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The complete synthesis of the C-terminal 28 residues segment 67–94 of human seminal plasma jS-Inhibin, called β 2-Inhibin, is reported. The Inhibin-like activity of the native 94 amino acids β-Inhibin is compared to that of the synthetic replica of β 2-Inhibin. In all assays used both peptides effectively suppress the FSH release induced by LHRH but have little effect on the LH release. In the mouse both peptides are equipotent on a mole basis. In the rat the synthetic β 2-Inhibin is 3–10 times more potent than β-Inhibin. Both peptides are active in rat anterior pituitary primary culture assays where maximum suppression of FSH release induced by LHRH occurs around 300 pmolmlof β 2-Inhibin. In contrast, maximum suppression of FSH release in the mouse pituitary assay occurs at 10–15 pmolmlof either Inhibin.

Angiotensin II (AII) binding sites were characterized in human myometrium membrane preparations. The sites were saturable and of high affinity (Kd of 0.09 nM and Bmax of about 200 fmol/mg of protein). PD 123319 completely inhibited 125I-AII binding, with an IC50 of 30 nM, whereas L-158,809 (1 microM) had no significant effect on 125I-AII binding. These results indicate that human myometrium contains almost exclusively the AT2 receptor subtype. Association and dissociation studies performed with 125I-AII on human myometrium membranes revealed that AII had a very high affinity for AT2 receptors, with a Kd of 0.01 nM (association rate constant K1 = 1.056 x 10(12) mol-1 min-1; dissociation rate constant K2 = 0.003 min-1). The photoactivable AII analogue [Sar1, Val5, D-Phe8(N3)]AII displayed a high affinity for AT2 receptors (IC50 of 0.18 nM), but its radioiodinated form showed poor efficiency in photoaffinity labeling experiments. A newly synthesized photoactivatable analogue of AII, [Sar1, p-benzoyl-Phe8]AII, (AII-Bpa), also displayed a high affinity for AT2 receptors of human myometrium (IC50 of 0.3 nM). Photoaffinity labeling experiments were performed with 125I-AII-Bpa, and a high yield (70%) of covalent incorporation to human myometrium membranes was obtained upon photolysis. Covalently labeled receptors were solubilized, denatured, and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Autoradiography of the polyacrylamide gel revealed a single band, of 68 kDa, and the labeling of this band was completely abolished in the presence of 1 microM PD 123319, indicating selective labeling of the AT2 receptor subtype. These results demonstrate that AII-Bpa is a very efficient tool for selective photoaffinity labeling of the AT2 receptor.

The angiotensin II analogues, [Sar1, (4'-N3)Phe8]All and [Sar1, (4'-N3)D-Phe8]All were synthetized and prepared in their iodinated and radioiodinated forms. On rat liver membranes 125I-SarN3PheAll and 125I-SarN3DPheAll labeled a single population of sites (maximal binding capacity, 1.13 +/- 0.16 pmol/mg of protein) with high affinity (dissociation constants of 0.18 +/- 0.05 and 0.37 +/- 0.16 nM, respectively) and high specificity (nonspecific binding less than 10% of total binding for an 0.8 fractional receptor occupancy). 125I-SarN3PheAll and 125I-SarN3DPheAll allowed photoaffinity labeling of liver angiotensin receptors with high efficiency. The yield of photoaffinity labeling was independent of fractional receptor occupancy. 125I-SarN3PheAll and 125I-SarN3DPHeAll allow recovery in a soluble and covalently labeled form of about 40% of the total number of angiotensin receptors from rat liver membranes. For this reason they can be considered as potentially very useful tools for the purification of angiotensin receptors. The material covalently labeled with the antagonist 125I-SarN3DPHeAll was eluted from an Ultrogel ACA34 column as a homogeneous peak (Stoke's radius: 5.5 +/- 0.2 nm). The material covalently labeled with the agonist 125I-SarN3PHeAll was more heterogeneous. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 125I-SarN3PheAll- and 125I-SarN3DPHeAll-labeled material revealed a single component of 63,000 molecular weight.

