Multiple allosteric sites on muscarinic receptors

Proteins and small molecules are capable of regulating the agonist binding and function of G-protein coupled receptors by multiple allosteric mechanisms. In the case of muscarinic receptors, there is the well-characterised allosteric site that binds, for example, gallamine and brucine. The protein kinase inhibitor, KT5720, has now been shown to bind to a second allosteric site and to regulate agonist and antagonist binding. The binding of brucine and gallamine does not affect KT5720 binding nor its effects on the dissociation of [3H]-N-methylscopolamine from M1 receptors. Therefore it is possible to have a muscarinic receptor with three small ligands bound simultaneously. A model of the M1 receptor, based on the recently determined structure of rhodopsin, has the residues that have been shown to be important for gallamine binding clustered within and to one side of a cleft in the extracellular face of the receptor. This cleft may represent the access route of acetylcholine to its binding site.

Agonist binding and function at the human alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor: allosteric modulation by amilorides

It has been found previously that amilorides act via an allosteric site on the alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor to strongly inhibit antagonist binding. In this study, allosteric modulation of agonist binding and function at the alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor was explored. The dissociation rate of the agonist [(3)H]UK14304 from alpha(2A)-receptors was decreased by the amilorides in a concentration-dependent manner. This contrasts with the increases in (3)H-antagonist dissociation rate found previously. The agonist-amiloride analog interaction data could be fitted to equations derived from the ternary complex allosteric model. The calculated log affinities of the amilorides at the [(3)H]UK14304-occupied receptor increased with the size of the 5-N-alkyl side chain and ranged from 2.4 for amiloride to 4.2 for 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)-amiloride. The calculated negative cooperativities cover a narrow range, in sharp contrast to the broad range found for antagonist-amiloride analog interactions. The effects of the amilorides on the agonist actions of UK14304, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were explored using a [(35)S]GTPgammaS functional assay, and the parameters calculated for the cooperativities and affinities of the UK14304-amiloride analog interactions, using the equation derived from the ternary complex allosteric model, were in good agreement with those derived from the kinetic studies. Therefore both the binding and functional data provide further support for the existence of a well defined allosteric site on the human alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor. The binding mode of the amilorides at the agonist-occupied and antagonist-occupied receptor differs markedly but, within each group, the structure of either the agonist or the antagonist examined has only a slight effect on the allosteric interactions.

Allosteric interactions of staurosporine and other indolocarbazoles with N-[methyl-(3)H]scopolamine and acetylcholine at muscarinic receptor subtypes: identification of a second allosteric site

We have studied the interactions of five indolocarbazoles with N-[methyl-(3)H]scopolamine (NMS) and unlabeled acetylcholine at M(1)-M(4) muscarinic receptors, using equilibrium and nonequilibrium radioligand binding studies. The results are consistent with an allosteric model in which the primary and allosteric ligands bind simultaneously to the receptor and modify each other's affinities. The compounds were generally most active at M(1) receptors. [(3)H]NMS binding was enhanced by staurosporine, KT5720, and KT5823 at M(1) and M(2) receptors, and by K-252a at M(1) receptors. Gö 7874 reduced [(3)H]NMS affinity by up to threefold for all subtypes. A range of cooperative effects with acetylcholine was seen, and, at the M(1) receptor, KT5720 had a log affinity of 6.4 and enhanced acetylcholine affinity by 40%. The compounds inhibited the dissociation of [(3)H]NMS to different extents across the receptor subtypes, with the largest effects at M(1) receptors. In equilibrium binding studies the inhibitory potency of gallamine at M(1) receptors was not affected by KT5720, indicating that these agents bind to two distinct allosteric sites and have neutral cooperativity with each other. In contrast, gallamine and staurosporine had a negatively cooperative or competitive interaction at M(1) receptors. Similarly, the potency and relative effectiveness of KT5720 for inhibiting [(3)H]NMS dissociation from M(1) receptors were not affected by gallamine or brucine, but were affected in a complex manner by staurosporine. These results demonstrate that there are at least two distinct allosteric sites on the M(1) receptor, both of which can support positive cooperativity with acetylcholine.

Allosteric interactions between the antagonist prazosin and amiloride analogs at the human alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor

It has been demonstrated previously that amilorides can interact with a well defined allosteric site on the human alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor. In this study, the question was explored as to whether the human alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor also possesses an equivalent allosteric site. The six amilorides examined strongly increased the dissociation rate of the antagonist [(3)H]prazosin from the alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor in a concentration-dependent manner. With the parent amiloride, the dissociation data were well fitted by an equation derived from the ternary complex allosteric model, compatible with amiloride acting at a defined allosteric site on the alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor. In contrast, the dissociation data for [(3)H]prazosin in the presence of the amiloride analogs were not compatible with the equation derived from a one-allosteric-site model, but could be fitted well by an equation derived from a two-allosteric-site model. However, certain individual parameters could not be resolved. The observed dissociation rate constants increased steeply with increasing amiloride analog concentration, and in some cases the data could be fitted with a logistic equation. The slope factors calculated from such fits were 1.2 to 2.1. It is concluded that the structure-binding relationships of the amilorides at the alpha(1A)- and alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptors are different. The interactions of the five amiloride analogs, but not the parent amiloride, with the alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor are compatible with the presence of two (but not one) allosteric sites, and is thus more complex than that found for the alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor.

