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Biomedical subjects

R J Lefkowitz

Publications and source records attributed to R J Lefkowitz.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

Impaired formation of beta-adrenergic receptor-nucleotide regulatory protein complexes in pseudohypoparathyroidism.

Decreased activity of the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (N) of the adenylate cyclase system is present in cell membranes of some patients with pseudohypoparathyrodism (PHP-Ia) whereas others have normal activity of N (PHP-Ib). Low N activity in PHP-Ia results in a decrease in hormone (H)-stimulatable adenylate cyclase in various tissues, which might be due to decreased ability to form an agonist-specific high affinity complex composed of H, receptor (R), and N. To test this hypothesis, we compared beta-adrenergic agonist-specific binding properties in erythrocyte membranes from five patients with PHP-Ia (N = 45% of control), five patients with PHP-Ib (N = 97%), and five control subjects. Competition curves that were generated by increasing concentrations of the beta-agonist isoproterenol competing with [125I]pindolol were shallow (slope factors less than 1) and were computer fit to a two-state model with corresponding high and low affinity for the agonist. The agonist competition curves from the PHP-Ia patients were shifted significantly (P less than 0.02) to the right as a result of a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in the percent of beta-adrenergic receptors in the high affinity state from 64 +/- 22% in PHP-Ib and 56 +/- 5% in controls to 10 +/- 8% in PHP-Ia. The agonist competition curves were computer fit to a "ternary complex" model for the two-step reaction: H + R + N in equilibrium HR + N in equilibrium HRN. The modeling was consistent with a 60% decrease in the functional concentration of N, and was in good agreement with the biochemically determined decrease in erythrocyte N protein activity. These in vitro findings in erythrocytes taken together with the recent observations that in vivo isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity is decreased in patients with PHP (Carlson, H. E., and A. S. Brickman, 1983, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 56:1323-1326) are consistent with the notion that N is a bifunctional protein interacting with both R and the adenylate cyclase. It may be that in patients with PHP-Ia a single molecular and genetic defect accounts for both decreased HRN formation and decreased adenylate cyclase activity, whereas in PHP-Ib the biochemical lesion(s) appear not to affect HRN complex formation.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Translocation and uncoupling of the beta-adrenergic receptor in rat lung after catecholamine promoted desensitization in vivo.

Beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists are widely used in many clinical situations to regulate beta-adrenergic stimulation. However, responsiveness to beta-stimulation may be reduced by the process of desensitization. We have established an in vivo mammalian model system, the rat lung, to study the cellular and biochemical basis for beta-agonist induced desensitization. After in vivo administration of a beta-agonist [(-)isoproterenol] the adenylate cyclase becomes rapidly insensitive to further stimulation by beta-agonists with no change in basal or NaF-stimulated activity. The in vivo desensitization can be blocked by the simultaneous administration of a beta-antagonist [(+/-)propranolol] and the process displays the pharmacological characteristics typifying the beta 2 receptor of rat lung. This indicates that the in vivo desensitization is itself a receptor-mediated event. The processes of de- and resensitization are very rapid with onset within 5 min, maximal effect at 10 min, and complete reversal by 2-3 h. The change of adenylate cyclase sensitivity is paralleled by a translocation of approximately 40% of the beta-receptors from the plasma membrane fraction to a light membrane fraction, which has very low activities of plasma membrane marker enzymes. The receptors translocated to the light membrane fraction as well as those remaining in the plasma membranes are uncoupled with loss of their ability to form the high affinity, nucleotide sensitive, physiologically active state of the receptor. During resensitization the receptors in the plasma membrane fraction are recoupled before all the translocated receptors have returned. This suggests that translocation and uncoupling of the receptors are two distinct, probably independent processes. During the entire process of de- and resensitization no structural change of the receptor protein residing in the plasma membranes or light membrane fraction can be demonstrated as visualized by photoaffinity labeling.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Photoaffinity cross-linking of a radioiodinated probe, 125I-A55453, into alpha 1-adrenergic receptors.

