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The structure of the title compound, (+)-7S-hydroxyxestospongin A was solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and the absolute stereochemistry obtained by analysis of the derived R and S Mosher's esters. The absolute configuration of xestospongin D was determined for the first time by analysis of anomalous scattering from the X-ray crystal diffraction data set. Xestospongins A, C, and D, araguspongine C, and demethylxestospongin B exhibited modest antifungal activity (MIC 30−100 g/mL) against various fluconazole-resistant Candida spp., but 7S-hydroxyxestospongin A was inactive.

The marine sponge Ianthella basta synthesizes at least 25 tetrameric bromotyrosine structures that possess a stringent structural requirement for modifying the gating behavior of ryanodine-sensitive Ca(2+) channels (ryanodine receptors) (RyR)). Bastadin 5 (B5) was shown to stabilize open and closed channel states with little influence on the sensitivity of the channel to activation by Ca(2+) (Mack, M. M., Molinski, T. F., Buck, E. D., and Pessah, I. N. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 23236-23249). In the present paper, we utilize single channel analysis and measurements of Ca(2+) flux across the sarcoplasmic reticulum to identify bastadin 10 (B10) as the structural congener responsible for dramatically stabilizing the open conformation of the RyR channel, possibly by reducing the free energy associated with closed to open channel transitions (DeltaG*c --> o). The stability of the channel open state induced by B10 sensitized the channel to activation by Ca(2+) to such an extent that it essentially obviated regulation by physiological concentrations of Ca(2+) and relieved inhibition by physiological Mg(2+). These actions of B10 were produced only on the cytoplasmic face of the channel, were selectively eliminated by pretreatment of channels with FK506 or rapamycin, and were reconstituted by human recombinant FKBP12. The actions of B10 were found to be reversible. A structure-activity model is proposed by which substitutions on the Eastern and Western hemispheres of the bastarane macrocycle may confer specificity toward the RyR1-FKBP12 complex to stabilize either the closed or open channel conformation. These results indicate that RyR1-FKBP12 complexes possesses a novel binding domain for phenoxycatechols and raise the possibility of molecular recognition of an endogenous ligand.

The anthracenedione mitoxantrone (MTX) is examined for activity toward ryanodine-sensitive Ca++ release channels (i.e., ryanodine receptors; RyR) from rat cardiac SR singly or in combination with doxorubicin (DXR). MTX and DXR exhibit antithetical activities toward RyR. Under conditions promoting channel closure, DXR enhances the binding of [3H]ryanodine (EC50 = 44 microM), whereas MTX has higher affinity (EC50 = 25 microM) but > 10-fold lower activity towards activating RyR. Unlike DXR, MTX assayed under conditions promoting channel activation inhibits the binding of [3H]ryanodine (IC50 = 3.3 microM) and does not alter the potency with which Ca++ activates RyR in the presence or absence of Mg++. In the presence of Mg++, MTX does not alter kobs and slows k-1 for [3H]ryanodine binding, whereas DXR accelerates kobs with little change in k-1. The antithetical behavior of MTX and DXR at the RyR raises the possibility that MTX antagonizes the ability of DXR to activate the RyR when the drugs are present in combination. In consonance with this hypothesis, MTX inhibits DXR (60 microM)-sensitized [3H]ryanodine-binding sites in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 8.4 microM) and shifts the EC50 for DXR-activated [3H]ryanodine-binding without reducing the maximum occupancy attained at high DXR concentration, revealing the competitive nature of the interaction of DXR and MTX. MTX singly does not alter active Ca++ accumulation by SR but is shown to fully inhibit DXR-induced Ca++ release. The results suggest that MTX antagonizes DXR-activated RyR by binding to mutually exclusive sites and may provide a rational basis for combination therapy aimed at extending the current dose limits of DXR.

