Synthesis and characterization of a long-acting fluorescent analog of vasotocin

This study reports the synthesis of l-desamino-7-lysine- (fluorescein)-8-arginine-vasotocin (7-lys(flu) dAVT), and describes its biological activity in the isolated urinary bladder of the toad Bufo marinus. 7-lys(flu)dAVT was fully active in increasing bladder permeability to water. A half-maximal hydroosmotic response was obtained at a concentration of 3 x 10(-8) M. A unique feature of this analog was that its response was not readily reversed after removal of the analog from the serosal bathing solution. The residual response to 7-lys(flu) dAVT was abolished (reversibly) by reducing serosal bath pH from 7.4 to 6.0, suggesting that acidification inhibits the response to analog at a step after the interaction of the ligand with its receptor. Although 8-arginine-vasopressin (AVP) was about 20 times more potent than 7-lys(flu)dAVT in increasing membrane permeability to water, the response to AVP was readily reversed. Preincubation of bladders with 7-lys(flu)dAVT in the presence of AVP blocked the residual response to 7-lys(flu) dAVT. These studies suggest that 7-lys(flu)dAVT forms a stable and physiologically active complex with hydrosmotic toad bladder receptors, and it may, therefore, serve as a useful fluorescent marker for receptors in tissues from this and other species that use vasotocin as an antidiuretic/pressor principle.