To identify binding domains between angiotensin II (AngII) and its type 2 receptor (AT2), two different radiolabeled photoreactive analogs were prepared by replacing either the first or the last amino acid in the peptide with p-benzoyl-L-phenylalanine (Bpa). Digestion of photolabeled receptors with kallikrein revealed that the two photoreactive analogs label the amino-terminal part of the receptor within the first 182 amino acids. Digestion of 125I-[Bpa1]AngII.AT2 receptor complex with endoproteinase Lys-C produced a glycoprotein of 80 kDa. Deglycosylation of this 80-kDa product decreased its apparent molecular mass to 4.6 kDa and further cleavage of this 4.6-kDa product with V8 protease decreased its molecular mass to 3.6 kDa, circumscribing the labeling site of 125I-[Bpa1]AngII within amino acids 3-30 of AT2 receptor. Treatment of 125I-[Bpa8]AngII.AT2 receptor complex with cyanogen bromide produced two major receptor fragments of 3.6 and 2.6 kDa. Cyanogen bromide hydrolysis of a mutant AT2 receptor produced two major fragments of 12.6 kDa and 2.6 kDa defining the labeling site of 125I-[Bpa8]AngII within residues 129-138 of AT2 receptor. Our results indicate that the amino-terminal tail of the AT2 receptor interacts with the amino-terminal end of AngII, whereas the inner half of the third transmembrane domain of AT2 receptor interacts with the carboxyl-terminal end of AngII.

To study the conformational features of molecular recognition of angiotensin II (Asp¹-Arg²-Val³-Tyr⁴-Val/Ile⁵-His⁶-Pro⁷-Phe⁸, AII), the synthesis and biological testing of several cyclic analogs of AII cyclized between positions 5 and 7 have been performed. The synthesized analogs were Sar¹-Arg²-Val³-Tyr⁴-cyclo(Cys⁵-His⁶-Pen⁷)-Phe⁸ (3), Sar¹-Arg²-Val³-Tyr⁴-cyclo(Asp⁵-His⁶-Apt⁷)-Phe⁸ (4), Sar¹-Arg²-Val³-Tyr⁴-cyclo(Glu⁵-His⁶-Apt⁷)-Phe⁸ (5), Sar¹-Arg²-Val³-Tyr⁴-cyclo(Cys⁵-His⁶-Mpt⁷)-Phe⁸ (6), Sar¹-Arg²-Val³-Tyr⁴-cyclo(Cys⁵-His⁶-Mpc⁷)-Phe⁸ (7), Sar¹-Arg²-Val³-Tyr⁴-cyclo(Hcy⁵-His⁶-Mpt⁷)-Phe⁸ (8), and Sar¹-Arg²-Val³-Tyr⁴-cyclo(Hcy⁵-His⁶-Mpc⁷)-Phe⁸ (9), where Apt stands for 4-amino-trans-proline, and Mpt and Mpc for 4-mercapto-trans- and -cis-prolines, respectively. Compound (9) showed good affinity at AT-1 receptors, namely a KD = 20 nM. In functional assays, it showed the characteristics of a weak partial agonist with a relative affinity of 0.26% of that for AII and an intrinsic efficacy, αE, of 0.42. Molecular modeling suggested a possible explanation for this finding:  the relatively strong binding and the weak partial agonistic activity of compound 9 are due to interaction with AT-1 receptor of only two functionally important groups, namely, the side chains of the His⁶ and Phe⁸ residues.