We have synthesized and characterized a high-affinity alpha 1-adrenergic receptor probe, 4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-2[4'- [5"(3"'-125I-iodo-4"'-aminophenyl)pentanoyl]-1'-piperazinyl] quinazoline (125I-A55453). This ligand binds reversibly to rat hepatic plasma membranes with high affinity (KD = 77 +/- 6 pM), and it labels the same number of "specific" prazosin-competable sites as the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor-selective radioligand [125I] iodo-2-[beta-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylaminomethyl]tetralone. Specific binding is stereoselective and competed for by alpha-adrenergic agents with an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor specificity. 125I-A55453 can be covalently photoincorporated into peptides of rat hepatic and splenic membranes using the bifunctional photoactive cross-linker, N-succinimidyl-6- (4'-azido-2'-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate. Following photolysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of labeled hepatic membranes reveals a major "specifically" labeled peptide of Mr = 82,000 (+/- 1,000) with minor peptides at Mr = 50,000 (+/- 500), and 40,000 (+/- 300). Covalent incorporation of 125I-A55453 into the Mr = 82,000 peptide is inhibited by adrenergic drugs with an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor specificity. Labeled splenic membranes demonstrate a broad band of photoincorporated radioactivity centered at Mr = 82,000, and covalent incorporation into this peptide is also attenuated with an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor specificity. This new high-affinity radioiodinated probe has features which should make it useful for the molecular characterization of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in tissues.

Affinity Labels↗

Solubilization of rat liver alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Agonist specific alteration in receptor binding affinity.

An improved method for the solubilization of the alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in rat liver, utilizing digitonin, glycerol and sonication, is described. The yield of solubilized receptors was approximately 20%. The soluble receptors showed characteristics similar to the membrane-bound alpha 1 receptors. However, upon solubilization, the affinity for the agonists (-)norepinephrine and (-)epinephrine increased 35- to 66-fold when compared to the affinity in the membranes. The affinity for antagonists remained unchanged. A number of synthetic partial agonists showed a less marked (5- to 10-fold) increase in affinity upon solubilization. These data are consistent with the notion that these receptors might be capable of existing in two distinct conformational states with the high affinity state for agonists being favored by solubilization.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Covalent labeling of the cerebral cortex alpha 1-adrenergic receptor with a new high affinity radioiodinated photoaffinity probe.

A novel high affinity radioiodinated photoaffinity probe, 4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-2[4-[5(3-[125I]iodo-4-azidophenyl)pentanoyl]-1- piperazinyl]-quinazoline, structurally related to the potent alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin, was developed and used to covalently label the rat cerebral cortex alpha 1-adrenergic receptor. In the absence of light, this ligand binds to cortex plasma membranes with a dissociation constant of 308 pM and with a maximal number of binding sites of 200 fmol/mg protein. Upon photolysis, the ligand incorporates irreversibly into plasma membrane proteins. Autoradiograms of such membrane samples subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveal a major specifically labeled polypeptide at Mr = 79,000. The covalent incorporation into the peptide at Mr = 79,000 can be inhibited by several adrenergic receptor ligands with a typical alpha 1-adrenergic receptor specificity and stereoselectivity.

Affinity Labels↗

Mammalian beta-adrenergic receptors. Structural differences in beta 1 and beta 2 subtypes revealed by peptide maps.

Photoaffinity labeling techniques using p-azido-m-[125I]iodobenzylcarazolol have recently demonstrated that both the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor-binding subunits from mammalian tissues including heart, lung, and erythrocytes reside on peptides of Mr approximately equal to 62,000-64,000. In this study, a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis method for peptide mapping was used to investigate and compare the structure of beta 1 - and beta 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes. When the photoaffinity labeled Mr approximately equal to 62,000 peptides from the beta 2-adrenergic receptors of rat lung and erythrocyte are subjected to simultaneous proteolysis using Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase or papain, exactly the same peptide fragments are generated from each subunit. In contrast, when the Mr approximately equal to 62,000 peptide containing the beta 1-adrenergic receptor-binding subunit derived from the rat heart is proteolyzed simultaneously with the Mr approximately equal to 62,000 peptide containing the beta 2-adrenergic receptors from either lung or erythrocyte, the peptide fragments generated are distinctly different. Peptide maps of beta 1-adrenergic receptors from the myocardial tissue of different species (pig versus rat) yield slightly different maps while the maps derived from the beta 2-adrenergic receptors of hamster lung and rat lung or erythrocytes reveal no interspecies differences. These data suggest: 1) alterations in the primary structure of the beta-adrenergic receptor may be responsible for the pharmacological specificities characteristic of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes; and 2) alterations in the primary structure of similar beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes across different species may relate to the magnitude of their phylogenetic differences.

