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M Waelbroeck

Publications and source records attributed to M Waelbroeck.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Stereoselective interaction of uncharged esters at four muscarinic receptor subtypes.

We investigated the binding and pharmacological properties of the esters of 3,3-dimethylbutan-1-ol (the carbon analogue of choline) with either diphenylglycolic acid, (R)-phenylcyclohexylglycolic acid, or (S)-phenylcyclohexylglycolic acid [BS-6181, (R)-BS-7826 and (S)-BS-7826, respectively] at muscarinic M1, M2, M3 (Hm3) and M4 receptors. The three uncharged compounds were muscarinic receptor antagonists, with pA2 or pKi values between 7.9 and 5.6. The achiral ester BS-6181 displayed highest affinity for M1, M3 (Hm3) and M4 receptors (pA2 or pKi = 7.2-7.6) and lower affinity for M2 receptors (pA2 or pKi = 6.7 and 6.8). The four muscarinic receptor subtypes were able to distinguish between the two enantiomers of the cyclohexyl derivative of BS-6181 [(R)- and (S)-BS-7826], with a preference for the (R)-isomer (up to 79-fold). Interestingly, the (S)-enantiomer of BS-7826, being the distomer, was found to be M4 selective (pKi/M4 = 6.9; pA2 or pKi/M1-M3 (Hm3) = 5.6-6.2). These results indicate that uncharged compounds may (stereo)selectively bind to muscarinic receptors via hydrophobic interactions. Thus, an ionic bond between muscarinic ligands and an anionic site of the receptor is not absolutely necessary for recognition of muscarinic receptors.

Animals↗

Lysine 173 residue within the first exoloop of rat secretin receptor is involved in carboxylate moiety recognition of Asp 3 in secretin.

The contribution of the extracellular loops of the secretin receptor to the recognition of secretin was investigated by transfection in CHO cells of chimeric receptors, in which the three loops of the secretin recombinant receptor were replaced by the corresponding sequences of the glucagon receptor. The role of the third loop could not be evaluated as the transfected cells did not respond to secretin. Replacement of extracellular loop 2 reduced markedly the capability of secretin to occupy the receptor but did not alter the capacity of the receptor to discriminate between peptide analogues modified in position 3. Replacement of the first extracellular loop not only reduced the potency of secretin but also decreased the capacity of the receptor to discriminate between ligands having in position 3 an aspartate (as in secretin), an asparagine, or a glutamic acid. This change in receptor properties was reproduced by a single mutation of lysine 173 of the receptor into isoleucine. Thus, the basic amino acid in position 173 is likely to interact with aspartate 3 of secretin. As an aspartate is also present in position 3 of VIP and PACAP, two peptides related to secretin, and a lysine residue is conserved in the first extracellular loop of the VIP and PACAP receptors, this interaction may be a key element of peptide recognition by this receptor family.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

The C-terminus ends of secretin and VIP interact with the N-terminal domains of their receptors.

C-terminally truncated secretin and VIP molecules were synthesized, and their ability to occupy the recombinant secretin and VIP1 receptors stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity was studied. On secretin receptors, secretin (1-26) and secretin (1-24) were 10- and 50-fold less potent but as efficient as secretin (1-27); VIP (1-27) was as potent and efficient as VIP (1-28), and VIP (1-26) and VIP (1-25) were both 100-fold less potent. On VIP1 receptor, VIP (1-28) and VIP (1-27) were equipotent and VIP (1-26) and VIP (1-25) were 10- and 300-fold less potent, respectively; secretin (1-27) and secretin (1-26) were of equally low affinity and 10-fold more potent than secretin (1-24). Thus, the secretin and the VIP1 receptors had different selectivity profiles for the recognition of C-terminally truncated secretin and VIP derivatives. The chimeric receptors consisting in the N-terminal part of the secretin receptor on the core of the VIP1 receptor (N-Sn/VIP1.r) and in the N-terminal part of the VIP1 receptor on the core of the secretin receptor (N-VIP1/Sn.r) exhibited the selectivity pattern of the secretin and VIP1 receptors, respectively. The results suggest that the C-terminal end of secretin and VIP interacts with the N-terminal domain of the secretin and VIP receptors.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Influence of monovalent cations on the binding of a charged and an uncharged ('carbo'-)muscarinic antagonist to muscarinic receptors.

