Identification of the prostacyclin receptor by radiation inactivation

Evidence has been obtained for a specific protein receptor for prostacyclin on cells of the NCB-20 somatic hybrid. A new stable prostacyclin analog, 5-[(E)-(1S,5S,6R,7R) - 7 - hydroxy-6-[(E) - (3S,4RS) -3-hydroxy-4-methyl-1 -octen-6-inyl]bicyclo[3.3.0]-octan-3-ylidene]pentanoic acid (Iloprost, ZK36374) activates adenylate cyclase of NCB-20 cell membranes to an extent similar to prostacyclin and with a comparable high affinity. The binding of [3H]Iloprost to NCB-20 membranes was rapid with an association rate constant (k+1) of 2.01 X 10(5) M-1 s-1 at 20 degrees C. The rate constant for the dissociation of the ligand-receptor complex (k-1) was 1.19 X 10(-3) s-1, giving a dissociation constant (k-1/k+1) of 5.9 nM. The equilibrium dissociation constant was 29.9 nM, and the membranes had a maximum binding capacity of 347 fmol mg-1 protein. Radiation inactivation has been employed to determine the molecular weights of the functional prostacyclin receptor and components of the adenylate cyclase system in the plasma membrane of the NCB-20 cells. Cell membranes were lyophilized prior to irradiation, which lead to the formation of high-molecular-weight aggregates. The aggregation was avoided, however, when membranes were prepared in an isotonic Tris-HCl buffer containing sucrose. Molecular weight values of 111,000 for the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase, 89,000 for the regulatory subunit, and 83,000 for the prostacyclin receptor were obtained. Loss of [3H]Iloprost binding capacity after irradiation of lyophilized membranes yielded a molecular weight value (mean +/- S.E.) for the prostacyclin receptor of 82,800 +/- 12,900 (n = 3).