Abstract

Murine neuroblastoma cells (clone N1E-115) possess two subtypes of the muscarinic receptor each of which separately mediates a cyclic nucleotide response. The formation of cyclic GMP is postulated to involve a low affinity agonist-receptor conformation, whereas the reduction of prostaglandin E1-stimulated cyclic AMP formation appears to involve a high affinity conformation. Further evidence supporting this hypothesis was obtained in experiments measuring the equilibrium dissociation constants for the full agonist carbachol by the method of partial receptor inactivation. Quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) was employed to occlude muscarinic receptors; measurements with [3H] QNB ensured that the amount of QNB appearing in the assay after washout had only a minimal effect on the determination of the equilibrium dissociation constants. Carbachol mediated cyclic GMP formation with an equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 325 microM and cyclic AMP reductions with a KD value of 13 microM. These KD values are similar to but somewhat higher than those determined by direct binding at 15 degrees, and they are strong evidence in support of the view that a low affinity conformation mediates cyclic GMP formation, whereas a high affinity conformation mediates cyclic AMP reductions.