Antigenic stimulation of rat basophilic leukemia cells releases Ca2+ from internal stores and increases membrane permeability to Ca2+. The delta isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane (delta-HCH) is structurally similar to myo-inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and is a potent releaser of stored Ca2+ from permeabilized cells. This release of Ca2+ is not mediated by a competitive interaction with the IP3 receptor on the Ca2+ release channel on the endoplasmic reticulum. In intact cells, delta-HCH and, to a lesser extent, lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) transiently increase the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. The return to basal concentrations is mediated by the plasma membrane Ca2+ pumps and not by resequestration of Ca2+ into intracellular stores. Treatment of cells with delta-HCH (25-100 microM), but not lindane, leads to a progressive inhibition of the antigen- and thapsigargin-stimulated Ca2+ signal. Caffeine, a modulator of the ryanodine receptor Ca2+ channel, attenuates the rise in intracellular Ca2+ induced by delta-HCH, suggesting that ryanodine receptor-like Ca2+ channels may be present in RBL cells. At 25 microM delta-HCH, a concentration that does not inhibit the antigen-stimulated Ca2+ signal, the release of [3H]serotonin from antigen-stimulated cells is enhanced as is secretion of [3H]serotonin from cells pretreated with 25-100 microM lindane. The depletion of Ca2+ from intracellular stores by delta-HCH should evoke Ca2+ entry into the cells by a capacitative mechanism; however; divalent cation permeability across the plasma membrane (Mn2+ influx) is not increased but rather is decreased by delta-HCH. An understanding of the mechanism of action of delta-HCH in releasing stored Ca2+ and blocking Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane may provide insights into the regulation of capacitative Ca2+ entry in nonexcitable cells.

Rat cardiac membrane vesicles enriched in biochemical markers of the junctional region of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and exhibiting ruthenium red-sensitive rapid Ca2+ release have been prepared. Doxorubicin and seven congeners are shown to enhance the binding of [3H]ryanodine to the ryanodine receptor with a strong structural requirement. Doxorubicin enhances the binding of [3H]ryanodine to SR membranes and soluble receptor preparations and induces Ca2+ release from SR vesicles in a highly Ca2(+)-dependent manner, suggesting that anthraquinones promote the open state of the junctional Ca2+ release channel by increasing the affinity of the Ca2+ activator site for Ca2+. Doxorubicin reduces the Kd of [3H]ryanodine binding solely by enhancing the rat of association. Caffeine competes for the same site with anthraquinones, because the caffeine-activated binding of [3H]ryanodine is inhibited by doxorubicin and vice versa. The acute effect of doxorubicin on the cardiac Ca2+ release channel is fully reversible; however, long term treatment (up to 24 hr) with doxorubicin increases the sensitivity of the preparation to subsequent acute challenge with doxorubicin. The thiol-reductive agent dithiothreitol enhances, whereas the reactive disulfide 4,4'-dithiodipyridine reduces, the doxorubicin-enhanced binding of [3H]ryanodine. These results demonstrate that the acute and chronic cardiotoxicity of anthraquinones may be accounted for by a receptor-mediated mechanism. Our findings suggest that the chronic effects observed with the clinical use of anthraquinones may be the result of a receptor-mediated shift in the redox equilibrium of allosteric thiols at the ryanodine receptor complex, which in turn leads to long term sensitization of the Ca2+ release channel.

Immunoblot analysis and [3H]ryanodine binding were used to characterize and identify ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in nonexcitable mouse parotid acini. Western analysis revealed ryanodine receptor type III (Ry3R) to be the only detectable isoform in parotid microsomal membranes. Binding of [3H]ryanodine to microsomal fractions was dependent on Ca2+, salt, pH, and temperature. At 23 degrees C, and in the presence of 0.5 M KCl and 100 microM Ca2+, [3H]ryanodine bound specifically to membranes with high affinity (Kd = 6 nM); maximum binding capacity (Bmax) was 275 fmol/mg protein. Mg2+ and ruthenium red inhibited [3H]ryanodine binding (IC50 = 1.4 mM and 0.5 microM, respectively). 4-Chloro-3-ethylphenol enhanced the binding of [3H]ryanodine 2.5-fold; whereas ATP and caffeine were much less efficacious toward activating Ry3R (56% and 18% maximal enhancement, respectively). Bastadin, a novel modulator of the 12-kDa FK506 binding protein.RyR complex, increased [3H]ryanodine binding 3-4-fold by enhancing Kd. The immunosuppressant FK506 enhanced [3H]ryanodine receptor occupancy at >100 microM and antagonized the action of bastadin, suggesting that an immunophilin modulates Ry3R in parotid acini. These results suggest that Ry3R may play an important role in Ca2+ homeostasis in mouse parotid acini.