1. The effect of the buffer concentration on binding of [3H]-N-methylscopolamine to muscarinic receptors M2 was tested in rat heart. Tracer binding was of low affinity in a 20 mM imidazole buffer (pKD 8.3), inhibited by an increase from 10 to 100 mM of the sodium phosphate buffer concentration (pKD 9.92 to 9.22), slightly inhibited by an increase of the Tris/HC1 buffer concentration from 20 to 100 mM (pKD 9.70 to 9.47) and unaffected by an increase of the histidine/HC1 buffer concentration from 20 to 100 mM (pKD 9.90 to 9.82). We chose the last buffer to analyse the effect of ions on antagonists binding to cardiac M2 receptors and to transiently expressed wild-type and (Y533-->F) mutant m3 muscarinic receptors in COS-7 cells. 2. Equilibrium [3H]-N-methylscopolamine binding to cardiac M2 receptors was inhibited, apparently competitively, by monovalent salts (LiCl > or = NaCl > or = KCl). In contrast, binding of the uncharged 3,3-dimethylbutan-1-ol ester of diphenylglycolic acid (BS-6181) was facilitated by addition of monovalent salts (LiCl > or = NaCl > or = KCl) to the binding buffer. This cation binding pattern is consistent with interaction with a large, negative field strength binding site, such as, for instance, a carboxylic acid. 3. In the presence of 100 mM NaCl, [3H]-N-methylscopolamine had a similar affinity for the wild-type m3 receptor (pKD 9.85) and for a (Y533-->F) mutant m3 receptor (pKD 9.68). However, in the absence of added salts, the tracer had a significantly lower affinity for the mutated (pKD 10.19) as compared to the wild-type (pKD 10.70) m3 receptor. BS-6181 had a significantly lower affinity for the (Y533-->F) mutant m3 muscarinic receptor, as compared to the wild-type m3 receptor, both in the absence (pKD 6.19-6.72) in the presence (pKD 6.48-7.40) of 100 mM NaCl. The effects of NaCl on binding of the uncharged ester and of [3H]-N-methylscopolamine to the m3 receptor were decreased by the mutation. 4. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that monovalent cations from the buffer may interact with the cation binding site of the receptors (an aspartate residue in the third transmembrane helix of muscarinic receptors). Buffer cations may inhibit competitively the binding of (charged) muscarinic ligands having a tertiary amine or ammonium group, while facilitating the receptor recognition by uncharged, isosteric 'carbo-analogues'. Mutation of the (Y533-->F) of the m3 receptor decreased the affinity of the receptor for positive charges, including the sodium ion.

Animals↗

Stereoselective recognition of the enantiomers of phenglutarimide and of six related compounds by four muscarinic receptor subtypes.

