Chemoreception in hydra: specific binding of glutathione to a membrane fraction

Specific binding of reduced [35S]glutathione (GSH) was measured using a crude membrane fraction of Hydra vulgaris (attenuata). The specific binding shows both rapid displaceable and nondisplaceable components. Rapid displaceable binding accounted for 20% of the total specific binding. Data from saturation binding experiments indicates half maximal total specific binding occurs at 2 microM GSH which is similar to reported EC50 values from behavioral experiments. Calcium is required for displaceable binding of GSH to the putative receptor. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG), an antagonist of the GSH-activated feeding response, and S-methylglutathione (GSM), an agonist of the feeding response, inhibit the binding of radiolabeled GSH to the putative receptor. Glutamate, a putative competitive antagonist of the GSH-activated feeding response in hydra, does not inhibit the specific binding of radiolabeled GSH to the receptor and must therefore block the feeding response by a mechanism other than competitive inhibition.