The anthraquinones, doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, daunorubicin and rubidazone are shown to be potent stimulators of Ca2+ release from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles and to trigger transient contractions in chemically skinned psoas muscle fibers. These effects of anthraquinones are the direct consequence of their specific interaction with the [3H] ryanodine receptor complex, which constitutes the Ca2+ release channel from the triadic junction. In the presence of adenine nucleotides and physiological Mg2+ concentrations (approximately 1.0 mM), channel activation by doxorubicin and daunorubicin exhibits a sharp dependence on submicromolar Ca2+ which is accompanied by a selective, dose-dependent increase in the apparent affinity of the ryanodine binding sites for Ca2+, in a manner similar to that previously reported with caffeine. Unlike caffeine, however, anthraquinones increase [3H]ryanodine receptor occupancy to the level observed in the presence of adenine nucleotides. A strong interaction between the anthraquinone and the caffeine binding sites on the Ca2+ release channel is also observed when monitoring Ca2+ fluxes across the SR. Millimolar caffeine both inhibits anthraquinone-stimulated Ca2+ release, and reduces anthraquinone-stimulated [3H]ryanodine receptor occupancy, without changing the effective binding constant of the anthraquinone for its binding site. The degree of cooperativity for daunorubicin activation of Ca2+ release from SR also increases in the presence of caffeine. These results demonstrate that the mechanism by which anthraquinones stimulate Ca2+ release is caused by a direct interaction with the [3H]ryanodine receptor complex, and by sensitization of the Ca2+ activator site for Ca2+.

A stringent structure-activity relationship among polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) possessing two or more ortho-chlorine substituents is observed for activation of ryanodine receptors in mammalian brain, revealing an arylhydrocarbon receptor-independent mechanism through which non-coplanar PCBs disrupt neuronal Ca2+ signaling. Of the congeners assayed, non-coplanar PCB 95 exhibits the highest potency (EC50 = 12-24 microM) toward activating high affinity [3H]ryanodine-binding in rat hippocampus, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex. Coplanar PCB 66 and PCB 126 have no ryanodine receptor activity in all brain regions examined. PCB 95 enhances [3H]ryanodine-binding affinity and capacity by significantly altering modulation by Ca2+ and Mg2+, thereby stabilizing a high affinity conformation of the ryanodine receptor. Ca2+ transport measurements using cortical microsomes reveal that PCB 95 discriminates between inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate- and ryanodine-sensitive stores. PCB 95 selectively mobilizes Ca2+ from ryanodine-sensitive stores in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 = 3.5 microM) and is completely inhibited by ryanodine receptor blockers, whereas coplanar PCBs are inactive. These data demonstrate that ortho-substituted PCBs disrupt Ca2+ transport in central neurons by direct interaction with ryanodine receptors, showing high selectivity and specificity. Alteration of Ca2+ signaling mediated by ryanodine receptors in specific regions of the central nervous system may account, at least in part, for the significant impact of these agents toward neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity in mammals.