Affinity Labels↗

Activation of adenylate cyclase by beta-adrenergic receptors: investigation of rate limiting steps by simultaneous assay of high affinity agonist binding and GDP release.

We report the development and application of a novel assay for high affinity binding of the agonist [3H]hydrozybenzyl-isoproterenol simultaneously with the agonist-promoted release of membrane bound [32P]GDP in the frog erythrocyte beta-adrenergic receptor system. We find that under various assay conditions both events occur with the same rate, ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 min-1. Addition of the non-hydrolyzable guanine nucleotide, guanylyl-imidodiphosphate simultaneously increases the rate of high affinity agonist binding and agonist promoted GDP release. In addition, the guanine nucleotide analog decreases the steady state level of high affinity agonist binding and increases the steady state level of agonist promoted GDP release with comparable potencies of 0.5 microM and 0.1 microM, respectively. The decrement in the steady state level of high affinity agonist binding (180 fmol/mg protein) due to the guanine nucleotide analog is in the same range as the reciprocal increment in the extent of agonist-induced [32P]GDP release (180 fmol/mg protein). The concommittant activation of adenylate cyclase, by submaximal concentrations of the agonist [3H]hydroxybenzylisoproterenol and guanylylimido-diphosphate under similar assay conditions proceeds with the same rate as for the two other measured functions of the system, i.e. 3H-agonist binding and agonist-promoted [32P]GDP release. This represents the first attempt at comparing the time course of adenylate cyclase activation with that of agonist binding and GDP release under similar assay conditions. The results indicate that GDP is not released prior to but rather coincident with formation of the complex of the hormone receptor with the regulatory protein and that enzyme activation proceeds with the same time course as agonist binds to the receptor. It is concluded that both high affinity agonist binding and GDP release represent integral aspects of the rate limiting step in the enzyme activation mechanism.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Human cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors: subtype heterogeneity delineated by direct radioligand binding.

Human myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors were directly identified and characterized using the high affinity antagonist radioligand [125I]iodocyanopindolol. Beta 1 and beta 2 adrenergic receptors were found to coexist in both the left ventricle and right atrium. The relative proportions of the two receptor subtypes were determined by the use of competition radioligand binding and computer modelling techniques employing the subtype selective agents atenolol (beta 1 selective) and zinterol (beta 2 selective). The left ventricle contains 86 +/- 1% beta 1 and 14 +/- 1% beta 2 adrenergic receptors while the right atrium contains 74 +/- 6% beta 1 and 26 +/- 6% beta 2 adrenergic receptors. The direct demonstration of beta 2 adrenergic receptors in the human heart, with a higher proportion in the right atrium agrees with pharmacologic data and supports the notion that chronotropic effects of adrenergic agonists in man may be mediated by both beta 1 and beta 2 adrenergic receptors.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

The cardiac beta-adrenergic receptor. Structural similarities of beta 1 and beta 2 receptor subtypes demonstrated by photoaffinity labeling.

The beta-adrenergic receptor photoaffinity ligand p-azido-m-[125I]iodobenzylcarazolol has been used to covalently label the beta 1 and beta 2 adrenergic receptor binding subunits present in left ventricular myocardial membranes derived from mammalian (including human) and nonmammalian species. Covalent incorporation of the photoaffinity ligand into membrane proteins was followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the case of the human, canine, porcine, rabbit, and rat left ventricle, all of which contain predominantly or exclusively beta 1-adrenergic receptors, two peptides of Mr approximately equal to 62,000 (major component) and Mr approximately equal to 55,000 (minor component) were specifically labeled and visualized by autoradiography. Photoincorporation into these two bands could be blocked with the appropriate drugs to display a beta 1-adrenergic receptor pharmacological specificity. Simultaneous sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of samples from each species revealed that all of the Mr = 62,000 peptides co-migrated suggesting similarity in the beta 1-adrenergic receptor binding subunit peptides in all of these species. The minor component Mr approximately equal to 55,000 appears to be a proteolytic degradation product of the Mr = to 62,000 peptide. Its formation could be decreased by proteinase inhibitors. This suggests that the heterogeneity of the labeling pattern observed in mammalian tissues in this and previous studies may be the result of proteolytic degradation of the receptor subunit which occurs during membrane preparation. Photoaffinity labeling of frog ventricular membranes which contain predominantly beta 2-adrenergic receptors also revealed two peptides of Mr approximately equal to 62,000 (major component) and 55,000 (minor component) with the pharmacological selectivity of a beta 2-adrenergic receptor. These data suggest marked similarities in the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor binding subunits of different species and suggest that the pharmacological subtype might be determined by the detailed structure, i.e. amino acid sequence, at the ligand binding sites of the receptor peptide.