1. We have compared the binding properties of the enantiomers of phenglutarimide (1) and of six related compounds to M1 receptors in NB-OK-1 cells, M2 receptors in rat heart, M3 receptors in rat pancreas and the M4 receptors of rat striatum, with their functional (antimuscarinic) properties in rabbit vas deferens (M1/M4-like), guinea-pig atria (M2) and guinea-pig ileum (M3) receptors. The binding properties of the enantiomers of three of the compounds were also measured on cloned human m1-m4 receptors expressed by CHO cells, using [3H]-N-methylscopolamine ([3H]-NMS) as radioligand. 2. The high affinity enantiomers behaved as competitive antagonists in binding and pharmacological studies. (S)-phenglutarimide (pKi-M1 = 9.0/9.3) and (R)-thienglutarimide (pKi-M1 = 8.6/9.2) recognized selectively the native M1 > M4 > M3 > M2 receptors in tissues as well as the respective cloned receptors. 3. The pA2 values at the inhibitory heteroreceptors in the rabbit vas deferens, and at the guinea-pig atria and ileum for the seven more potent enantiomers were compatible with the previous classification of these receptors as M1/M4-like, M2 and M3, respectively. 4. Replacement of the phenyl by a thienyl ring or of the diethylamino by a piperidino group in the phenglutarimide molecule did not affect markedly the potencies of the high affinity enantiomer. In contrast, replacement of the phenyl by a cyclohexyl ring decreased 20 fold the active enantiomers potency. Methylation of the piperidine-2,6-dione nitrogen also reduced markedly the eutomers' affinities, more on the M1 than on the other subtypes. 5. The selectivity profiles (recognition of four receptor subtypes) of six of the seven less active enantiomers were different from the corresponding more active enantiomers selectivity profiles, suggesting that the preparations used in this study were pure. However, we cannot not exclude the hypothesis that the batch of (S)-thienglutarimide used in this study was contaminated by less than 0.02% of the eutomer. 6. In contrast with the eutomer binding site, replacement of the phenyl ring by a thienyl or cyclohexyl ring did not affect binding of the low affinity enantiomers to the muscarinic receptor or the [3H]-NMS-receptor complex. The replacement of the diethylamino group by a piperidine ring, and N-methylation of the piperidine-2,6 dione moiety increased slightly these enantiomers' potencies. 7. The muscarinic receptors were extremely stereoselective, and had up to 20000 fold lower affinity for the less active enantiomers. However, the stereochemical requirements of the muscarinic receptor subtypes were different for the enantiomers of compounds 1-7, being most stringent at M1 receptors. 8. The weaker enantiomers behaved as competitive antagonists in pharmacological studies, at least in the concentration-range investigated.

Animals↗

Properties of the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide I and II receptors, vasoactive intestinal peptide1, and chimeric amino-terminal pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide/vasoactive intestinal peptide1 receptors: evidence for multiple receptor states.

We analyzed the functional and binding properties of the "normal" pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (N-PACAP) type I, PACAP type II/vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)1, and chimeric N-PACAP/VIP1 receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The binding properties of the three receptors were investigated using three radioiodinated tracers: 125I-VIP, 125I-PACAP-27, and 125I-PACAP-29 (125I-PACAP-27-Gly28,Lys29-amide). The three tracers labeled very different receptor densities; 125I-PACAP-29 labeled more receptors than either 125I-VIP or 125I-PACAP-27 in the three cell lines. Analysis of the competition curves suggested that the three tracers labeled in a different manner three PACAP I receptor states, two PACAP II/VIP1 receptor states, and three chimeric N-PACAP/VIP1 receptor states in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. The previously described PACAP1A and PACAP1B receptors, which differ by their affinities for PACAP-27 and PACAP-38, actually correspond to different PACAP I receptor states. The three receptors were able to increase adenylate cyclase activity when activated by PACAP-38, PACAP-27, or VIP. In contrast with the two parent receptors, the chimeric N-PACAP/VIP1 receptor was activated by PACAP-38 at lower concentrations than PACAP-27, suggesting that the amino-terminal and core receptor domains influence each other and that the conformation of one or both domains was altered in the chimeric compared with wild-type receptors. Comparison of the binding and functional properties of three clones expressing different chimeric N-PACAP/VIP1 receptors densities indicated that 125I-PACAP-29 was necessary to correctly estimate the receptor number and that 125I-PACAP-27 or 125I-VIP labeled only a fraction of the functional receptors. We suspect (but could not demonstrate) that this might also be true for PACAP I and PACAP II/VIP1 receptors.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

The (S)-(+)-enantiomer of dimethindene: a novel M2-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist.

