An isolated growth cone-enriched fraction from developing rat brain has substance P binding sites

A fraction enriched in neuronal growth cones isolated from developing rat forebrain was shown to possess binding sites for the substance P analog, Bolton-Hunter substance P [( 125I]BHSP). Specific binding of this ligand reached an equilibrium after 10 min at 20 degrees C, and was reversible and temperature-dependent. Removal of extracellular Na+ did not block but rather augmented [125I]BHSP binding suggesting that the labeled analog was not transported into the growth cone fraction. Scatchard analysis of the binding indicated a single class of non-interacting binding sites in the growth cone fraction (Kd: 257 pM; Bmax: 56 fmol/mg protein). From competition studies using substance P and other tachykinins, their rank order of potency for inhibiting [125I]BHSP binding was SP greater than physalaemin much greater than eledoisin greater than kassinin greater than NKB greater than or equal to NKA. Such order is consistent with the presence of an SP receptor (Neurokinin-1) in the growth cone fraction. The N-terminal fragments of substance P, SP1-7 and SP1-11 free acids, and the C-terminal fragment, SP7-11, were devoid of affinity for the [125I]BHSP binding site. However SP6-11 and SP1-11 methyl esters showed more potency.