Adult↗

Functional modification of the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein after desensitization of turkey erythrocytes by catecholamines.

Densensitization of turkey erythrocytes by exposure to the beta-adrenergic agonist (-)isoproterenol leads to decreased activation of adenylate cyclase by agonist, NaF, and guanyl-5'-yl imido diphosphate, with no reduction in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors. Interactions between the receptor and the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (N protein) also seem to be impaired. These observations suggest that a component distal to the beta-adrenergic receptor may be a locus of modification. Accordingly we examined the N protein to determine whether it was altered by desensitization. The rate at which (-)isoproterenol stimulated the release of [3H]GDP from the N protein was substantially lower in membranes prepared from desensitized cells, providing further evidence for uncoupling of the receptor and the N protein. The amount of N protein in membranes from control and desensitized cells was compared by labeling the 42,000 Mr component of the N protein with [32P]NAD+ and cholera toxin; no significant difference was found. However, significantly more N protein (p less than .001) was solubilized by cholate extraction of desensitized membranes, suggesting an altered association of the N protein with the membrane after desensitization. The functional activity of the N protein was measured by reconstitution of cholate extracts of turkey erythrocyte membranes into S49 lymphoma cyc- membranes. Reconstitution of (-)isoproterenol stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity was reduced significantly (p less than .05) after desensitization. These observations suggest that desensitization of the turkey erythrocyte by (-)isoproterenol results in functional modifications of the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, leading to impaired interactions with the beta-adrenergic receptor and reduced activation of adenylate cyclase.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Functional integrity of desensitized beta-adrenergic receptors.

The adenylate cyclase-coupled beta 2-adrenergic receptor of the frog erythrocyte has served as a useful model system for elucidating the mechanisms of catecholamine-induced densensitization. In this system, it has been previously demonstrated that agonist-induced refractoriness is associated with sequestration of the beta-adrenergic receptors in vesicles away from the cell surface and from their effector unit, the adenylate cyclase system (Stadel, J.M., Strulovici, B., Nambi, P., Lavin, T.N., Briggs, M.M., Caron, M.G., and Lefkowitz, R.J. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 3032-3038). These internalized beta-adrenergic receptors appear to be structurally intact as assessed by photoaffinity labeling, but their functional status has previously been unknown. In the present studies, we sought to assess the functionality of the sequestered vesicular receptors by fusing them to Xenopus laevis erythrocytes. This cell is suitable for such studies, since it has almost no detectable beta-adrenergic receptor or catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase, but contains prostaglandin E1-stimulable adenylate cyclase. Fusion of beta-adrenergic receptor-containing vesicles from desensitized frog erythrocytes with X. laevis erythrocytes results in a 30-fold stimulation of the hybrid adenylate cyclase by the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. This effect was entirely blocked by the beta-antagonist propranolol. The catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity established in the vesicle-Xenopus hybrids showed the characteristic agonist potency series of the donor frog erythrocyte beta 2-adrenergic receptor. Fusion of vesicles from desensitized frog erythrocytes in which the beta-adrenergic receptors had been inactivated with the group specific reagent dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, or of vesicles derived from control frog erythrocytes, which contain low amounts of beta-adrenergic receptor, did not establish catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity in the hybrids. These data demonstrate that beta-adrenergic receptors internalized during desensitization retain their functionality when recoupled to an adenylate cyclase system from a different source. The functional uncoupling of these receptors during desensitization is thus more likely due to their sequestration away from the other components of the adenylate cyclase than to any alterations in the receptors themselves.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Photoaffinity labelling of mammalian beta-adrenergic receptors: metal-dependent proteolysis explains apparent heterogeneity.