The present study was designed to determine to determine the in vitro affinity profile of (R)-(-)-dimethindene and (S)-(+)-dimethindene at muscarinic receptor subtypes using both functional and binding assays. In addition, the racemate was investigated in functional studies. The functional muscarinic receptors studied were putative M1 receptors in rabbit vas deferens and rat duodenum, M2 receptors in guinea-pig left atria and rabbit vas deferens, as well as M3 receptors in guinea-pig ileum and trachea. Furthermore, the histamine H1 antagonism by (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-dimethindene has been examined in guinea-pig ileum. Muscarinic binding selectivity was assessed in homogenates from human neuroblastoma NB-OF 1 cells (M1), rat heart (M2), pancreas (3) and striatum (M4). The results demonstrate that (S)-(+)-dimethindene is a potent M2-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist (pA2 = 7.86/7.74; pKi = 7.78) with lower affinities for the muscarinic M1 (pA2 = 6.83/6.36; pKi = 7.08), the M3 (pA2 = 6.92/6.96; pKi = 6.70) and the M4 receptors (pKi = 7.00), respectively. The (S)-(+)-enantiomer was more potent (up to 41-fold) than the (R)-(-)-enantiomer in all muscarinic assays. In contrast, the stereoselectivity was inverse at histamine H1 receptors, the (R)-(-)-enantiomer being the eutomer (pA2 = 9.42; pA2/(S)-isomer = 7.48). In conclusion, (S)-(+)-dimethindene is a useful tool to investigate muscarinic receptor heterogeneity. In addition, this lipophilic compound might become the starting point for the development of M2-selective muscarinic receptor antagonists useful as diagnostic tools for quantifying muscarinic M2 receptors in the central nervous system with positron emission tomography imaging, and to test the hypothesis that muscarinic M2 receptor antagonists show beneficial effects in the treatment of cognitive disorders.

Animals↗

Properties of chimeric secretin and VIP receptor proteins indicate the importance of the N-terminal domain for ligand discrimination.

Two chimeras were obtained by substituting the DNA sequence encoding the N-terminal extracellular domain of the VIP and secretin receptors by the homologous DNA sequence encoding the secretin (N-Sn/VIP.r) and VIP receptor (N-VIP/Sn.r), respectively. These chimeric receptors were transfected and stably expressed in CHO cells. Their pharmacological properties were then compared to the corresponding recombinant "wild type" receptors, expressed in the same cell line. Binding data were obtained for the wild types and the N-VIP/Sn.r but not for the N-Sn/VIP receptor. Functional data (adenylate cyclase activation) were obtained in all cases. In order to minimize the effects of an excess of receptors and thus, to compare validly binding and functional data, we determined agonists EC50 values after down regulation of the receptors (i.e. after a pretreatment of the cells for 24 h with VIP or secretin). The order of potency of the peptides for receptor occupancy and adenylate cyclase activation indicated that the N-terminal extracellular domain of each receptor was the key element for discrimination between secretin and VIP.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Pharmacological properties of two recombinant splice variants of the PACAP type I receptor, transfected and stably expressed in CHO cells.

Two splice variants of the pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) type I receptor (PACAP receptor and PACAP/HOP receptor isoform) were stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that did not express constitutively receptors for this family of peptides. The PACAP/HOP receptor protein had a 28 amino acid extension in the C-terminal part of the third intracellular loop. The two cell lines studied, CHO 2-10 (PACAP receptor) and CHO 4-12 (PACAP/HOP receptor) expressed a receptor density of 4.6 +/- 0.3 and 2.6 +/- 0.2 pmol/mg protein, respectively, with corresponding Kd values of 14.2 +/- 2.0 and 8.2 +/- 1.0 nM for [Ac-His1]PACAP-27 used as a tracer. Tracer binding was slightly decreased by GTP in both clones. The Kd values of PACAP-27, PACAP-38, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), PACAP-27 fragments and analogues evaluated by binding competition curves, were higher in CHO 2-10 than in CHO 4-12, whereas the Kd for PACAP-38 fragments did not differ. The receptors were coupled to adenylate cyclase and the EC50 values were lower than the Kd values in both cell lines, suggesting an amplification process due to the existence of spare receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

The design and pharmacology of novel selective muscarinic agonists and antagonists.