Effects of contamination on radioligand binding parameters

Radioligand binding studies are used to provide quantitative estimates of parameters such as the receptor density of a tissue and the affinity values of labelled and unlabelled ligands. The presence of an unlabelled competing contaminant, which might be present because of actual contamination, inadequate radioligand purification or the breakdown of the radioligand to an active species, has surprising effects on these estimates: the apparent affinity of the radioligand is increased but the Ki values of unlabelled ligands are unaffected. The most striking and sensitive effects are on radioligand association kinetics, which become independent of radioligand concentration at high radioligand concentrations.

Subtype-selective positive cooperative interactions between brucine analogs and acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors: functional studies

In radioligand binding studies, it has been reported that brucine, N-chloromethyl brucine, and brucine N-oxide increased the affinity of acetylcholine for M1, M3, and M4 muscarinic receptors, respectively, in a manner consistent with the predictions of the ternary complex allosteric model. We now demonstrate an equivalent ability of these three allosteric agents to modulate the actions of acetylcholine in functional studies in membranes and in whole cells. The enhancing actions of brucine and brucine N-oxide on acetylcholine (ACh) potency at M1 and M4 receptors respectively have been confirmed in guanosine-5'-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate, GTPase, cAMP, and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization assays of function. In general, neither the basal nor the maximally stimulated response to ACh is affected. The subtype-selective allosteric effects of N-chloromethyl brucine on M2 and M3 receptors were shown to be qualitatively and quantitatively the same in guanosine-5'-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate functional assays, in terms of both its affinity and cooperativity with ACh, as those found in binding assays. Neutral cooperativity of N-chloromethyl brucine with ACh on M4 receptor function was also observed, thereby demonstrating its "absolute subtype selectivity": a lack of action at any concentration at M4 receptors and an action at M2 and M3 receptors. The enhancing action of N-chloromethyl brucine on neurogenically released ACh binding at M3 receptors was also detected in whole tissue as an increased contraction of the isolated guinea pig ileum to submaximal electrical stimulation. In conclusion, these functional studies confirm that brucine analogs are allosteric enhancers of ACh affinity at certain muscarinic receptor subtypes.

Allosteric effects of four stereoisomers of a fused indole ring system with 3H-N-methylscopolamine and acetylcholine at M1-M4 muscarinic receptors

We previously demonstrated that brucine and some analogues allosterically enhance the affinity of ACh at muscarinic receptor subtypes M1, M3 or M4. Here we describe allosteric effects at human M1-M4 receptors of four stereoisomers of a pentacyclic structure containing features of the ring structure of brucine. All compounds inhibited 3H-NMS dissociation almost completely at all subtypes with slopes of 1, with similar affinity values at the 3H-NMS-occupied receptor to those estimated from equilibrium assays, consistent with the ternary complex allosteric model. Compound 1a showed positive cooperativity with H-NMS and small negative or neutral cooperativity with ACh at all subtypes. Its stereoisomer, 1b, showed strong negative cooperativity with both 3H-NMS and ACh across the subtypes. Compound 2a was positive with 3H-NMS at M2 and M4 receptors, neutral at M3 and negative at M1 receptors; it was negatively cooperative with ACh at all subtypes. Its stereoisomer, 2b, was neutral with 3H-NMS at M1 receptors and positive at the other subtypes; 2b was negatively cooperative with ACh at M1, M3 and M4 receptors but showed 3-fold positive cooperativity with ACh at M2 receptors. This latter result was confirmed with further 3H-NMS and 3H-ACh radioligand binding assays and with functional assays of ACh-stimulated 35S-GTPgammaS binding. These results provide the first well characterised instance of a positive enhancer of ACh at M2 receptors, and illustrate the difficulty of predicting such an effect.

Allosteric interactions of quaternary strychnine and brucine derivatives with muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

The affinity and allosteric properties of 22 quaternary derivatives of strychnine and brucine at the m1-m4 subtypes of muscarinic receptors have been analyzed and compared. The subtype selectivity, in terms of affinity, was in general m2 > m4 > m1 > m3. The highest affinities were found for N-benzyl, N-2-naphthylmethyl, and N-4-biphenylylmethyl strychnine (13, 14, and 18, respectively). All the strychnine and brucine derivatives were positively cooperative with the antagonist, N-methylscopolamine, at m2 receptors and, in the case of the strychnine analogues, were positively cooperative with N-methylscopolamine at least at one other subtype. The strychnine analogues were negatively cooperative with the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, at all subtypes whereas brucine and five of the six derivatives examined were positively cooperative with acetylcholine at one or more subtypes (m1-m5) and exhibited different patterns of subtype selectivity. The ability to generate subtype-selective allosteric enhancers of acetylcholine binding and function may be of use in the development of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Muscarinic interactions of bisindolylmaleimide analogues

We have used radioligand binding studies to determine the affinities of seven bisindolylmaleimide analogues, six of which are selective inhibitors of protein kinase C, at human muscarinic M1-M4 receptors. The compounds were most potent at M1 receptors, and Ro-31-8220 was the most potent analogue, with a Kd of 0.6 microM at M1 receptors. The weakest compounds, bisindolylmaleimide IV and bisindolylmaleimide V, had Kd values of 100 microM. If it is necessary to use protein kinase C inhibitors at concentrations of 10 microM or more in studies involving muscarinic receptors then bisindolylmaleimide IV may be the most appropriate inhibitor to use.

