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Quantifying Agonist Activity at G Protein-coupled Receptors
Published on: December 26, 2011
Negative cooperativity in the human bradykinin B2 receptor
A Pizard1, J Marchetti, J Allegrini
1INSERM Unité 367, Physiologie et Pathologie Expérimentale Vasculaires, Paris, France.
Abstract:
A human kidney bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor cDNA was transfected in CHO-K1 cells to establish cell lines that express stably and at high density a receptor exhibiting B2 receptor properties in terms of coupling to cell signaling effectors, desensitization, and internalization. A cell line with a density of 1.3 x 10(6) receptors/cell allowed us to carry out a detailed study of BK-receptor interaction over a wide range of BK concentrations. A model assuming that BK binds to two receptor affinity states (depending on guanine nucleotide-sensitive coupling) was not sufficient to account for the kinetics of BK binding. Equilibrium kinetic analysis and studies of the effects of receptor occupancy by agonists or antagonists on the kinetics of BK-receptor complex dissociation revealed features typical of negative cooperative binding. The negative cooperativity phenomenon was also observed in isolated membranes in both the presence and absence of guanine nucleotide. Thus, following the interaction with BK, B2 receptor molecules likely interact with each other, resulting in an acceleration of bound ligand dissociation and a decrease in the apparent affinity of the receptor for BK. This phenomenon can participate in the desensitization process.
Insights
Researchers studied the bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor, finding that BK binding exhibits negative cooperativity. This interaction accelerates ligand dissociation and decreases receptor affinity, potentially contributing to receptor desensitization.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor plays a crucial role in physiological processes.
- Understanding BK B2 receptor kinetics is essential for drug development and therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and characterize a high-density human kidney BK B2 receptor expression system in CHO-K1 cells.
- To investigate the binding kinetics and molecular interactions of BK with its B2 receptor.
Main Methods:
- Transfection of CHO-K1 cells with human kidney BK B2 receptor cDNA.
- High-density receptor expression and characterization.
- Kinetic analysis of BK-receptor binding and dissociation.
- Guanine nucleotide effects on receptor binding.
Main Results:
- A stable cell line expressing high-density BK B2 receptors (1.3 x 10(6) receptors/cell) was established.
- BK binding kinetics did not fit a simple two-affinity state model.
- Negative cooperativity was observed in BK-B2 receptor binding, evident in ligand dissociation rates.
- This negative cooperativity was independent of guanine nucleotide presence.
Conclusions:
- BK B2 receptor binding exhibits negative cooperativity, where receptor-receptor interactions accelerate ligand dissociation.
- This phenomenon likely decreases the apparent affinity of the receptor for BK.
- Negative cooperativity may play a significant role in the desensitization of BK B2 receptors.
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