Photoaffinity labeling of the glucagon receptor with a new glucagon analog

The preparation, purification and characterization of N epsilon-4- azidophenylamidinoglucagon are described. This photoreactive peptide was found to be 50% as potent as native glucagon in competing with 125I-labeled glucagon for binding to glucagon receptors on rat liver plasma membranes. Similarly, the analog was 50% as potent as native glucagon in its ability to stimulate adenylate cyclase. The photoreactive glucagon analog was radioiodinated to high specific activity with iodine-125 and was used to label rat liver plasma membrane proteins. Analysis of labeled membrane proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed covalent incorporation predominantly into a protein of relative molecular mass, Mr, of 50 000-60 000. Occasionally a protein of Mr 170 000-180 000 was also labeled. Irradiation of membranes in the presence of unlabeled glucagon or GTP selectively inhibited the labeling of the 50 000-60 000-Mr protein(s). As a result of these studies we suggest that the sodium-dodecyl-sulfate-dissociated glucagon receptor is a 50 000-60 000-Mr protein.