site concentrations obtained with either radioligand, 608 +/- 101 fmol/mg protein (n = 5) with [3H] AVP and 603 +/- 62 fmol/mg protein (n = 5) with [3H]d(CH2)5 Tyr(Me)AVP, were not significantly (p greater than 0.5) different. Furthermore, the rank order of potency of a series of synthetic vasopressin analogs and related peptides were identical in competition studies using either radioligand and were consistent with a V1 receptor interaction. Our results demonstrate that [3H] d(CH2)5 Tyr(Me)AVP is a suitable radioligand to study the V1 receptor subtype.