Characterization of the allosteric interactions between antagonists and amiloride analogues at the human alpha2A-adrenergic receptor

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a well-defined allosteric site on the human alpha2A-adrenergic receptor. To explore this question, we examined the effects of amiloride analogues on the dissociation of [3H]yohimbine, [3H]rauwolscine, and [3H]RX821002. The dissociation data fitted well to an equation derived from the ternary complex allosteric model with amiloride analogue concentration and time as two independent variables. The estimated maximal increase in the [3H]yohimbine dissociation rate caused by the 5-N-alkyl amilorides varied from 2-fold for the parent amiloride to 140- and 160-fold for 5-(N, N-hexamethylene)-amiloride and 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride, respectively. The calculated log affinities at the yohimbine-occupied receptor ranged from 1.75 for 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride to 2.5 for 5-(N, N-hexamethylene)-amiloride. The increase in affinity found at the yohimbine-occupied receptor was not correlated with increase in size of the 5-N-alkyl side chain, in contrast to the situation found at the unoccupied receptor. The effect of competition between two amilorides on yohimbine dissociation also was explored. The data obtained were well fitted by the equation derived from the relevant model, with the off-rate increases caused by 5-(N, N-hexamethylene)-amiloride being either decreased or increased by the competing amiloride analogue in line with predictions, and the parameters derived from the fits were in good agreement with those obtained in the above dissociation assays. Thus, the data are compatible with the amilorides competing at the one allosteric site on the alpha2A-adrenergic receptor and rules out the possibility that the amilorides are acting in a nonspecific fashion.

Subtype-selective positive cooperative interactions between brucine analogues and acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors: radioligand binding studies

We studied the interactions of strychnine, brucine, and three of the N-substituted analogues of brucine with [3H]N-methylscopolamine (NMS) and unlabeled acetylcholine at m1-m5 muscarinic receptors using equilibrium and nonequilibrium radioligand binding studies. The results were consistent with a ternary allosteric model in which both the primary and allosteric ligands bind simultaneously to the receptor and modify the affinities of each other. The compounds had Kd values in the submillimolar range, inhibited [3H]NMS dissociation, and showed various patterns of positive, neutral, and negative cooperativity with [3H]NMS and acetylcholine, but there was no predictive relationship between the effects. Acetylcholine affinity was increased approximately 2-fold by brucine at m1 receptors, approximately 3-fold by N-chloromethyl brucine at m3 receptors, and approximately 1.5-fold by brucine-N-oxide at m4 receptors. The existence of neutral cooperativity, in which the compound bound to the receptor but did not modify the affinity of acetylcholine, provides the opportunity for a novel form of drug selectivity that we refer to as absolute subtype selectivity: an agent showing positive or negative cooperativity with the endogenous ligand at one receptor subtype and neutral cooperativity at the other subtypes would exert functional effects at only the one subtype, regardless of the concentration of agent or its affinities for the subtypes. Our results demonstrate the potential for developing allosteric enhancers of acetylcholine affinity at individual subtypes of muscarinic receptor and suggest that minor modification of a compound showing positive, neutral, or low negative cooperativity with acetylcholine may yield compounds with various patterns of cooperativity across the receptor subtypes.

Nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding in the human hippocampal formation during development and aging

High-affinity nicotine, alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha BT) and muscarinic receptor binding was measured in the human hippocampal formation in a series of 57 cases aged between 24 weeks gestation and 100 years. Changes in nicotine receptor binding during development and aging were more striking than differences in alpha BT and muscarinic binding. Nicotine binding was higher at the late foetal stage than at any other subsequent time in all areas investigated. In the hippocampus a fall in binding then occurred within the first six months of life, with little or no subsequent fall during aging, whereas in the entorhinal cortex and the presubiculum the major loss of nicotine binding occurred after the fourth decade. alpha BT binding was significantly elevated in the CA 1 region, but in no other region of the hippocampus, in the late foetus, and there was also a fall in alpha BT binding in the entorhinal cortex during aging from the second decade. The modest changes in total muscarinic binding, which appeared to reflect those in M1 and M3 + 4 rather than M2 binding, were a rise in the entorhinal cortex between the foetal stage and childhood and a tendency for receptors to fall with age in the hippocampus and subicular complex. These findings implicate mechanisms controlling the expression of nicotinic receptors to a greater extent than muscarinic receptors in postnatal development and aging in the human hippocampus.

Selective allosteric enhancement of the binding and actions of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptor subtypes

The ternary allosteric model predicts the possibility of discovering molecules with novel and highly subtype-selective modes of action. This approach has been applied to muscarinic receptors. The alkaloid brucine is capable of selectively enhancing by an allosteric mechanism the effects of low but not high concentrations of acetylcholine at only the m1 subtype of muscarinic receptors. A simple derivative of brucine, N-chloromethylbrucine, enhances acetylcholine actions selectively at only m3 receptors. In addition it binds to, but does not affect, the properties of m4 receptors, thereby demonstrating neutral cooperativity and an 'absolute' selectivity of action at m3 receptors over m4 receptors. Brucine N-oxide enhances acetylcholine binding at m3 and m4 receptors and is neutral at m1 and m5 receptors. These findings allow the possibility of developing muscarinic agents that have a novel and highly targeted mode of action; they may act only on a single muscarinic receptor subtype which is functioning sub-optimally and therefore be of use therapeutically in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

The affinity of adenosine for the high- and low-affinity states of the human adenosine A1 receptor

The affinity of adenosine for the human adenosine A1 receptor expressed on Chinese hamster ovary cell membranes has been measured in the presence and absence of GTP. The competitive effect of endogenous adenosine on the binding properties of adenosine A1 receptors was estimated from differences in the binding of N6-cyclohexyladenosine measured in the absence and presence of adenosine deaminase. From these data, the affinity of adenosine for the high- and low-affinity states of the human adenosine A1 receptor (7 x 10(7) and 1.3 x 10(5) M-1, respectively) was calculated.

