Photoaffinity labeling of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor by physostigmine

The plant alkaloid physostigmine, an established anti-cholinesterase agent of the carbamate type, has recently been shown to bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo marmorata electrocytes [Okonjo, K. O., Kuhlmann, J. & Maelicke, A. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 200, 671-677]. Pharmacological studies of physostigmine-induced ion flux into nicotinic-acetylcholine-receptor-rich membrane vesicles, indicated distinct binding sites for physostigmine and acetylcholine. As shown in this study by photoaffinity labeling with [phenyl-(n)-3H](-)physostigmine, the physostigmine-binding site is located within the same subunit (alpha polypeptide) of the receptor as the acetylcholine-binding site. Using a variety of proteolytic cleavage conditions for the purified alpha polypeptide, several [3H]physostigmine-labeled peptides were isolated and sequenced. From the radioactivity released in the course of the Edman degradations of the labeled peptides, it was found that the label was associated in all cases with Lys125. These results identify a novel ligand-binding site for the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that is different in location from binding sites identified previously for acetylcholine, its established agonists and antagonists, and direct channel blockers.