Glycoprotein nature of the A2-adenosine receptor binding subunit

Mammalian A2-adenosine receptor binding subunits (A2AR) can be visualized by covalent labeling with the photoaffinity crosslinking ligand 125I-2-[4-[2-[2-[(4-aminophenyl)methylcarbonylamino] ethylaminocarbonyl]ethyl]phenyl]ethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoad enosine or directly with the azide derivative described in this paper. The protein comprising the A2-adenosine receptor binding subunit migrates with a Mr of 45,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In this study, the glycoproteins representing the radiolabeled A1- and A2-adenosine receptor binding subunit from bovine brain were compared by partial peptide maps and following treatment with exo- and endoglycosidases. Peptide maps using two separate proteases reveal that the A1- and A2-adenosine receptor binding subunits share no common peptide fragments by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Endoglycosidase F treatment of labeled A2AR results in a single labeled peptide of Mr 38,000 without intermediate peptides, suggesting a single N-linked carbohydrate chain. The labeled A2AR demonstrates a sensitivity to neuraminidase, as evidenced by an increased mobility on gel electrophoresis, suggesting the receptors contain a glycan component containing terminal sialic acid. Treatment of the labeled A2AR with alpha-mannosidase reveals two distinct populations of A2ARs, one of which is sensitive and the other resistant to the enzyme. The nonadditivity of sequential treatments with the two exoglycosidases suggests, a heterogeneous population of A2AR containing either complex- or high mannose-type carbohydrate chains. These data suggest the A2AR is a Mr 45,000 glycoprotein with a single carbohydrate chain of either the complex or high mannose type. In addition, the A1- and A2ARs are distinct glycoproteins, as evidenced by their differing molecular weights (before and after deglycosylation) and distinct peptide maps.