Abstract
To gain insight into the coupling mechanism of inhibitory receptors, 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptors and alpha 2-adrenoceptors, with GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) in the central nervous system, we examined the effects of two 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl compounds, S-(3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl)-L-cysteine [Cys(Npys)] and N-t-butoxy-carbonyl-S-(3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl)-L-cysteine [Boc-Cys(Npys)], on 1) specific binding of [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) (5-hydroxytryptamine1A agonist) and [3H]clonidine (alpha 2-agonist) to rat brain membranes, 2) [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) binding, and 3) pertussis toxin (islet-activating protein) (IAP)-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of purified Go (an IAP-sensitive G protein present in abundance in the mammalian brain). Treatment with Cys(Npys) led to decreased [3H]8-OH-DPAT and [3H]clonidine binding, similar to the inhibitory effects of IAP and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) on such binding. However, further treatment of Cys(Npys)-pretreated membranes with dithiothreitol completely abolished the inhibitory effect of Cys(Npys) on the binding of both ligands. On the other hand, treatment with Boc-Cys(Npys) inhibited the effect of several GTP analogs (GTP gamma S, guanylyl-imidodiphosphate, guanylyl)-(beta, gamma-methylene)-diphosphate, and GTP) on [3H]8-OH-DPAT and [3H]clonidine binding. Dithiothreitol and mercaptoethanol treatment of Boc-Cys(Npys)-pretreated membranes did not lead to a recovery of the effect of GTP analogs on agonist binding. Regardless of the presence or absence of GTP gamma S, agonist binding to Boc-Cys(Npys)-pretreated membranes was decreased by further addition of NEM or Cys(Npys). Cys(Npys) blocked [35S]GTP gamma S binding as well as IAP-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation in purified Go. In contrast, Boc-Cys(Npys) partially inhibited ADP-ribosylation and did not affect [35S]GTP gamma S binding. These results suggested that Cys(Npys) modifies the receptor-coupling domain in G proteins, followed by the uncoupling of inhibitory receptors from G proteins, similar to the effects of NEM and IAP. Boc-Cys(Npys), however, seems to stabilize the coupling state between the receptors and G proteins, thus abolishing the GTP gamma S effect.
MolPharm articles become freely available 12 months after publication, and remain freely available for 5 years.Non-open access articles that fall outside this five year window are available only to institutional subscribers and current ASPET members, or through the article purchase feature at the bottom of the page.
|