Lipidated angiotensin II (Ang) agonists and antagonists were synthesized and evaluated for their biological activities for eventual use as antimyoproliferative agents. Solid phase peptide synthesis was used for the assembly of the peptides with the Fmoc protection scheme. N-Acetyl-Ser¹ Ang was palmitoylated on the serine hydroxyl function. The nonpalmitoylated analogue retained one-third of Ang's affinity toward the AT1 receptor on bovine adrenal cortex membranes, and the palmitoylated analogue was essentially inactive. Upon enzymatic lipolysis or mild saponification of the palmitoylated peptide, biological activity was restored. An analogous compound of Ang, N-acetyl-Ser¹,β-d-naphthylalanine⁸ ([NAcSer¹,d-Nal⁸]Ang), was a pure antagonist on rabbit aorta but with lower affinity. Its O-palmitoylated form was inactive as well but was easily converted to the nonlipidated active form by lipolysis or saponification. Direct palmitoylation of [sarcosine¹]Ang with palmitoyl chloride was obtained on the free phenolic hydroxyl of Tyr⁴ on solid phase on an otherwise fully protected peptide. This lipopeptide was fully active, was comparable to [Sar¹]Ang, and exhibited strongly prolonged activity. Lipolysis and saponification under mild conditions yielded standard [Sar¹]Ang. The corresponding [Sar¹,d-Nal⁸]Ang was a potent and very long-lasting antagonist (pA2 = 8.1), and its analogous palmitoyl phenyl ester in position 4 was active in its palmitoylated form (antagonist) and, again, returned to the nonlipidated form upon saponification or lipolysis. [Sar¹,Tyr⁴(O-octadecyl)]Ang, an analogue to Tyr-palmitoylated [Sar¹]Ang with an octadecyl phenyl ether in position 4, was also prepared. Surprisingly, the ether compound was inactive. Premature hydrolysis of the palmitoyl phenyl ester peptide was excluded by HPLC analysis, and the activity of the ester peptide is attributed to a putative hydrogen bond that may be critical for biological activity. The discovery of potent biologically active lipidated antagonists of Ang gives access to potential antimyoproliferative agents with numerous application possibilities.

The complete synthesis of the C‐terminal 28 residues segment 67–94 of human seminal plasma jS‐Inhibin, called β2‐Inhibin, is reported. The Inhibin‐like activity of the native 94 amino acids β‐Inhibin is compared to that of the synthetic replica of β2‐Inhibin. In all assays used both peptides effectively suppress the FSH release induced by LHRH but have little effect on the LH release. In the mouse both peptides are equipotent on a mole basis. In the rat the synthetic β2‐Inhibin is 3–10 times more potent than β‐Inhibin. Both peptides are active in rat anterior pituitary primary culture assays where maximum suppression of FSH release induced by LHRH occurs around 300 of β2‐Inhibin. In contrast, maximum suppression of FSH release in the mouse pituitary assay occurs at 10–15 of either Inhibin.

Antibodies to substance P (SP) produced in rabbits have been characterized for their specificity toward SP and some 30 SP-related peptides. For each compound, we observed a close correlation between capacity of binding to anti-SP antibodies and biological activity, namely their spasmogenic effect on guinea pig ileum in vitro and their hypotensive effect in the rat in vivo, indicating that the combining sites of anti-SP and SP receptor(s) are structurally very similar. Further immunization of five rabbits with anti-SP immunoglobulins elicited in two allotype-matched animals the production of anti-SP anti-idiotypic antibodies. These latter antibodies were found to strongly inhibit the spasmogenic action of SP on the guinea pig ileum. In contrast, they specifically enhanced, like SP, phospholipid turnover in rat parotid gland cells, a physiological function mediated through an activation of SP receptors. Immunocytochemical studies actually revealed the presence of specific membranous binding sites for anti-idiotypic antibodies on the parotid gland-dissociated cells. The anti-idiotypic antibodies described here, which thus behave either as agonists or antagonists for SP depending on the biological test, might be used as original and powerful tools not only in studies of the receptor stereospecificity but also in attempts to purify the membranous SP receptors.

The NPXnY motif is involved in the internalization process of several types of receptors, including lipoprotein receptors and G protein-coupled receptors. We replaced Tyr302 with either phenylalanine or alanine in the NPLFY site of the human angiotensin II receptor type 1 and determined the pharmacological properties of the resulting mutant receptors. Competitive binding experiments revealed that COS-7 cells transfected with either the wild-type or mutant receptors expressed approximately the same amount of high affinity binding sites (Bmax 70,000 sites/cell and Kd approximately 2 nM). Photoaffinity labeling of both native and mutant receptors revealed apparent molecular masses of 110 kDa. Incubation of transfected cells with 0.2 nM [125I]Ang II at 37 degrees revealed an efficient internalization of the wild-type receptor and the mutant receptors, although the mutant receptors were internalized at a slower rate. Interestingly, however, the transmembrane signaling was severely impaired in transfected cells expressing mutant receptors. No significant production of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate was observed when these cells were challenged for 3 min with a concentration of angiotensin II as high as 1 microM. This is in contrast to the dose-dependent stimulation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate production in cells expressing the wild-type receptor. Thus, our results show that the Tyr302 in the NPXnY motif of the human angiotensin II receptor type 1 is not essential for agonist binding properties or for internalization of the receptor but plays an important role in transmembrane signaling.