The mechanisms by which ruthenium red (RR), neomycin and FLA 365 ([2,6-dichloro-4-aminophenyl]isopropylamine) inhibit calcium channels of skeletal and cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) are characterized. Neomycin and FLA 365 inhibit ryanodine-enhanced calcium release from skeletal SR vesicles in a dose-dependent manner. The apparent affinity of [3H]ryanodine is reduced in a dose-dependent manner by each inhibitor indicative of competitive mechanisms. Displacement studies with skeletal and cardiac SR demonstrate that the order of inhibitory potency is RR greater than neomycin greater than FLA 365 and RR greater than FLA 365 greater than neomycin, respectively. Neomycin is 100-fold less potent in cardiac SR and inhibition of [3H]ryanodine binding is biphasic in both tissues. Neomycin induces a greater proportion of [3H]ryanodine binding states recalcitrant to inhibition in cardiac SR. The ability of neomycin to increase the apparent affinity of [3H]ryanodine for its binding sites is potentiated by RR and attenuated by FLA 365. Kinetic binding studies reveal that increasing neomycin concentrations decreases the association of [3H]ryanodine as predicted for competitive inhibition. However, high (much greater than Kn) neomycin increases [3H]ryanodine binding affinity by slowing dissociation of the radioligand demonstrating that, like micromolar ryanodine, neomycin induces allosterism. Studies with combinations of antagonists demonstrate the existence of two non-overlapping inhibitor recognition sites within the ryanoid site, one polycationic inhibitor site and one FLA 365 inhibitor site. These results suggest that aminoglycoside-induced muscle paralysis may be mediated by direct block of pre- and postsynaptic calcium release channels of endoplasmic reticulum.

delta-Hexachlorocyclohexane (delta-HCH) is shown to be 30-fold more potent as a positive inotropic agent with rat atrial strips compared with lindane (gamma-HCH). Threshold and ED50 values for enhanced contractile force at a pacing frequency of 0.5 Hz are less than 1 microM and 2.2 microM for delta-HCH and 40 microM and 63 microM for gamma-HCH, respectively. Contracture developed in atria exposed to greater than 4 microM delta-HCH (ED50 = 11 microM) but not in atria exposed to gamma-HCH. Uptake and release of Ca++ measured from actively loaded cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles is measured with antipyrylazo III. Although delta-HCH (30 microM) decreases Ca(++)-dependent ATPase by 20%, it does not significantly alter Ca++ loading in the presence of ruthenium red. Addition of delta-HCH (5-50 microM) after loading is complete causes rapid, dose-dependent release of Ca++ from SR. Ca++ release induced by delta-HCH is markedly stereoselective. Compared with gamma-HCH (50 microM), delta-HCH (50 microM) induces a nearly 20-fold higher initial rate of Ca++ release (4.3 nmol of Ca++/mg/sec). Studies with [3H]ryanodine demonstrate that delta-HCH sharply inhibits Ca(++)- or daunorubicin-activated radioligand binding (IC50 = 37 and 25 microM, respectively, logit slope = 2). Inhibition of [3H]ryanodine-binding by delta-HCH is stereoselective inasmuch as IC50 values for alpha, beta and gamma isomers are greater than 100 microM. The delta-HCH modified Ca++ channel appears to proceed by a noncompetitive mechanism (reducing Bmax in equilibrium experiments) with respect to the conformationally sensitive binding site for [3H]ryanodine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles prepared from rat ventricle muscle are isolated, and their [3H]ryanodine-binding and calcium transport properties are studied in detail under active loading conditions in the presence of pyrophosphate. Experiments are performed in tandem with rabbit skeletal SR under identical conditions to allow direct comparisons of the mechanisms by which activators and inhibitors influence the calcium release channel. Ca(++)-induced Ca++ release is demonstrated with both preparations and the cardiac channel is about 1.5-fold more sensitive to activation by Ca++, which is in excellent quantitative agreement with the ability of Ca++ to activate [3H]ryanodine-binding sites. The cardiac and skeletal receptors show major quantitative differences with respect to sensitivity to pharmacologic modulators, cations and pH. The inhibitors ruthenium red, Mg++ and neomycin are significantly more potent in inhibiting the skeletal receptor, whereas the activators daunorubicin and caffeine are significantly more potent towards the cardiac receptor. The ATP analog, beta,gamma-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate, enhances the binding of [3H]ryanodine to the high-affinity site in skeletal SR by a factor of 4 but has a negligible effect on the cardiac receptor, although at suboptimal Ca++ for the binding of ryanodine, beta,gamma-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate activates the cardiac receptor to a greater extent. High levels of salt (1 M NaCl) enhance the rate of [3H]ryanodine association with its binding sites in both preparations, although they selectively reduce the binding-site capacity in skeletal SR due to a failure to maintain a stable equilibrium. Although high- and low-affinity binding of [3H]ryanodine have a similar response to changing pH, the skeletal receptors are significantly more sensitive to pH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We investigated a novel molecular mechanism by which polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) alter microsomal Ca2+ transport with sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes isolated from skeletal and cardiac muscles. Aroclors with an intermediate weight percent of chlorine enhance by >6-fold the binding of 1 nM[3H]ryanodine to its conformationally sensitive site on the SR Ca2+ -release channel [i.e., ryanodine receptor (RyR)] with high potency (EC50=1.4 microM), whereas Aroclors with either high or low chlorine composition show little activity. Structure-activity studies with selected pentachlorobiphenyl congeners reveal a stringent structural requirement for chlorine substitution at the ortho-positions, with 2,2',3,5',6-pentachlorobiphenyl having the highest potency toward skeletal and cardiac isoforms of RyR (EC50=330 nM and 2 microM, respectively). In contrast, 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl does not enhance ryanodine binding, suggesting that noncoplanarity of the biphenyl rings is required for channel activation. However, 2,2',4,6,6'-pentachlorobiphenyl is significantly less active toward RyR, suggesting that some degree of rotation about the biphenyl bond is required. 2,2',3,5',6-Pentachlorobiphenyl induces a dose-dependent release of Ca2+ from actively loaded SR vesicles with a maximum rate of 1.2 micromol mg-1 min-1 (EC50=1 microM), whereas 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (< / = microM) does not alter Ca2+ transport. The mechanism of PCB-induced channel activation involves a significant decrease in the inhibitory potency of Ca2+ and Mg2+ (20-fold and 100-fold, respectively). Neither 2,2',3,5',6- nor 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (< / = 10 microM) alters the activity of the skeletal isoform of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase or the cardiac isoform of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase, and PCB-induced Ca2+ release can be fully blocked by either microM ryanodine or ruthenium red. These results are the first to demonstrate a selective ryanodine receptor-mediated mechanism by which ortho-substituted PCBs alter microsomal Ca2+ transport and may have toxicological relevance.

