Effect of uncoupling agents on AT1 receptor affinity for antagonist analogs of angiotensin II

AT1 receptor is responsible for most of the physiological effects of Angiotensin II (Ang II). AT1 receptor belongs to the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, and it mediates its actions through the coupling of the Gq/11 protein with phospholipase C beta. Classical pharmacology has used the sensitivity of GPCR ligands to uncoupling agents as a criteria to discriminate agonists (which are sensitive) from antagonists (which are insensitive). In this study, the uncoupling agents GTP gamma S and pentosan sulfate (PS) (a low molecular weight polyanion) were used to further characterize the molecular interactions between Ang II analogs and the AT1 receptor. We show that some Ang II antagonists are sensitive to the conformational change of the AT1 receptor induced by uncoupling agents. These results demonstrate that there is no direct relationship between the intrinsic activity of a ligand and its affinity for different conformations of the AT1 receptor and that the sensitivity of GPCR ligands to uncoupling agents can not be used as a criteria to discriminate agonists from antagonists.