The effects of saponin on the binding and functional properties of the human adenosine A1 receptor

1. Experiments with adenosine deaminase suggest that adenosine is present in membrane preparations from CHO cells bearing adenosine A1 receptors. 2. Pretreatment of the membranes (ca 0.6 mg protein ml-1) with the permeabilizing agent saponin (100 micrograms ml-1) or addition of saponin (10 micrograms ml-1) to the membranes (0.02-0.08 mg protein ml-1) in the assay, generates homogeneous low affinity agonist binding curves in the presence of GTP and an increased function, assessed by agonist stimulation of [35S]-GTP gamma S binding. The affinity constants for the binding of an agonist and an antagonist are not affected by this saponin treatment. Saponin facilitates the interaction of guanine nucleotides with receptor G-protein complexes, possibly by removing a permeability barrier to access of G-proteins by GTP. However, adenosine is still present in the binding assays after saponin treatment. 3. The agonist binding properties of the human A1 receptor have been characterized. In saponin pretreated membranes, 80-90% of the A1 receptors are capable of forming agonist-receptor-G protein complexes in the absence of GTP. These complexes have a 300-600 fold higher affinity than uncoupled receptors for N6-cyclohexyladenosine. 4. A very slow component is observed in the association and dissociation kinetics of the agonist [3H]-N6-cyclohexyladenosine ([3H]-CHA) and in the association but not dissociation kinetics of the antagonist [3H]-8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine ([3H]-DPCPX). The slow association component of [3H]-DPCPX is essentially absent when incubations are carried out in the presence of GTP. The slow dissociation component of [3H]-CHA binding is rapidly disrupted by GTP. 5. It is hypothesized that long-lasting adenosine-receptor-G protein complexes are present in the CHO membrane preparations. The existence of these complexes, resistant to the action of adenosine deaminase but sensitive to GTP, may rationalize the observed kinetics and the increase in 3H-antagonist binding produced by GTP which has been observed in essentially all studies of A1 receptors and has been ascribed previously to precoupling of A1 receptors to G-proteins in the absence of agonists.

The role of the cholinergic system in the development of the human cerebellum

High affinity (-)nicotine ([3H]nicotine), alpha-bungarotoxin ([125I]alpha-bungarotoxin) and muscarinic binding ([3H]N-methyl scopolamine) in the human cerebellum were compared between the foetal period (23-39 weeks gestation) and young adulthood (14-34 years) in an autoradiographic study. To estimate proportions of muscarinic receptor subtypes variable wash times and displacement with pirenzepine were employed. [3H]Nicotine binding and total muscarinic binding in foetuses exceeded that in young adults by a factor of 6 and 2 respectively in the dentate nucleus, and by a factor of 3 in white matter. [3H]Nicotine and muscarinic binding was also higher in the foetal external granule cell layer than in the internal granule cell layer of adult, [125I]alpha-Bungarotoxin binding was raised in the dentate nucleus of the foetus compared with the adult. The M2 subtype appeared to be the predominant muscarinic receptor in the cerebellum, however it tended to represent a lower proportion of the muscarinic binding in the foetus than the adult. All 3 receptor types were highest in the foetal brainstem where the M3 + M4 muscarinic subtypes appeared to predominate. The p75 nerve growth factor receptor, measured by immunocytochemistry, in common with cholinergic receptors, paralleled choline acetyltransferase activity which has previously been reported to be high in the cerebellum during late foetal development and to fall in adulthood.

Detection, quantitation, and verification of allosteric interactions of agents with labeled and unlabeled ligands at G protein-coupled receptors: interactions of strychnine and acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors

Novel methods of detecting and quantitating cooperative interactions between an agent and both a tritiated (muscarinic) antagonist and the endogenous agonist (acetylcholine), acting at a common (muscarinic) receptor, have been devised. In a semiquantitative protocol, binding data are transformed into affinity ratios (the ratios of the apparent affinity of the ligand in the presence of the agent to the affinity of the ligand alone), which allow estimates to be made of the potency of the agent and its cooperativity with the tritiated antagonist and with the unlabeled ligand. These parameters have been quantitated by detailed binding assays or guanosine-5'-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate functional assays. The kinetic phenomena associated with the allosteric interactions have been exploited in two non-equilibrium binding assays, from which the affinity constants describing the allosteric interactions can be extracted. The different assay methods give quantitatively similar and internally consistent estimates of the parameters describing the cooperative interactions. Using these assays, strychnine has been found to act allosterically at muscarinic receptors. Strychnine has an affinity of approximately 10(5) M-1 at the unliganded m1, m2, and m4 receptors but is 5-10-fold weaker at m3 receptors. It is positively cooperative with N-methylscopolamine at m2 and m4 receptors and exhibits neutral and negative cooperativity with m1 and m3 receptors, respectively. With acetylcholine, it is negatively cooperative but the degree of cooperativity is relatively low (2-7-fold), particularly at m1 and m4 receptors. The methods and equations described should be useful in detecting and quantitating allosteric interactions of agents with the endogenous neurotransmitter at G protein-coupled receptors.

