NaCl increases the dissociation constant (Koff) of 3H-QNB muscarinic receptor complex in an airway smooth muscle plasma membrane fraction

ABSTRACT

Muscarinic receptors associated to plasma membrane fractions isolated from bovine airway smooth muscle were previously characterized by using 3H Quinuclidinyl-benzilate (3H-QNB) binding (Bécemberg, et al. Arch. Venez. Farm Terap. (1986) 5 244-256). 3H-QNB binding to P1 plasma membrane fraction was time dependent. In order to study the effect of NaCl on the ligand binding properties of muscarinic receptor, a kinetic approach for the evaluation of koff of the 3H-QNB muscarinic receptor complex (QNB-mR) perfomed in the presence or absence of NaCl is done. The 3H-QNB bound to the receptor is released by atropine through an exchange reaction at the antagonist binding site. NaCl decreases the t1/2 of complexes and increases the velocity of dissociation of 3H-QNB-mR producing a significant change in Koff values, whichever conditions the 3H-QNB-mR complexes are formed. Pretreatment of P1 plasma membranes fraction with N-ethyl maleimide (1mM NEM) does not alter Koff value. In addition, in these NEM-treated P1 membranes, NaCl is unable to further increase the Koff value. The effect of NEM blocking this "activator effect" of NaCl suggests thar sulphydryl groups in the receptor structure may be involved in this NaCl effect on the 3H-QNB binding to muscarinic receptors