The muscarinic pharmacology of C1-methyl-substituted chiral compounds related to McN-A-343 and of (R)- and (S)-dimethindene has been studied. Among the McN-A-343 analogues, the (S)-enantiomers were more potent and had higher affinity than the (R)-isomers. The quaternary compound (S)-BN 228 was found to be the most potent M1-selective agonist known today (pEC50: M1/rabbit vas deferens = 7.83; M2/guinea-pig atria = 6.35; M3/guinea-pig ileum = 6.29). In both the atria and ileum the tertiary carbamate, (S)-4-F-MePyMcN, was a competitive antagonist (pA2 value = 7.39 and 6.82, respectively). In contrast, in rabbit vas deferens (S)-4-F-MePyMcN was a potent partial agonist (pEC50 = 7.22; apparent efficacy = 0.83). These results indicate that (S)-4-F-MePyMcN might be a useful tool to study M1 receptor-mediated effects involved in central cholinergic function. (S)-Dimethindene was a potent M2-selective antagonist (pA2 = 7.86/atria; pKi = 7.8/rat heart) with lower affinities for the M1 (pA2 = 6.36/rat duodenum; pKi = 7.1/NB-OK 1 cells), M3 (pA2 = 6.92/guinea-pig ileum; pKi = 6.7/rat pancreas) and M4 receptors (pKi = 7.0/rat striatum). It was more potent (up to 41-fold) than the (R)-isomer. In contrast, the stereoselectivity was inverse at ileal H1 receptors (pA2: (R)-isomer = 9.42; (S)-isomer = 7.48). Thus, (S)-dimethindene could be a valuable agent to test the hypothesis that M2 antagonists show beneficial effects in the treatment of cognitive disorders. It might also become the starting point for the development of diagnostic tools for quantifying M2 receptors in the CNS with PET imaging.

(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethy↗

Purification and sequence determination of a new muscarinic toxin (MT4) from the venom of the green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps).

A toxin which partially inhibited [3H]N-methylscopolamine binding to rat brain muscarinic receptors was purified from the venom of green mamba, Dendroaspis angusticeps. The N-terminal sequence (up to 45 amino acids) was determined by automated Edman degradation of the whole molecule. The complete sequence was elucidated after enzymatic cleavage with endoproteinase Arg-C or endoproteinase Lys-C and peptide fragments purification. The identity of the C-terminal amino acid was confirmed by hydrazinolysis. The new toxin (MT4) had eight half-cystines and 66 amino acids. It differed from muscarinic toxin MT1 by a single substitution in position 57 (arginine in MT1, histidine in MT4), proximal to the sixth half-cystine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Does a radiolabelled ligand bind to a homogeneous population of non-interacting receptor sites?

Receptor subtypes of pharmacological interest are often characterized by studies in which a particular radiolabelled ligand is competitively displaced from its binding sites, either by its unlabelled analogue (homologous displacement), or by different, unlabelled, ligands (heterologous displacement). In this article, Stéphane Swillens, Magali Waelbroeck and Philippe Champeil emphasize the fact that a single homologous displacement curve is generally unable to reveal that the radioligand binds to a heterogeneous receptor population. Overlooking this heterogeneity may, in turn, dramatically affect interpretation of heterologous displacement curves displaying more than one receptor type for the unlabelled ligand: neither the binding affinities of the ligands for the different receptors, nor the proportion of these receptors, can be estimated reliably.

Binding Sites↗

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a human VIP receptor from SUP-T1 lymphoblasts.

We have cloned and sequenced a cDNA isolated from a human SUP-T1 lymphoblast cell line library. It encoded a 457 amino acids protein having 87% identity with the rat PACAP type II, VIP2 receptor. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with cloned cDNA expressed a specific binding of 125I[Acetyl-His1]PACAP-27. This binding was inhibited by GTP, and by the peptides helodermin, VIP, PACAP-27 and PACAP-38 that also stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The order of potency was PACAP-38 > VIP > or = helodermin > or = PACAP-27. Comparison of the results in two cell lines expressing different receptor densities suggested that helodermin and PACAP-38 had a higher intrinsic activity than VIP and PACAP-27.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Properties of the VIP-PACAP type II receptor stably expressed in CHO cells.

