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M Lakitsch, HG Knaus, G Topar, C Romanin, R Boer, D Flockerzi, J Striessnig, H Schindler, HD Hoeltje and H Glossmann
Institute for Biochemical Pharmacology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
The basic (pKa = 8.49) 1,4-dihydropyridine B 874-67 [[3-(C1R,2S)- 2- methylamino-1-phenylpropyl]-5-methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-(4R)-4-( 3-nitrophenyl)pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate hydrochloride] has unique properties; it can discriminate two populations of alpha 1 subunits in 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channels labeled with the neutral 1,4-dihydropyridine (+)-[3H]PN 200-110. The two populations, which occur in proportions of approximately 2:1 in rabbit skeletal muscle membranes and highly purified calcium channel preparations, differ approximately 20-fold in their affinity. The corresponding diastereomer, B 874-66, and other 1,4-dihydropyridines (neutral, basic, or permanently charged) do not share this property. The two populations were observed at 2 degrees, 22 degrees, and 37 degrees in similar proportions. Heterogeneity was also observed for guinea pig heart membrane calcium channels labeled with (+)-[3H]PN 200-110. Heterotropic allosteric regulators, Ca2+, and Mg2+, but not Ba2+ and Ni2+, abolished the discriminatory activity of B 874-67 at 2 degrees and 22 degrees, regardless of whether binding of the neutral 1,4-dihydropyridine was stimulated or inhibited. It is proposed that the two alpha 1 subunit populations differ with respect to their 1,4-dihydropyridine binding domain. The structural basis for the two populations is unclear but may relate to the functional heterogeneity of membrane-bound and highly purified calcium channel preparations previously observed by others.