Identification of G protein-coupled endothelin receptors in cultured bovine endothelial cells

Autocrine and paracrine regulation of vascular endothelial cells by endothelins has been postulated and has been the target of many recent investigations. In the present study, we demonstrated, by affinity labeling, the presence of endothelin-1- and endothelin-3-specific receptors on cultured bovine endothelial cells that secrete endothelin; the endothelin-3 receptor was the major form. Analysis using the GTP analogue guanosine 5'-O- (thiotriphosphate) indicated that these receptors are coupled to G proteins.