The VIP receptor cloned from rat lung (VIP1 receptor from the group of the PACAP-VIP type II receptors) was inserted into a mammalian expression vector and stably transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO). Two clones were selected, expressing respectively a high (850 +/- 50 fmol/mg protein, for clone 3) and a low (100 +/- 30 fmol/mg protein for clone 16) number of receptors. Both clones had the same apparent Kd value of binding for VIP and related peptides. The receptor expressed had the same binding properties as the natural VIP receptor, judged from the relative potency of VIP and PACAP analogues and fragments. The EC50 value of adenylate cyclase activation were 3 to 10 fold lower in clone 3 than in 16. The values observed in clone 16 were closer to the binding Kd values. The differences between the two clones were explained by the existence of spare receptors in clone 3, since: (a) the relative efficacy of some fragments were lower in clone 16 than in clone 3; (b) pretreatment of the cells with VIP reduced the number of receptors in both clones and increased the EC50 value for VIP in clone 3 but decreased peptide efficacy in clone 16 without significant change of the EC50 value.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Binding and functional properties of hexocyclium and sila-hexocyclium derivatives to muscarinic receptor subtypes.

1. We have compared the binding properties of several hexocyclium and sila-hexocyclium derivatives to muscarinic M1 receptors (in rat brain, human neuroblastoma (NB-OK 1) cells and calf superior cervical ganglia), rat heart M2 receptors, rat pancreas M3 receptors and M4 receptors in rat striatum, with their functional antimuscarinic properties in rabbit vas deferens (M1/M4-like), guinea-pig atria (M2), and guinea-pig ileum (M3) muscarinic receptors. 2. Sila-substitution (C/Si exchange) of hexocyclium (-->sila-hexocyclium) and demethyl-hexocyclium (-->demethyl-sila-hexocyclium) did not significantly affect their affinities for muscarinic receptors. By contrast, sila-substitution of o-methoxy-hexocyclium increased its affinity 2 to 3 fold for all the muscarinic receptor subtypes studied. 3. The p-fluoro- and p-chloro-derivatives of sila-hexocyclium had lower affinities than the parent compound at the four receptor subtypes, in binding and pharmacological studies. 4. In binding studies, o-methoxy-sila-hexocyclium (M1 = M4 > or = M3 > or = M2) had a much lower affinity than sila-hexocyclium for the four receptor subtypes, and discriminated the receptor subtypes more poorly than sila-hexocyclium (M1 = M3 > M4 > M2). This is in marked contrast with the very clear selectivity of o-methoxy-sila-hexocyclium for the prejunctional M1/M4-like heteroreceptors in rabbit vas deferens. 5. The tertiary amines demethyl-hexocyclium, demethyl-sila-hexocyclium and demethyl-o-methoxy-sila-hexocyclium had 10 to 30 fold lower affinities than the corresponding quaternary ammonium derivatives.

Animals↗

Selective labeling and localization of the M4 (m4) muscarinic receptor subtype.