Probing of the location of the allosteric site on m1 muscarinic receptors by site-directed mutagenesis

In an attempt to locate the allosteric site on muscarinic receptors to which gallamine binds, 21 residues in the putative external loops and loop/transmembrane helix interfaces have been mutated to alanine. These residues are conserved in mammalian m1-m5 receptors. All mutant receptors can be expressed in COS-7 cells at high levels and appear to be functional, in that acetylcholine binding is sensitive to GTP. The gallamine binding site does not appear to involve the first, second, and most of the third extracellular loops. Tryptophan-400 and -101 inhibit gallamine binding when mutated to alanine or to phenylalanine and may form part of the allosteric site. Several mutations also affect antagonist binding. Surprisingly, tryptophan-91, a residue conserved in monoamine and peptide receptors, is important for antagonist binding. This residue, present in the middle of the first extracellular loop, may have a structural role in many G protein-coupled receptors. Antagonist binding is also affected by mutations of tryptophan-101 and tyrosine-404 to alanine or phenylalanine. In a helical wheel model, trytophan-101 and tyrosine-404, in conjunction with serine-78, aspartate-105, and tyrosine-408, form a cluster of residues that have been reported to affect antagonist binding when mutated, and they may therefore be part of the antagonist binding site. It is suggested that the allosteric site may be located close to and just extracellular to the antagonist binding site. The binding of methoctramine, an antagonist with allosteric properties, is not substantially affected by mutations at tryptophan-91, -101, and -400 and tyrosine-404, and thus these amino acids are not important for its binding. The binding of himbacine, another antagonist with allosteric properties, is affected by these mutations but in a manner different from that of gallamine or competitive antagonists. It has not been possible to determine whether methoctramine and himbacine bind exclusively to the allosteric site or to both the competitive site and the allosteric site.

Acetylcholine mustard labels the binding site aspartate in muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

Acetylcholine mustard (AChM) is an analogue of acetylcholine (ACh) in which the onium headgroup is replaced by a chemically reactive aziridinium moiety. AChM aziridinium has agonist activity, but, having bound, reacts with and blocks the muscarinic receptor (mAChR) binding site. Purified mAChRs from rat forebrain have been specifically labeled with [3H]AChM. The linkage formed is cleaved by hydroxylamine, is found within cyanogen bromide (CNBr) peptides with molecular masses of approximately 2.4 and 3.9 kDa, and is close to a disulfide-bonded cysteine. Edman degradation reveals a site of label attachment 26 residues C-terminal to a CNBr cleavage site. As in the case of the alkylating antagonist analogue [3H]propylbenzilylcholine mustard, these findings indicate that a conserved aspartic acid residue in transmembrane helix 3 of the mAChRs, corresponding to Asp-105 (m1 sequence), is the site of label attachment.

Pharmacological characterization of acetylcholine-stimulated [35S]-GTP gamma S binding mediated by human muscarinic m1-m4 receptors: antagonist studies

1. We have used dose-ratio analysis to estimate functionally the affinity constants (pKb) and Schild slope factors of a range of selective or atypical antagonists at human muscarinic m1-m4 receptors. 2. The functional response was the stimulation by acetylcholine of [35S]-GTP gamma S binding to membranes from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing individual receptor subtypes. 3. A novel experimental design and analysis was used which allowed the estimation of affinity and Schild slope factor from a single antagonist inhibition curve, and the results were compared with other methods of analysis, both theoretically valid and invalid. 4. In general, the affinity estimates were very similar to previously reported values obtained in binding studies with animal tissues and cloned human receptors and the Schild slope factors were close to unity. 5. These results demonstrate the validity of the assay and provide no evidence for species differences in antagonist affinity for muscarinic receptor subtypes. 6. The results confirm both the utility of himbacine in distinguishing between m1 and m4 receptors and a previously reported modest m4-selectivity for tropicamide and secoverine. 7. The cholinesterase inhibitor, tacrine (THA), had a potency profile similar to that of gallamine but with less selectivity. Its affinity could not be determined since it had Schild slope factors of about 2 at all subtypes. 8. o-Methoxy-sila-hexocyclium had only a modest selectivity for the m1 subtype.

Estimation of competitive antagonist affinity from functional inhibition curves using the Gaddum, Schild and Cheng-Prusoff equations

1. The estimation of antagonist affinity from functional experiments in which the effect of a fixed agonist concentration is reduced by a range of antagonist concentrations ('functional inhibition curves') has been considered from both a theoretical and experimental viewpoint. 2. Theoretical predictions are compared with results obtained from the stimulation of [35S]-GTP gamma S binding by acetylcholine to membranes of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with human m1-m4 muscarinic receptors, and inhibition of the stimulated binding by pirenzepine and AQ-RA 741. 3. The usual procedure of applying the Cheng-Prusoff correction is shown to be theoretically invalid, and predictions are made of the size and distribution of errors associated with this procedure. 4. A different procedure for estimating antagonist affinity, using the principles of dose-ratio analysis and analogous to use of the Gaddum equation, is found to be accurate and theoretically valid. 5. A novel method of analysis allows accurate estimation of both antagonist affinity and Schild slope, by fitting the combined data from an antagonist inhibition curve and an agonist activation curve directly to a form of the Schild equation (derived by Waud) using non-linear regression analysis. 6. It is shown that the conventional Schild analysis can be enhanced by treating part of the data as a family of inhibition curves and including in the Schild plot dose-ratios estimated from the inhibition curves.

Estimation of antagonist Kb from inhibition curves in functional experiments: alternatives to the Cheng-Prusoff equation

Recent Principles articles have considered procedures for the functional estimation of an antagonist's dissociation constant from the results of an antagonist inhibition curve in the presence of a fixed concentration of agonist. Leff and Dougall (TiPS 14, 110-112) have derived an equation, analogous to the (generally invalid) Cheng-Prusoff equation, which requires that the agonist concentration--effect curves have the form of a logistic function. In the final article of the series, Sebastian Lazareno and Nigel Birdsall consider this equation in the context of two related methods for analysing functional inhibition curves-a null method that makes no assumptions about the shapes of curves, and a curve-fitting method that provides an estimate of the antagonist Schild slope.

