Identification of endothelin receptors by chemical cross-linking

Specific binding sites for human/porcine endothelin have been found in rat brain membrane preparations using an [125I]endothelin. The apparent Kd value was 3 +/- 2 nM with a Bmax value of 2,200 +/- 200 fmol/mg protein. Chemical cross-linking of [125I]endothelin to rat brain membranes by using the cross-linking reagent disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) revealed two specific proteins of Mr = 52,000 and Mr = 30,000. The same results were obtained by photoaffinity labeling of [125I]azidoendothelin to rat brain membranes. The labeling of the two proteins was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by unlabeled endothelin but not by unrelated peptides. Peptide map comparisons of the Mr = 52,000 and Mr = 30,000 protein bands using Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and papain revealed that the Mr = 30,000 band is a proteolytic degradation product of the Mr = 52,000. The apparent mol wt of the endothelin receptor is, therefore, 50,000, subtracting the mol wt of the iodinated endothelin.