The Ca2+-ryanodine receptor complex is solubilized in functional form on treating sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles from rabbit fast skeletal muscle with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulfonate (CHAPS) (1 mg/mg protein) and 1 M NaCl at pH 7.1 by shaking for 30 min at 5 degrees C. The heavy membrane preparations obtained from pyrophosphate homogenates frequently exhibit junctional feet and appear to be derived primarily from the terminal cisternae of the SR. The characteristics of [3H]ryanodine binding are similar for the soluble receptor and the heavy SR vesicles with respect to dependence on Ca2+, pharmacological specificity for inhibition by six ryanoids and ruthenium red, and lack of sensitivity to voltage-dependent Ca2+-channel blockers, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, or doxorubicin. In contrast, the cation sensitivity is decreased on receptor solubilization. The soluble receptor is modulated by cyclic nucleotides and rapidly denatured at 50 degrees C. Saturation experiments reveal a single class of receptors (Kd = 9.6 nM), whereas kinetic measurements yield a calculated association constant of 5.5 X 10(6) min-1 M-1 and a dissociation constant of 5.7 X 10(-4) min-1, suggesting that the [3H]ryanodine receptor complex ages with time to a state which is recalcitrant to dissociation. Sepharose chromatography shows that the receptor complex consists primarily of two protein fractions, one of apparent Mr 150,000-300,000 and a second, the [3H]ryanodine binding component, of approximately Mr 1.2 X 10(6). Preliminary analysis of the soluble receptor preparation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveals subunits of Mr greater than 200,000 and major bands of calsequestrin and Ca2+-transport ATPase. These findings indicate that [3H]ryanodine binds to the Ca2+-induced open state of the channel involved in the release of contractile Ca2+.

Junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle were pretreated with 0.1-500 microM ryanodine under equilibrium conditions optimal for receptor binding, followed by the removal of bound alkaloid by several washes in Ca(2+)- and ryanodine-free buffer. Pretreatment with > 100 nM ryanodine results in a concentration-dependent decrease in the Bmax of the high affinity sites and a complete loss of measurable low affinity binding sites that persist for > 48 hr. Quantitative analysis of residual ryanodine using three different methods demonstrates that the inhibition is not the result of residual ryanodine bound to its receptor. Ca2+ transport measurements made with antipyrylazo III show that actively loaded ryanodine-pretreated SR exhibits a persistent insensitivity to ryanodine- and daunomycin-induced Ca2+ release that is not seen with washed control vesicles. Lipid bilayer membranes fused with SR vesicles exhibit rapidly fluctuating single-channel events with a conductance of 468 pS in asymmetric CsCl solutions. Ryanodine (10 microM) produces a unidirectional transition to a slowly fluctuating half-conductance state that is not reversed by perfusion of the bilayer with Ca(2+)-free buffer and subsequent addition of dithiothreitol. However, dithiothreitol added in the ryanodine pretreatment medium offers marked protection against ryanodine-induced loss of binding sites and allows complete restoration of native gating behavior of single channels in bilayer lipid membrane. Using three different experimental approaches, the data demonstrate that the alkaloid at micromolar concentration persistently alters SR Ca2+ release channel function, perhaps by uncoupling four negatively cooperative binding sites. The oxidation of critical receptor thiols is implicated in the process.

Kinetic and equilibrium measurements of [3H]ryanodine binding to the Ca2+ release channel of rabbit skeletal and rat cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) are examined to ascertain the nature of cooperative interactions among high and low affinity binding sites and to quantitate their distribution. Equilibrium studies reveal affinities of 1-4 nM for the highest affinity binding site and of 30-50 nM, 500-800 nM, and 2-4 microM for the lower affinity sites in both preparations, with Hill coefficients of significantly less than 1, and initial rates of association and dissociation increase with increasing concentrations of ryanodine. SR vesicles are actively loaded in the presence of pyrophosphate, and fluctuations in extravesicular Ca2+ are measured by the absorbance change of antipyrylazo III. The data demonstrate a biphasic, time- and concentration-dependent action of ryanodine on the release of Ca2+, with an initial activation and a subsequent inactivation phase. Kinetic analysis of the activation of Ca2+ release by ryanodine, in consonance with the binding data, demonstrates the existence of multiple binding sites for the alkaloid on the channel complex, with nanomolar to micromolar affinities. Based on the present findings obtained by receptor binding analysis and Ca2+ transport measurements, we suggest a model that describes four, most plausibly negatively cooperative, binding sites on the Ca2+ release channel. Occupation of ryanodine binding sites produces sequential activation followed by inactivation of the SR channel, revealing the strong possibility of an irreversible uncoupling of the native function of the receptor/channel complex by high concentrations of ryanodine. A model relating ryanodine receptor occupancy with SR Ca2+ release stresses two important new findings regarding the interaction of ryanodine with its receptor. First, ryanodine binds to four sites on the oligomeric channel complex with decreasing affinities, which can be best described by allosteric negative cooperativity. Second, binding of ryanodine to its receptor activates the Ca2+ release channel in a concentration-dependent and saturable manner in the range of 20 nM to 1 mM and produces a kinetically limited and sequential inactivation of the Ca2+ channel, with the concomitant attainment of full negative cooperativity. The results presented suggest that driving of the complex toward full negative cooperativity with high concentrations of ryanodine promotes a long-lived conformational state in which ryanodine is physically occluded and hindered from free diffusion from its binding site.