Pharmacological characterization of guanine nucleotide exchange reactions in membranes from CHO cells stably transfected with human muscarinic receptors m1-m4

We have studied muscarinic agonist stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding and [gamma 32P]GTP hydrolysis (GTPase) in membranes from CHO cells stably transfected with human muscarinic m1-m4 receptors. 'Full' agonists were at least 10-fold more potent at m2 & m4 receptors than at m1 & m3. This pattern was less marked with 'partial' agonists, which had a greater maximal effect at m2 & m4 than at m1 & m3. McN-A343 uniquely was more potent and efficacious at m4 than at m2 receptors. Antagonist affinity constants were estimated by fitting the data from inhibition curves directly to the Schild model. Antagonist affinity estimates were very similar to those measured earlier in binding studies using animal tissues, and confirmed a small degree of m4 selectivity for tropicamide and secoverine. The receptor subtypes activated more than one G-protein subtype; m2 & m4 receptors activated only pertussis (PTX) sensitive G-proteins, while m1 & m3 coupled to both PTX sensitive and insensitive G-proteins. Acetylcholine (ACh) was more potent in stimulating guanine nucleotide exchange in PTX-treated m1 cells than in controls.

Modulation of the structure-binding relationships of antagonists for muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes

1. Membranes from rat cerebral cortex, myocardium and extraorbital lacrimal gland were used as sources of M1, M2 and M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors respectively and the affinities of seven antagonists for the three subtypes were examined under different experimental conditions. 2. The affinities for the membrane-bound receptors were measured at different ionic strengths and temperatures and compared with those determined on the receptor solubilised in the neutral detergent digitonin or the zwitterionic detergent, CHAPSO. 3. The range of measured affinity constants of a given antagonist for a specific subtype varied from 2 (atropine at M1 receptors) to 1000 (AF-DX 116 at M2 receptors). 4. As a consequence of these changes in affinity, which were dependent on the drug, the subtype and the experimental conditions, both the structure-binding relationships of a given subtype can be markedly changed as well as the selectivity of a drug for the different subtypes. For example it is possible to change the relative affinities of AF-DX 116 and gallamine at membrane-bound M1 receptors from 50:1 to 1:60. 5. Experimental conditions for the observation of high selectivity of pirenzepine, AF-DX 116, gallamine and hexahydrosiladiphenidol for the three subtypes are given. 6. When the receptors are removed from their membrane environment by solubilisation in detergent, antagonist affinities are changed but the subtypes still retain different structure-binding relationships. 7. In general, AF-DX 116 and the allosteric antagonist, gallamine, behave differently from the other antagonists, suggesting that they bind in different ways to muscarinic receptors. Careful attention should therefore be paid to the experimental conditions in binding assays used to assess the affinities and selectivities of new muscarinic antagonists in order to avoid misleading results. 9. The ability to produce enhanced or attenuated affinities and selectivities of antagonists, resulting from the induction of different conformations of the receptor by a variety of physical, chemical or molecular biological perturbations may lead to a better understanding of the structural basis of drug receptor interactions.

The modes of binding of ligands to cardiac muscarinic receptors

Ionizable groups on the cardiac M2 muscarinic receptor which regulate the binding of ligands have been examined by studying the pH dependence of the ligand affinity constants. The presence of three titratable residues (approximate pK values, 5.4, 6.8 and 7.5) whose protonation modulates antagonist binding has been demonstrated. Cardioselective antagonists are selectively affected by the protonation state of the pK 6.8 residue, whereas the binding of antagonists having differing selectivities is more strongly affected by protonation of the pK 5.4 residue on cardiac receptors. Methoctramine is capable of binding to both the pK 5.4 and 6.8 residues simultaneously. Protonation of the residue of highest pK produces a conformational change at the receptor which can affect both agonist and antagonist binding. It is now possible to demonstrate differences both in the way ligands bind to a given receptor subtype and in the way a given ligand binds to different subtypes.

Binding and hydrodynamic properties of muscarinic receptor subtypes solubilized in 3-(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate

The muscarinic receptor from the cerebral cortex, heart, and lacrimal gland can be solubilized in the zwitterionic detergent 3-(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio-2-hydroxy-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPSO) with retention of high affinity [3H]N-methyls-copolamine binding. However, in this detergent there are significant differences in the binding properties of the receptors, compared with those observed in membranes and digitonin solution. Some agents retain a degree of selectivity. In the heart and cortex, agonists can bind with high affinity to a receptor-GTP-binding protein complex. A second, lower affinity, agonist binding state is also present, which resembles a class of sites seen in membranes but not in digitonin solution. The high affinity agonist binding state has been resolved from the lower affinity state on sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Hydrodynamic analysis suggests that the high affinity state is approximately 110,000 Da larger than the lower affinity state. The binding properties of the receptor in CHAPSO can be altered to those seen in digitonin by exchanging detergents after CHAPSO solubilization.