Angiotensin II (AII) is an important regulator of aldosterone secretion by adrenal glomerulosa cells. All interacts with a specific receptor coupled to a guanine nucleotide-binding protein that controls the activity of phospholipase C. Recently, novel All nonpeptide antagonists (DuP-753 and PD-123319) have been shown to discriminate between two subclasses of All receptors in many different tissues. Our studies confirmed that 125I-All specifically labeled two classes of binding sites for All in a membrane preparation of bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. The first class (DuP-753 sensitive) represented approximately 85% of the total binding sites for All and possessed a high affinity (IC50 of 92.9 +/- 19.5 nM) for DuP-753. PD-123319 did not have any effect on 125I-All binding to this site. The second class of binding sites was more sensitive to PD-123319, with an IC50 of 6.9 +/- 3.7 nM, and had a much lower affinity for DuP-753 (IC50 around 10 microM). The two classes of receptors had different affinities for All. All showed an affinity around 2 nM for All type 1 receptor (AT1)(DuP-753 sensitive) and a higher affinity, around 0.3 nM, for All type 2 receptor (AT2) (PD-123319 sensitive). All-induced steroidogenesis was completely abolished in the presence of 3 microM DuP-753, indicating that this activity was mediated through a DuP-753-sensitive receptor. We also found that polyvinyl sulfate (PVS), a polyanion, could partly inhibit the binding of 125I-All to bovine adrenal glomerulosa cell membranes, with half-maximal efficiency at 17.3 +/- 8.2 nM. The inhibitory effect of PVS was selective for AT1. The inhibitory effect of PVS was due to a change in the affinity state of the receptor. Unexpectedly, PVS had no effect on All-induced steroidogenesis or on All binding to intact bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. However, the inhibitory effect of PVS on All binding was recovered after permeabilization of cells. Direct interaction of polyanions with AT1 was suggested by the capacity of solubilized photoaffinity-labeled 125I-AT1 to adsorb to heparin-agarose gels. The adsorption of 125I-AT1 to heparin-agarose was inhibited by prior incubation of solubilized receptor with heparin or PVS. These results suggest that All-induced steroidogenesis is mediated by a DuP-753-sensitive receptor and that PVS decreases the affinity of this receptor by interacting with an intracellular domain (possibly the positively charged domain responsible for coupling with guanine nucleotide-binding proteins).

The aim of this study was to examine in Hep G2, a human hepatoma-derived cell line, the presence of angiotensin II (ANG II) receptors and the effect of ANG II and its analogues on angiotensinogen production. The presence of ANG II receptors was demonstrated using a long-acting ANG II analogue, 125I-labeled [Sar1]ANG II. A single class of specific binding sites was identified in these cells with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 2 nM. The number and affinity of these binding sites were not changed by [Sar1]ANG II treatment over 24 h. ANG II showed an inhibitory effect on angiotensinogen production. [Sar1]ANG II also exhibited a similar inhibitory effect as that of ANG II but to a greater extent and therefore was used throughout these studies. [Sar1]ANG II inhibited angiotensinogen production in a dose-dependent manner, exhibiting a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2 nM. Other ANG II analogues showed similar effects on angiotensinogen production. In order of decreasing ability, they were [Sar1]ANG II greater than [Sar1-Ala8]ANG II greater than [Sar1-Val8]ANG II greater than [Sar1-Val5-(Br5)-Phe8]ANG II greater than [Sar1-Val5-DPhe8]ANG II. Results of these studies show that the Hep G2 cell possesses specific ANG II receptors and that [Sar1]ANG II induces a dose-dependent inhibition of angiotensinogen production in this system.