The Ca2+-ryanodine receptor complex is a functional unit at the terminal cisternae (TC) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) whose proteins comprise the Ca2+ release channels which may be involved in excitation-contraction coupling. Ca2+, Mg2+, caffeine, and adenine nucleotides, but not inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, may exert their inotropic effects on skeletal muscle SR by direct allosteric modulation of the [3H]ryanodine-binding site. Micromolar Ca2+ is primarily responsible for activating [3H]ryanodine binding by regulating receptor site density, affinity, and cooperativity. Mg2+ reduces the sensitivity to Ca2+ activation by directly competing with Ca2+ for the activator site. However, inhibition by Mg2+ is overcome in the presence of beta,gamma-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate (AMP-PCP; 1 mM) or caffeine (20 mM). Caffeine dramatically increases the affinity of the Ca2+ activator site for Ca2+, whereas AMP-PCP or cAMP enhances the gating efficiency or the lifetime of the open state of the TC SR channel. A kinetic model is proposed for four functional domains of the Ca2+-ryanodine receptor complex: the Ca2+-regulatory domain which binds Ca2+ with microM affinity is primarily responsible for gating the Ca2+ channel of the TC SR in a cooperative manner, and is inhibited by mM Mg2+ by direct competition for the activator site which appears to contain critical sulfhydryl groups; a Ca2+-activate alkaloid binding domain in close proximity to the channel which binds ryanodine with nM affinity and rapidly occludes upon complex formation; a domain which binds caffeine with low (greater than mM) affinity and directly influences the sensitivity of the Ca2+-regulatory site; and a domain which binds adenine nucleotides with intermediate affinity (less than mM), does not require phosphorylation, and intensifies the Ca2+ signal which triggers opening of the Ca2+-release channel.

The mode of action of cantharidin, the natural vesicant of blister beetles, is examined by radioligand binding studies with mouse tissues. [3H]Cantharidin undergoes specific and saturable binding with the liver cytosol, which is characterized as follows: Kd and Bmax values of 30 nM and 1.8 pmol/mg of protein, respectively; linearity with respect to protein concentration; pH optimum of 6.5 to 7.5; association and dissociation half-times of 20 min and 12 hr, respectively; and 50% inhibition by Mg2+ at 70 microM, Ca2+ at 224 microM, pyrophosphate at 27 microM, and nucleotide triphosphates at 52-81 microM. The binding site undergoes a loss of activity at 45 degrees or higher. The toxicological relevance of this specific [3H]cantharidin binding site of mouse liver cytosol is established in three ways. First, the potency of 15 active cantharidin analogs for inhibiting [3H]cantharidin binding is correlated with their acute toxicity to mice (r = 0.829). Second, 26 related compounds that are inactive in inhibiting [3H]cantharidin binding are also of little or no toxicity to mice. Finally, the binding of [3H] cantharidin to liver cytosol from mice poisoned with increasing amounts of unlabeled cantharidin is inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. [3H]Cantharidin also specifically binds to cytosol fractions of blood, brain, heart, kidney, lung, pancreas, skin, spleen, and stomach. The characteristics of the specific binding site in brain are very similar to those determined in liver with respect to Kd, Bmax, association/dissociation kinetics, and sensitivity to inhibitors. It therefore appears that the toxicity of cantharidin and related oxabicycloheptanes, including the herbicide endothal, is attributable to binding at a specific site in liver and possibly other tissues.