Regional distribution of muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptor binding activities in the human brain

The distribution of nicotinic and muscarinic receptor subtypes was examined in human brain tissue obtained at autopsy from neurologically normal adult (50-60 years) individuals. Membrane preparations from 15 brain regions were examined for nicotinic (L-[3H]nicotine) binding, both M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor binding (distinguished on the basis of pirenzepine affinity) and high (H) and low (L) affinity muscarinic agonist binding (distinguished on the basis of carbachol displacement). Total muscarinic receptor binding sites were relatively high in striatal and cortical areas, where both M1 subtype and agonist binding type L predominated, compared with thalamic, nigral and cerebellar regions and spinal cord, where the M2 subtype and agonist binding type H predominated. Nicotinic receptor binding sites (predominantly high affinity, measured at low ligand concentrations) did not parallel any of the muscarinic subtypes, being concentrated in thalamic, neocortical and striatal regions. Scatchard analysis indicated the presence of both high and low affinity nicotinic sites, the numbers of the latter generally exceeding the former by over one order of magnitude. Neither muscarinic nor nicotinic receptor binding sites were closely related to the distribution of the cholinergic neuronal marker, choline acetyltransferase, suggesting that individual cholinergic pathways may be distinguished by the relative proportion of the different types of cholinergic receptors present.

The affinity, selectivity and biological activity of telenzepine enantiomers

The binding of the enantiomers of telenzepine to muscarinic receptor subtypes present in guinea-pig cerebral cortex, myocardium and salivary glands has been examined. The (+) enantiomer is more potent in all assays and exhibits a greater selectivity than the (-) enantiomer for the different receptor subtypes. As a consequence, the enantiomeric potency ratio varies from ca. 400 (cortical 'M1' receptors) to ca. 50 (cardiac receptors). In functional assays in vitro in the rabbit vas deferens and rat atria, the affinity constants and enantiomeric potency ratios for the two isomers agree with those found for the appropriate muscarinic receptor subtype in binding assays. A high enantiomeric potency ratio, 180, is found in vivo for the ability of the telenzepine enantiomers to inhibit the production of lesions in the modified Shay rat preparation. The data are compatible with the blockade of M1 receptors by (+)-telenzepine being responsible for this action of telenzepine and would tend to exclude the possibility that the anti-ulcer action of telenzepine is mediated via a muscarinic or non-muscarinic action of the (-) enantiomer.

The existence of stable enantiomers of telenzepine and their stereoselective interaction with muscarinic receptor subtypes

[3H]Telenzepine has been shown to bind with high affinity (3 x 10(9) M-1) to a subpopulation of muscarinic binding sites in rat cerebral cortex, which have a high affinity for pirenzepine. The binding kinetics were very slow at 30 degrees. Only 50% of the [3H] telenzepine was found to be capable of binding to the receptors with high affinity. This suggested the presence of optical isomers of telenzepine. These were partially resolved on the picomole scale by using cortical muscarinic receptors to selectively bind the active isomer. It was then possible to measure the temperature and time dependence of the racemization of the inactive to the active enantiomer. The energy barrier for the inversion was 35 kcal/mol, and racemization was very slow even at 90 degrees. The affinity and selectivity of the unlabeled enantiomers for the different muscarinic receptor subtypes present on membranes from rat cerebral cortex, heart, and lacrimal gland was measured. The selectivity of active (+)-isomer was considerably greater than that of the (-)-isomer. As a consequence, the stereoselectivity of the enantiomers varied from 500 (M1 receptors in cerebral cortex) to 75 (cardiac receptors).

Propylbenzilylcholine mustard labels an acidic residue in transmembrane helix 3 of the muscarinic receptor

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors were purified from rat forebrain and labeled with [3H]N-(2-chloroethyl)N-(2',3'-[3H2]propyl)-2-aminoethylbenzilate. Cleavage of the labeled muscarinic acetylcholine receptors with a lysine-specific protease yielded labeled, glycosylated peptides about 130 and 200 residues in length, which came from different receptor sequences. The probable cleavage sites are in the second intracellular loop and in the second extracellular or third intracellular loop. The N-terminal 130 residues are disulfide-bonded to another part of the receptor structure, supporting the presence of a link between the second and third extracellular loops. The [3H]propylbenzilylcholine mustard-receptor link is cleaved by nucleophiles, acids, and bases under denaturing conditions, suggesting modification of an acidic residue. Cyanogen bromide cleavage points to transmembrane helix 3 as the site of label attachment.

Muscarinic cholinergic receptor subtypes in hippocampus in human cognitive disorders

Total muscarinic receptor levels, the levels of the subtypes exhibiting high and low affinity for pirenzepine, and the high- and low-affinity agonist states of the receptor were investigated in hippocampal tissue obtained at autopsy from mentally normal individuals and the following pathological groups: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Down's syndrome, alcoholic dementia, Huntington's chorea, and motor-neurone disease. A moderate decrease in the density of both high-affinity pirenzepine and high-affinity agonist subtypes was found in Alzheimer's disease, whereas a trend towards an increase in the overall muscarinic receptor density was apparent in the parkinsonian patients without dementia, mainly due to an increase in the low-affinity agonist state; the differences between the Alzheimer's disease and nondemented parkinsonian cases were highly significant. As previously reported, the levels of both choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase were markedly reduced in both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease--with a greater loss of both enzymes in the demented subgroup of parkinsonian patients. Activities of the cholinergic enzymes were also extensively reduced in Down's syndrome, accompanied by a loss of high-affinity pirenzepine binding. There were no significant receptor or enzyme alterations in the other groups studied. These observations suggest that in the human brain, extensive degeneration of cholinergic axons to the hippocampus, as indicated by a loss of cholinergic enzymes, is not necessarily accompanied by extensive muscarinic receptor abnormalities (as might be expected if a major subpopulation were presynaptic). Moreover, the opposite changes in muscarinic binding in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases may be related to the greater severity of dementia in the latter disease.