We have synthesized a potent, selective, radioiodinated bradykinin (BK) analogue with high specific radioactivity (1000-1500 Ci/mmol). The new tracer, 125I-[p-Phe5]BK, was prepared carrier-free from the corresponding nitro precursor, [p-NO2-Phe5]BK, via catalytic hydrogenation and halodediazotation. This peptide bound to guinea pig ileum membranes in a biphasic pattern, with a high affinity dissociation constant of 3 pM (Bmax = 22 fmol/mg of protein) and a low affinity dissociation constant of 192 pM (Bmax = 245 fmol/mg of protein). The kinetically determined Kd values were 2 pM and 910 pM, respectively. The properties of the new tracer and of the peptide analogues [p-iodo-Phe5]BK and [p-NO2-Phe5]BK were compared with those of [3,4-3H(N)] [2,3-prolyl]BK as label in both saturation and inhibition studies. The results indicated that [p-iodo-Phe5]BK possessed increased affinity for the high affinity site and decreased affinity for the low affinity site, relative to BK. In rat myometrial membranes, in contrast, [p-iodo-Phe5]BK failed to reveal a high affinity site and displayed reduced affinity for the low affinity site, compared with BK. The nitro precursor was a nonselective ligand with nanomolar affinity for all labeled binding sites in both membrane preparations. Measuring the influence of BK and its analogues on guanosine-5'-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate binding to guinea pig ileum membranes, we showed that G proteins were separately activated via both binding sites, qualifying these sites as constituents of signal transduction pathways and, therefore, real membrane receptors. With the new tracer as label, the B2 receptor antagonists D-Arg0-[Hyp3,Thi5,D-Tic7,Oic8]BK and D-Arg0-[Hyp3,Thi5,8,D-Phe7]BK recognized both binding sites with very high affinity in guinea pig ileum membranes, classifying these sites as B2 receptors. The BK-induced contraction in guinea pig ileum is obviously mediated via the receptor with nanomolar affinity, but the physiological role of the high affinity receptor is still unknown.

We recently described the photoaffinity labeling and partial characterization of the angiotensin type 2 (AT2) receptor from human myometrium. In the present study, specific receptors for angiotensin II (AII) were also analyzed in a murine fibroblast cell line (R3T3) and a rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC-12). Dose-displacement experiments with PD 123319 (an AT2-selective antagonist) completely inhibited 125I-AII binding, whereas L-158,809 (an AT1-selective antagonist) had no significant effect on 125I-AII binding, thus revealing that these two cell lines express exclusively AT2 sites. High yields of covalent and selective labelling of AT2 receptors from human myometrium, R3T3 cells, and PC-12 cells were obtained with the photosensitive analogue 125I-[Sar1,Val5,p-benzoyl-Phe8]AII. Gel permeation chromatography of Triton X-100-solubilized AT2 receptors from the three different sources revealed similar Stokes' radii of about 65 A. Interestingly, upon electrophoresis under reducing conditions, marked disparities were observed between the apparent molecular masses of AT2 receptors from the three different sources. As observed previously, AT2 receptors from human myometrium showed a molecular mass of 68 +/- 4.6 kDa. AT2 receptors from PC-12 cells showed a larger molecular mass of 113 +/- 12 kDa, whereas AT2 receptors from R3T3 cells showed a molecular mass of 91 +/- 7.8 kDa. After endoglycosidase digestion with an enzyme that cleaves N-linked saccharides, the molecular masses of the denatured AT2 receptors of human myometrium, R3T3 cells, and PC-12 cells were decreased by 54%, 66%, and 73%, to 31.3 +/- 1.6 kDa, 30.9 +/- 0.7 kDa, and 30.6 +/- 0.8 kDa, respectively. Kinetic studies with AT2 receptors from human myometrium revealed a complex, multiple-step process of deglycosylation involving at least three different sites of N-linked saccharides. These results suggest that the disparity in the sizes of AT2 receptors from different sources is mostly related to different degrees of N-glycosylation. They also imply that the AT2 receptor contains at least three asparagine-linked sites of glycosylation.