We report here a novel strategy for the selective labeling and localization of the M4 (m4) muscarinic receptor subtype, based on the distinct kinetics of the muscarinic antagonists dexetimide and N-methylscopolamine (NMS) and on the selectivity profile of guanylpirenzepine and AF-DX 116 for the m1-m5 muscarinic receptor subtypes expressed in CHO-K1 cells. Incubation with 10 nM dexetimide, a nonselective antagonist, resulted in > 90% occupancy of each of the m1-m5 receptor subtypes. The relatively rapid rates of dexetimide dissociation from the m1, m2, and m4 receptor subtypes (t1/2 values of < 12.5 min) and the slower rates of dexetimide dissociation from the m3 and m5 receptor subtypes (t1/2 values of 65 and 75 min, respectively) favored the labeling of the m1, m2, and m4 receptor subtypes with short incubations with [3H]NMS. Inclusion of 200 nM guanylpirenzepine and 250 nM AF-DX 116 prevented the binding of [3H]NMS to the majority of the m1 and m2 receptor subtypes, respectively, resulting in primary labeling of the m4 receptor subtype. Brief dissociation of the radioligand in the presence of 1 microM atropine improved the ratio of m4 to m2 labeling by selectively removing [3H]NMS from the m2 subtype. Under these conditions, the ratio of [3H]NMS binding to the m4 versus m1, m2, m3, and m5 receptor subtypes was 4:1. In vitro autoradiography combined with these m4-selective labeling conditions demonstrated that the M4 (m4) receptor subtype was localized to the primary visual area (V1, area 17, occipital cortex) and the basal ganglia, a distribution distinct from that demonstrated for the M1 (m1), M2 (m2), and M3 (m3) receptor subtypes. These results demonstrate that a combination of the distinct kinetics of dexetimide and NMS and the receptor subtype selectivity of guanylpirenzepine and AF-DX 116 provides a valuable labeling strategy to examine the distribution and localization of the M4 (m4) muscarinic receptor subtype in brain, peripheral tissues, and cell lines.

Animals↗

Identification of drugs competing with d-tubocurarine for an allosteric site on cardiac muscarinic receptors.

d-Tubocurarine behaved as a weak allosteric inhibitor of N-[3H] methylscopolamine binding to cardiac M2 muscarinic receptors. In a low ionic strength buffer devoid of bivalent ions, d-tubocurarine recognized cardiac M2 receptors in the micromolar concentration range and decreased their affinity for N-[3H]methylscopolamine by at most 4-fold. To identify the compounds that preferentially recognize this accessory site (as opposed to the classical muscarinic binding site), we measured the inhibition by different drugs of N-[3H]methylscopolamine binding, in the absence or presence of d-tubocurarine. The effect of gallamine was competitively inhibited by d-tubocurarine; both drugs compete for the same accessory site on muscarinic receptors. The effects of dexetimide, levetimide, 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-ethylpiperidine ethobromide, AF-DX 116, and telenzepine on N-[3H]methylscopolamine binding were not affected or were barely affected by d-tubocurarine; these compounds preferentially recognize another binding site (probably the muscarinic binding site). The dose-effect curves for pentamethylene-bis(4-diphenylacetoxymethylpiperidine) bromide and methoctramine were shifted, but at most 10-fold, by d-tubocurarine. It is likely that (in this low ionic strength incubation buffer) methoctramine and pentamethylene-bis(4-diphenylacetoxymethylpiperidine)bromide had comparable affinities for the muscarinic site and the accessory site. d-Tubocurarine competitively inhibited their binding to the accessory site and allosterically inhibited their binding to the muscarinic site. This resulted in a large decrease (40-60-fold) of their overall affinity for muscarinic receptors.

Allosteric Site↗

New functionally selective muscarinic agonists.

The muscarinic pharmacology of two novel agonists related to McN-A-343, 4-F-PyMcN and 4-F-PyMcN+, has been studied by the use of pharmacological and radioligand binding techniques. Both compounds were potent agonists at M1 receptors in rabbit vas deferens (pEC50 = 6.24 and 6.96) and rat duodenum (pEC50 = 5.47 and 6.38), but very weak partial agonists or competitive antagonists at guinea-pig cardiac M2 and ileal M3 receptors. There was no receptor reserve for 4-F-PyMcN in rabbit vas deferens, for which the potency (pEC50 = 6.24) and apparent affinity (pKA = 5.99 and 6.21) were similar. 4-F-PyMcN+ showed only limited binding selectivity between four muscarinic receptor binding assays with apparent affinity constants (pKi) of 5.8, 5.2, 5.6 and 5.7 for M1, M2, M3 and M4 muscarinic receptor subtypes. The two novel functionally M1-selective agonists may provide useful tools with which to study muscarinic receptor mechanisms. The non-quaternary compound, 4-F-PyMcN, might become a starting point for the development of drugs that selectively affect M1 receptors involved in central cholinergic function.

(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethy↗