The ry1(53) dyspedic mouse contains two disrupted alleles for ryanodine receptor type 1 (skeletal isoform of ryanodine receptor; Ry1R) resulting in perinatal death. In the present study, whole skeletal muscle homogenates and sucrose gradient-purified junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum from neonatal wild-type and dyspedic mice were assayed for biochemical and functional markers. Equilibrium binding experiments performed with 1-120 nM [3H]ryanodine reveal saturable high and low affinity binding to membrane preparations from wild-type mice, but not to preparations from dyspedic mice. Binding experiments performed with [3H]PN200 show a 2-fold reduction in [3H]PN200 binding capacity in dyspedic muscle, compared to age-matched wild-type muscle, with no change in receptor affinity. The presence or absence of proteins known to be critical for normal ryanodine receptor/Ca2+ channel complex function was assessed by Western blot analysis. Results indicate that FKBP-12, DHPRalpha1, triadin, calsequestrin, SERCA1 (sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase), and skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain are present in both dyspedic and wild-type muscle. Only wild-type membranes showed immunoreactivity toward Ry1R antibody. Neither dyspedic nor wild-type mouse muscle showed detectable immunoreactivity toward Ry2R or Ry3R antibodies, even after sucrose gradient purification of sarcoplasmic reticulum. These results indicate that proteins critical for ryanodine receptor function are expressed in dyspedic skeletal muscle in the absence of Ry1R. Ca2+ transport measurements show that membranes from wild-type controls, but not dyspedic mice, release Ca2+ upon exposure to ryanodine. Dyspedic mice and cells derived from them serve as excellent homologous expression systems in which to study how Ry1R structure relates to function.

The fluorogenic sulfhydryl probe 7-diethylamino-3-(4'-maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (CPM) (1-50 nM) is used to characterize the functional role and location of highly reactive thiol groups on the ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel complex [i.e., ryanodine receptors (RyRs)] of skeletal and cardiac junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The kinetics of forming fluorescent CPM adducts with junctional but not longitudinal SR membrane proteins (0.02-1 pmol of CPM/microgram of SR protein) are found to be markedly dependent on the presence of physiological and pharmacological modulators of the RyR Ca2+ channel. RyR agonists, micromolar Ca2+, and nanomolar ryanodine promote a slow SR thiol-CPM reaction, with an apparent rate constant k of 0.0021 +/- 0.0002 sec-1, and > 89% of the fluorescence is associated with the 110-kDa Ca2+ pump, which constitutes 68% of the protein in the SR preparations. However, in the presence of Ca2+ channel antagonists (millimolar Mg2+, millimolar Ca2+, or micromolar ryanodine), CPM rapidly forms adducts with a single class of highly reactive (hyperreactive) SR thiols (k = 0.025 +/- 0.002 sec-1). Nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of CPM-labeled SR protein and Western blot analyses with antiryanodine or antitriadin antibodies reveal that the hyperreactive thiols labeled by CPM under conditions favoring channel closure are localized principally to the RyR protomer and triadin, which constitute < 6% of the protein in the SR preparation. Immunoprecipitation experiments with antiryanodine and antitriadin monoclonal antibodies confirm the location of CPM-labeled thiol groups on RyR and triadin, respectively. The results indicate that the RyR and triadin contain a small number of highly reactive cysteine residues that selectively conjugate with CPM only when channel closure is favored. It is shown that either 1) the redox state (sulfhydryl/disulfide status) or 2) the accessibility of the hyperreactive thiols on the RyR and triadin is determined by the conformational state of the channel. Covalent modification of hyperreactive thiols with nanomolar CPM inhibits both Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release and the gating activity of single channels reconstituted in bilayers, revealing the essential functional importance of hyperreactive thiols on channel-associated proteins. 1,4-Naphthoquinone (0.4-40 pmol/micrograms of protein) selectively oxidizes hyperreactive thiols on RyR and triadin and releases Ca2+ from SR vesicles, without inhibiting Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. The results provide direct evidence of the existence and functional role of hyperreactive cysteine residues on the RyR and triadin in regulating the gating of ryanodine-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ channels and strongly suggest that these important Ca2+ regulatory channels may be an important target for oxidative cell damage mediated by quinones.

New compounds bastadin 20 (9), 15,34-O-disulfatobastadin 7 (10), and 10-O-sulfatobastadin 3 (11) were isolated from Ianthella basta collected in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia. Compounds 10 and 11 exhibited moderate differential activity as SR Ca²⁺ channel agonists (EC50 13.6 and 100 μM, respectively) of the Ry1R FKBP12 complex, while the potency of 9 was almost half that of 10 (EC50 20.6 μM). The problem of dereplication of bastadins was addressed using ¹H-NMR “fingerprinting” of MeO signals in the corresponding permethyl bastadin derivatives.