The beta-adrenergic receptors in membranes from rat and hamster lungs have been studies using the photoaffinity label p-azido-m-[125I]-iodobenzyl-carazolol. Previous work with several beta adrenergic photoaffinity probes has suggested heterogeneity of the labelled beta adrenergic receptor peptides with 2-3 receptor peptides generally being identified. We now report that rat and hamster lung membranes prepared either in the presence or absence of protease inhibitors reveal striking differences in the ratios of photoaffinity labelled peptides. In the rat lung the inclusion of protease inhibitors in the membrane preparation changes the ratios of the 64,000, 53,000 and 44,000 molecular weight peptides from 28:42:30 to 72:16:12. Similarly, in hamster lung membranes there is evidence of multiple photoaffinity labelled peptides in preparations without protease inhibitors while only one peptide (app. Mr = 64,000) is labelled in preparations with protease inhibitors. Of the inhibitors tested EDTA and EGTA were the most active in preventing appearance of multiple labelled peptides suggesting that metal-dependent proteolysis may be involved in the generation of apparent receptor peptide heterogeneity.

Affinity Labels↗

Synthesis of iodine-125 labeled (+/-)-15-(4-azidobenzyl)carazolol: a potent beta-adrenergic photoaffinity probe.

(+/-)-15-(4-Azidobenzyl)carazolol (2), a potent beta-adrenergic photoaffinity ligand developed in our laboratories, has been radioiodinated to theoretical specific activity (2175 Ci/mmol) and shown to label covalently beta-adrenergic receptor peptides in avian and amphibian erythrocyte membrane preparations. The radioiodinated analogues of the desired compound (2) were optimally prepared by two synthetic steps from (+/-)-15-(4-aminobenzyl)carazolol (8). The latter was iodinated with carrier-free Na125I and chloramine T to yield two major isotopomers (the monoiodinated derivatives 9 and 10), which were separated by thin-layer chromatography and converted via diazonium salt formation to their respective 4-azides, 12 and 6. These azides can be used interchangeably in ligand binding or photoaffinity labeling experiments. Compound 8 was obtained by catalytic reduction of the nitro derivative (7), which was arrived at by direct reaction of 1,1-dimethyl-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylamine (3) with 4-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)carbazole (5). Of the desired isomers, (+/-)-15-(4-azido-3-iodobenzyl)carazolol (6) could be synthesized from 1,1-dimethyl-2-(4-azido-3-iodophenyl)ethylamine (4) by direct reaction with 5. This and the preceding sequence of reactions were carried out by using nonradioactive materials, and separation and purification of products were accomplished by high-performance liquid chromatography. The compounds described have been shown to be potent beta-adrenergic antagonists by virtue of their ability to inhibit beta-adrenergic stimulation of adenylate cyclase or to compete for the binding of another beta-adrenergic ligand, [125I]cyanopindolol, to the beta-adrenergic receptors of frog erythrocytes. The photoactive azide derivatives of these compounds (6 and 12) have been shown to covalently incorporate into the beta-adrenergic receptor binding subunit of frog and turkey erythrocyte membrane preparations. Incorporation of the ligands into these polypeptides can be blocked specifically by both beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Catecholamine-induced desensitization of turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase is associated with phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor.

Preincubation of turkey erythrocytes with catecholamines desensitizes the beta-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase complex in the plasma membranes of these cells. Photoaffinity labeling of the beta-adrenergic receptors with 125I-labeled p-azidobenzylcarazolol (125I-pABC) and subsequent analysis by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrates an altered mobility of receptor peptides from desensitized cells compared to controls [Stadel, J.M., Nambi, P., Lavin, T.N., Heald, S.L., Caron, M.G. & Lefkowitz, R.J. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 9242-9245]. The time course of alteration in beta-adrenergic receptor mobility correlates with that for desensitization of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The altered mobility of the receptor peptides from desensitized cells is also observed if the receptors are first purified and then photoaffinity labeled with 125I-pABC. The cyclic nucleotide analog 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate partially mimics catecholamines in promoting desensitization of the adenylate cyclase and modification of the receptor. Phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor in intact turkey erythrocytes was assessed by preincubating the cells with [32P]orthophosphate, desensitizing them with catecholamine, purifying the receptors, and then subjecting them to NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Desensitization is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increase in 32P incorporation into the receptor, which also demonstrates the characteristic alterations in mobility. These effects are blocked by the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol. Purified turkey erythrocyte beta-adrenergic receptors could be phosphorylated by incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The mobility of the phosphorylated receptor peptides on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis appears to correspond to that of the desensitized receptors. These data show that catecholamine-induced desensitization of adenylate cyclase in turkey erythrocytes correlates with a stable modification of the beta-adrenergic receptor and is associated with agonist-promoted phosphorylation of beta-receptor peptides.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