The binding of [3H]telenzepine to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in calf forebrain

Telenzepine binds to calf brain muscarinic receptors with a selectivity for M1 receptors that is comparable to that exhibited by pirenzepine. Telenzepine has a 10-fold higher affinity than pirenzepine at these receptors and is equipotent with atropine. Because of its potency, selectivity and hydrophilicity, [3H]telenzepine is an excellent radioligand for binding to and monitoring M1 receptor binding sites. The kinetics of [3H]telenzepine binding are extremely slow, even at 37 degrees C.

Does the prolonged occupancy of M1 receptors by telenzepine protect them against the action of vagally released acetylcholine?

The affinities of telenzepine, pirenzepine and atropine for muscarinic acetylcholine receptors have been determined by receptor binding studies using brain cortex and heart membranes of calf and rat. The ratios of affinities of telenzepine and pirenzepine for the cortical M1 receptors, cortical 'non-M1' receptors and cardiac M2 receptors are 50:5:1 and 80:5:1, respectively. The time course of association of telenzepine and pirenzepine with M1 receptors is similar, whereas the half-times for dissociation are 35 and 2.3 min at 37 degrees C, respectively. In further experiments this slow dissociation rate of telenzepine is shown to be rate-limiting for the occupation of M1 receptors by other ligands. The prolonged occupation of M1 receptors by telenzepine is discussed as a possible protective mechanism against acetylcholine released from vagal nerve fibers.

Muscarinic receptor subtypes and the selectivity of agonists and antagonists

Receptors may be grouped into superfamilies, according to their mechanism. Muscarinic receptors belong to one such superfamily, that of the G-protein coupled receptors. Subtypes of muscarinic receptors may be defined according to their primary amino acid sequence, their mechanism and their pharmacology. However, there is as yet no consistent scheme to explain the pharmacology and function of each molecular subtype. The pharmacological tools which distinguish between muscarinic receptor subtypes are described and the emerging evidence for the location of the ligand binding site is discussed.

Guanine nucleotide modulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding in postmortem human brain--a preliminary study in Alzheimer's disease

The coupling of cortical muscarinic receptors to guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding proteins, as defined by changes in agonist affinity states of the receptor in the presence of magnesium ions (Mg2+) and a GTP analogue has been investigated using carbachol in competition experiments with either N-methylscopolamine (NMS) or pirenzepine (PZ). The stability of the system with regard to autopsy delay and freezing was first established in membrane preparations from mouse brain. Applying the same methods to human autopsy tissue from the parietal cortex of Alzheimer's diseased cases and controls, matched for age and postmortem delay, there was no significant difference in the detectable coupling of the total (NMS-labelled) muscarinic receptor population. However, coupling of the 'M1' muscarinic receptor subtype, selectively labelled by PZ, appeared to be more labile than that of the receptor population as a whole and the modulation of this subtype by the GTP analogue was significantly attenuated in Alzheimer's disease.

The binding of pirenzepine to digitonin-solubilized muscarinic acetylcholine receptors from the rat myocardium

The binding of pirenzepine to digitonin-solubilized rat myocardial muscarinic acetylcholine receptors has been examined at 4 degrees C. Solubilization produced only small changes in the binding of N-methylscopolamine and atropine. In contrast to the low affinity binding of pirenzepine found to be present in in the membranes, high affinity binding was detected in the soluble preparation. In both preparations, pirenzepine binding was complex. High affinity pirenzepine binding (KD approximately 3 X 10(-8)M) to the soluble myocardial receptors could be monitored directly using [3H]-pirenzepine. [3H]-pirenzepine-labelled soluble myocardial receptors have a sedimentation coefficient of 11.1 s. This indicates that [3H]-pirenzepine binds predominantly to the uncoupled form of the receptor. However, [3H]-pirenzepine-agonist competition experiments indicated that the high affinity pirenzepine binding sites are capable of coupling with a guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein. Pirenzepine affinities for the soluble myocardial receptors were unaffected by their state of association with the GTP-binding proteins found in the heart. The equilibrium binding properties of the soluble cortical and myocardial receptors were very similar. However, the binding kinetics of the myocardial receptor were much slower. It appears that the membrane environment can affect the affinity of pirenzepine for the rat myocardial muscarinic receptor. Removal of the constraint by solubilization allows the expression of high affinity pirenzepine binding.

Analysis of muscarinic receptor concentration and subtypes following lesion of rat substantia innominata

Cholinergic neurones located in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) in the substantia innominata (SI) of primates are known to project to cerebral cortex and cell loss in NBM is thought to be associated with the cholinergic deficit seen in Alzheimer's disease. We have examined in rats the effect of lesion of SI with kainate (1 microgram/0.5 microliter) on acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, muscarinic receptor number and subtypes in cerebral cortex at 1, 2 and 4 weeks. The area of lesion was assessed histologically. AChE activity was significantly reduced in frontal and parietal cortex ipsilateral to the lesion compared to the contralateral side by 37 and 30%, respectively, at 1 week. The reduction in parietal cortex at 4 weeks (16%) was significantly attenuated. Muscarinic receptor number was reduced in cerebral cortex ipsilateral to the lesion at the 3 time periods measured, being reduced by 14 and 17% in the frontal and parietal cortex, respectively, at 1 week. Changes in receptor number and AChE activity correlated with the size of lesion. Low affinity agonist binding sites and high affinity pirenzepine binding sites were also analyzed and found to be significantly reduced by lesion of SI. The proportions of high and low affinity agonist binding sites and subtypes of pirenzepine binding sites were, however, not significantly affected by lesion.