Biochemical characterization of a subtype pancreatic cholecystokinin receptor and of its agonist binding domain

Glycosylation-induced depolarization facilitates subthreshold membrane oscillation in injured primary sensory neurons

Subthreshold membrane potential oscillations (SMPO) in the injured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are involved in the generation of spontaneous activity, which can directly evoke neuropathic pain. Nerve injury usually triggers the synthesis of large quantities of membrane protein in nerve injured DRG neurons. Membrane proteins are glycosylated by addition of sugars, especially negatively charged sialic acid residues, which may depolarize the resting membrane potential (Vm), open voltage-gated channels in injured neurons, and cause spontaneous activity. In the present study, we aimed to determine if increased negative charge on the cell surface, carried by the sialic acid residues, could contribute to the generation of SMPO in injured DRG neurons. Intracellular recording was performed in DRG neurons following chronic constrictive injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Results indicated that both A- and C-type injured DRG neurons exhibited a higher incidence of SMPO and more depolarized Vm than those of the control neurons. Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), or poly-lysine, a positively charged organic compound, when topically applied to the DRG, not only reduced SMPO but also caused a rapid hyperpolarizing shift in Vm. Topical application of neuraminidase to selectively remove sialic acid residues on the extracellular membrane normalized the depolarized Vm and inhibited both spontaneous and evoked SMPO. However, application of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+) or neuraminidase had no effect on excitability and Vm in normal neurons. The results demonstrated that the increase in negatively charged sialic acid residues on the extracellular membrane of neuronal somata is a critical factor in the generation of SMPO and hyperexcitability in injured sensory neurons.

Sialic acid contributes to hyperexcitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons in rats with peripheral nerve injury

Axonal injury of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons may alter the synthesis of certain membrane proteins that are responsible for the development of abnormal hyperexcitability. The external domains of most of these membrane proteins are sialylated. Because sialic acid carries heavy negative charges, the increase of sialylated proteins may increase neurons' negative surface charges, which will have predictable effects on the voltage-gated channels, and affect the excitability of injured neurons. Using intracellular electrophysiological recording, we demonstrated that following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, Aalpha/beta DRG neurons become hyperexcitable, as indicated by a more depolarized resting membrane potential (Vm) and a lowered threshold current (TIC). More interestingly, the excitability of injured DRG neurons was reduced substantially when the extracellular sialic acid was removed by pretreatment with neuraminidase. The Vm was less depolarized and the TIC increased robustly as compared to the CCI neurons without neuraminidase treatment. However, desialylation of normal, intact neurons had no significant effect on the Vm and less effect on the TIC. Our results suggest that the hyperexcitability of injured sensory neurons may be associated with increased negatively charged sialic acid residues on the surface of the neuronal somata.

Study of the states and populations of the rat pancreatic cholecystokinin receptor using the full peptide antagonist JMV 179

The full peptide antagonist of the pancreatic cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor, JMV 179, [Boc-Tyr(SO3H)-Ahx-Gly-dTrp-Ahx-Asp phenylethyl ester, where Tyr(SO3H) = sulfated tyrosine, Ahx = 6-aminohexanoic acid] was modified at its N-terminus by incorporation of p-hydroxyphenyl propionate (Bolton-Hunter reagent, BH) and was subsequently radioiodinated. After HPLC purification, 125I-BH-JMV-179, a CCK antagonist radioligand of high specific activity (2000 Ci/mmol) was obtained. 125I-BH-JMV-179 bound to a single population of sites on rat pancreatic plasma membranes, (Kd = 3.9 nM, Bmax = 40 pmol/mg protein). Binding was dependent on time, temperature, and protein concentration, and was fully reversible. JMV 179 radioligand detected four times as many sites as an agonist radioligand [C. Hadjiivanova, M. Dufresne, S. Poirot, P. Sozzani, N. Vaysse, L. Moroder and D. Fourmy (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 204, 273-279]. Agonists and antagonists of the A- and B-subtype CCK/gastrin receptors inhibited 125I-BH-JMV-179 binding with an order of potency compatible with the A-subtype CCK receptor pharmacology. Moreover, the sulfate group on the tyrosine residue of the CCK peptides appeared to be of much less importance for antagonist affinity than for agonist affinity. Inhibition of 125I-BH-JMV-179 binding by agonists (except JMV 180), demonstrated the presence of two affinity classes of binding sites. The population of sites having an apparent high affinity for CCK represented 30 pmol/mg protein and threefold the number of high-affinity sites previously identified by an agonist radioligand. In presence of non-hydrolyzable GTP, all the sites bound CCK agonists with a low affinity. Moreover, saturation analysis of JMV 179 radioligand binding in the presence of CCK indicated that CCK interacted competitively with all JMV 179 sites and demonstrated binding of JMV 179 radioligand to two distinct affinity classes of sites. In the presence of GTP[S] a single affinity class of sites for JMV 179 radioligand was found as in the control experiments without CCK. This study, with the first CCK peptide antagonist radioligand, demonstrates that CCK receptors exist in two interconvertible affinity states regulated by guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein(s) in rat pancreatic plasma membranes. JMV 179 radioligand does not induce receptor coupling but distinguishes the two affinity states of the CCK receptors. JMV 179 reveals the existence of populations of high-affinity and low-affinity sites for CCK which had not previously been detected by agonist radioligand binding, thus suggesting heterogeneity of CCK receptor sites in membranes.