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The thermodynamic properties of the agonist [Adenine-2,8-3H, ethyl-2(3)-H]-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine ([3H]R-PIA) and the antagonist 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-[3H]dipropylxanthine ([3H]DPCPX) binding to membrane-bound and 3-3[-(choloamidopropyl)-dimethylammoniol-1-propanesulfonate/ digitonin- solubilized A1 adenosine receptors from pig brain cortex were evaluated. Rate constants for [3H]R-PIA and [3H]DPCPX association (k+1) and dissociation (k-1) processes to this receptor subtype were measured from association-dissociation experiments at six different temperatures. The values for equilibrium association constant (KA = 1/KD) were derived from rate constant values (k+1/k-1). The antagonist binding to membrane-bound receptors, the agonist binding to fast kinetic component membrane-bound receptors and the agonist binding to soluble receptors showed a linear temperature-dependence of the standard free-energy change. The first two processes are enthalpy- and entropy-driven, and the third process is enthalpy-driven with entropy working against it. On the other hand, a curvilinear temperature-dependence appears in the agonist binding to slow kinetic component membrane-bound receptors and in the antagonist binding to soluble receptors, but analyzing the semireactions (association-dissociation) involved in each case reveals that the thermodynamic behavior is very different. The thermodynamic similarities and differences are discussed in terms of receptor--G protein interaction.

The influence of pH on the equilibrium dissociation constant and on kinetic association and dissociation constants was studied for adenosine receptor agonist L-N6-[adenine-2,8-3H, ethyl-2-3H]phenylisopropyladenosine ([3H]R-PIA) and antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-[3H]-dipropylxanthine ([3H]DPCPX). Two ionizable groups, of pK 7.0 and pK 7.4, are involved in the [3H]R-PIA associations with high- and low-affinity states of the receptor, and another group, of pK 6.0, is involved in the association with the low-affinity state. No ionizable group is involved in the dissociation process for the high-affinity state, whereas two ionizable groups, of pK 6.0 and 6.5, are involved in the low-affinity state. For [3H]DPCPX, three ionizable groups (pK 6.0, 7.4, and 8.0) are involved in the association process and only one group, (pK 6.0), is involved in the dissociation step. The apparent pK values obtained agree with histidine residues. We thus studied the effect of diethylpyrocarbonate (DEP), which reacts irreversibly with histidine residues, on agonist and antagonist binding to A1 adenosine receptors from pig brain cortical membranes. DEP treatment of membrane reduced the affinity (KD) and the total binding (R) of the agonist and the antagonist. Membrane preincubation with unlabeled ligand (R-PIA or DPCPX) prevented the effect of DEP modification observed when the same ligand, but with label, is added to the same membranes, but did not prevent the DEP modification on different, labeled ligand.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1. The adenosine receptors from pig kidney proximal tubules have been studied in membrane vesicle preparations derived from either luminal (brush-border membranes-BBM-) or basolateral (BL) sides. There was a substantial amount of A2-like NECA binding in both preparations, but the A1 subtype of adenosine receptors was not found in either BBM or BL membranes. The use of [3H]-CGS21680 which is a more specific ligand for A2a receptors revealed true adenosine receptors in the BBM. 2. The kinetic parameters for [3H]-CGS21680 binding to pig renal BBM were: Bmax = 1.48 pmol mg-1 protein and Kd = 150 nM. In the presence of Gpp(NH)p the affinity decreased (Kd = 220 nM), whereas the addition of Mg2+ induced a marked increase in affinity (Kd = 83 nM). These equilibrium constants are higher than those found for the A2a adenosine receptors present in pig brain striatal membranes (Kd = 12 nM), and are close to those found in rat renal BBM (Kd = 90 nM). 3. The order of potency of agonist and antagonists was not consistent with the presence of either A1 or A2 receptors, but it was very similar to the agonist order of potency for the A3 receptor subtype. Furthermore, the blockade of the [3H]-CGS21680 binding by both cholera and pertussis toxin further supports the view that the subtypes present in BBM are neither A1 nor A2. 4. Overall the results suggest the presence in BBM of an A3 receptor, or of a new subtype of adenosine receptor, which is linked to G proteins sensitive to both cholera and pertussis toxins.

The adenosine receptors in the plasma membrane of chromaffin cells from bovine adrenal medulla were characterized. The presence of A1 receptors was discounted owing to the absence of R-[3H]phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) and [3H]8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine ([3H]-DPCPX) binding. The binding of the specific A2a ligand CGS-21680 was low. In contrast, the binding of 5'-(N-[3H]-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine ([3H]NECA) was relatively high (1.7 pmol/mg of protein at a ligand concentration up to 90 nM). This binding did not correspond to non-adenosine receptor NECA binding sites because the specific [3H]-NECA binding was similar when unlabeled adenosine, NECA, or R-PIA was used to measure the nonspecific binding. The rank order of potency of different ligands for the displacement of specific [3H]NECA binding was DPCPX greater than NECA greater than chloroadenosine greater than R-PIA greater than theophylline = CGS-21680. These results indicate that the receptors present on the plasma membrane of chromaffin cells are exclusively of the A2b subtype.

Pig brain cerebral cortex was subfractionated by isopycnic centrifugation in sucrose gradients. In each subfraction the content of the agonist [3H]R-PIA binding, the activity of adenosine metabolizing enzymes (5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase) and the activity of membrane marker enzymes were determined. The fractions were also examined by electron microscope. In general, the results suggest a widespread distribution of A1 adenosine receptors in membranes from different origins. Marker enzyme profile characterization indicated an enrichment of A1 adenosine receptor in pre-synaptic membranes isolated from the crude synaptosomal fraction (P2B subfraction) as well as in membranes of glial origin such as myelin. The receptor is also present in the endoplasmic reticulum and in membranes isolated from the microsomal fraction that seem to have a post-synaptic origin (P3B). In subfractions having a high content of adenosine receptor the equilibrium binding parameters were obtained as well as the proportion of high- to low-affinity sites. From the values of the equilibrium constants it was not possible to find differences between the receptor in the different subfractions. Analysis of the affinity state distribution showed a diminished percentage of high-affinity sites in fraction P3A, which can be accounted by the existence of myelin membranes; in contrast the percentage of high-affinity states was higher in P2 and P3B, indicating that in these fractions the receptor is present in synaptosomal membranes. The close correlation shown between the enzyme 5'-nucleotidase specific activity and the specific ligand binding distributions led us to postulate an important role for the enzyme in the regulation of adenosine action in pig brain cortex.

A method of obtaining estimates of the maximum binding and association and dissociation rate constants for a receptor-ligand interaction is described. This new procedure, the association-saturation method, is based on an exact mathematical equation which defines the model without simplifications. The method proposed is readily applicable to any system consisting of one ligand and one receptor. With only four determinations, each involving one ligand concentration and an association time, it is possible to determine the number of specific binding sites, the dissociation and association rate constants and the equilibrium dissociation constant with accuracy. No dissociation curve is required, and only one point of the association curve for each ligand concentration is necessary. In addition to the higher confidence in the estimates of the parameter values obtained, this method leads to important savings in radiolabelled compounds and experimental time. The results were compared with those obtained with standard association-dissociation curves and saturation isotherms. The optimum number of replicates of each experimental point to obtain reliable estimates of different parameters is discussed on the basis of simulation studies. The performance of the procedure is analysed by means of association-saturation experiments with the agonist [adenine-2,8-3H,ethyl-2-3H]N6-phenylisopropyladenosine and solubilized A1 adenosine receptors from pig brain cortex.

The effect of sulphydryl reagents (N-ethylmaleimide-NEM-4- hydroxymercuriobenzoate-HMB- and 5-5'-dithio-bis-2-nitrobenzoate-DTNB-) on agonist and antagonist binding to A1 adenosine receptors from pig brain was studied. The action of the mercurial agent HMB was found to be strong and seemed to be nonspecific. The effects of either NEM or DTNB were milder and more specific. The characterization of the agonist binding in membranes pretreated with moderate concentrations of DTNB and NEM led to reduced affinities for both high- and low-affinity sites without marked modifications of maximal binding or of proportion of affinity states. These results for NEM are surprising since the compound is usually used to mimick the effects of Gpp(NH)p, i.e. to shift high-affinity states to low-affinity states. It was found that this Gpp(NH)p-like effect of NEM is only possible when the compound is included in the assay medium. Similarly, Gpp(NH)p produces the uncoupling of the receptor molecule from G protein if included in the assay medium. Thus, membranes pretreated with Gpp(NH)p exhibited both affinity states and with similar equilibrium binding parameter values to those of the crude membranes.

The effect of phospholipases and proteases on the membrane-bound and solubilized A1 adenosine receptor has been studied. Phospholipids modulate the [3H]N6-(R)-phenylisopropyladenosine binding to A1 adenosine receptors in crude membranes and in soluble preparations, because changes in the phospholipid environment decrease both the binding capacity and the affinity for the ligand. It has become clear that 1) there is co-solubilization of receptor and phospholipids; 2) the phospholipid requirements are different for the coupled and the uncoupled receptor; 3) a net charge in the polar head produced by phospholipase D prevents the agonist binding to the receptor-G protein complex; alternatively, when the whole polar head is removed by phospholipase C the uncoupled receptor is altered; and 4) the protease action upon the receptor suggests that receptor coupled to G protein is more protected by the membrane than the uncoupled receptor. In kinetic experiments performed on membranes it was demonstrated that phospholipase C and trypsin increased the Kd value of the high-affinity state by modifying both k1 and k-1. In contrast they only modified the dissociation constant of the low-affinity state. In conclusion it should be noted that phospholipids play a key role for the binding of R-PIA to A1 adenosine receptor. Also, a different disposition within the membrane of the coupled and uncoupled receptor is encountered.

In this article the existence of A1 adenosine receptors and the absence of A2 adenosine receptors in myelin membranes purified from pig brain white matter are demonstrated. The characterization of (R)-[3H]phenylisopropyladenosine ([3H]R-PIA) binding to purified myelin fractions was performed. The distribution of high- and low-affinity species of the A1 adenosine receptor was different in heavy, medium, and light myelin. The fluidity of myelin subfractions and of pig brain cortical membranes was estimated; the microviscosity of heavy myelin (5.4 poises) and of cortical membranes (5.1 poises) was similar and less than that of medium (7.8 poises) and light (8.2 poises) myelin. It was also demonstrated that the agonist R-PIA modifies the microviscosity of myelin membranes and that the degree of modification depends on the fluidity of the membrane assayed. These results suggest that adenosine receptors may have an important role in the functionality of myelin membranes.

Kinetic evidence for negative cooperativity on the binding of [3H]R-PIA to A1 adenosine receptors was obtained from dissociation experiments at different ligand concentrations and from the equilibrium isotherm. The dissociation curves indicate that there is an apparent ligand-induced transformation of high- to low-affinity states of the receptor. At concentrations of 18.2 nM R-PIA or higher there was only found the low-affinity state of the receptor. In view of these results equilibrium binding data were analyzed by the usual two-state model (assuming that there is an interconversion between them) and by the negative cooperativity model employing the Hill equation.

The present solubilization strategy recognizes the important role of detergent cocktails in the solubilization and subsequent stability of adenosine A1, receptors from pig brain cortical membranes. The 3-[3-(cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulfonate-digitonin mixture produced the extraction of up to 52% of the receptor with an enrichment of 1.2-fold with respect to crude membranes. The binding activity of the soluble extract was very stable even in the absence of glycerol. In crude membranes the existence of high- and low-affinity states was detected, but in the soluble extract and in the detergent-treated membranes only the high-affinity state was detected. Association-dissociation curves showed that in crude membranes no interconversion between high- and low-affinity sites is produced by the association of the ligand [3H]R-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine. These results suggest that the high- and low-affinity states are different conformations induced by the structure of the membrane. The modulation of the binding activity by (Gpp(NH)p) 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate and Mg2+ was studied. In crude membranes Gpp(NH)p shifted the high-affinity state to the low-affinity state, whereas the contrary occurred when Mg2+ was used. The effect of both Mg2+ and Gpp(NH)p was also assayed with the soluble extract and with the detergent-treated membranes. In addition to a decrease of the overall binding capacity, Gpp(NH)p promoted a conversion to all low-affinity states in the detergent-treated membranes or to all very-low-affinity sites in the soluble extract. Mg2+ and Gpp(NH)p counteracted their effects in intact membranes, whereas Mg2+ could not reverse the uncoupling effect of Gpp(NH)p with solubilized or detergent-treated membranes. Thus, it is suggested that Mg2+ acts at sites other than guanine-nucleotide-sensitive sites. If high-affinity states correspond to receptor/G protein complexes and low-affinity states correspond to the uncoupled receptor, we should conclude that Mg2+, as well as the loss of membrane integrity, favours the interaction of A1 receptor molecule with G protein.

Working with pig brain striatum in which A1 and A2 adenosine receptor subtypes coexist, we describe an uncomplicated method for unequivocally obtaining the equilibrium parameters (KD and binding capacity) of A1 receptor without interference from ligand binding to A2 receptor. Also, the equilibrium parameter estimation method we propose avoids the experimental determination of nonspecific binding by the inclusion of the corresponding unknown parameter in the function. This not only saves time but also avoids the use of expensive radioligands in saturation experiments. The method is suitable for any system with two different receptor subtypes for the same physiological ligand, and good estimates of the equilibrium parameters corresponding to the subtype displaying the higher affinity for the ligand can be obtained.