Solubilization and characterization of lactogenic hormone receptor from kidney of lactating cow

Solubilization of the microsomal fraction from bovine kidney by Triton X-100 or by 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio] 1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) increased 2-fold the thermodynamic association constant for hGH. While solubilization with CHAPS did not change the 13-fold preferential binding of human growth hormone (hGH) over ovine prolactin (oPRL), solubilization with Triton X-100 increased this preference to 47-fold. The binding was optimal at pH 7-7.5 in the presence of 10 mM of MgCl2 or CaCl2. The association rate with hGH was identical in the microsomal and Triton X-100 solubilized fractions but the dissociation was slower in the latter. Only partial dissociation was observed at neutral pH. Full dissociation was, however, achieved by lowering the pH to 4-5, indicating that the binding was not covalent. Gel filtration studies of the Triton X-100 solubilized fraction after preincubation in the presence of reducing agent revealed two sharp peaks of activity, one having Mr of greater than 700 kDa that represented the aggregated receptor, and the second, with Mr 110-115 kDa. The specificity of the partially purified receptors clearly shows that they are lactogenic and not somatogenic. They resemble lactogenic receptors found in other bovine organs, but differ from other species particularly in their differential affinities of PRL and hGH.     

Prolactin (PRL) receptor induction in cultured rat hepatocytes: dual regulation by PRL and growth hormone

Although early work implicated PRL as the pituitary factor inducing rat hepatic PRL receptors, recent studies indicated that GH, not PRL, was responsible. The roles for these two hormones were evaluated on rat hepatocytes cultured in serum-free medium supplemented with insulin (1 microgram/ml), epidermal growth factor EGF (25 ng/ml), glucagon (500 ng/ml), cholera toxin (2 ng/ml), hydrocortisone (10(-8) M), and transferrin (1 microgram/ml) and changed daily. Ovine (o) PRL, bovine (b) GH, or human (h) GH were introduced after 2-4 days of culture, and PRL receptors were measured by determining [125I]hGH binding in the presence and absence of excess oPRL in a total particulate fraction pretreated with 3 M MgCl2. The specific binding of hGH (% per 100 micrograms protein) decreased by 8- to 10-fold (female, 17.9 +/- 0.2% to 1.5%; male, 7.0 +/- 0.1% to 0.7%) after 3 days in culture. When added after 3 days, hGH induced PRL receptors in both female and male cells with the effect being more gradual in the latter. Induction occurred with 10 ng/ml hGH and was maximal [11- to 13-fold control] at 250-1000 ng/ml. bGH and oPRL also induced PRL receptors with maximal levels attained at 250-500 ng/ml oPRL (3- to 4-fold control). The combined addition of oPRL (300 ng/ml) and bGH (300 ng/ml) yielded levels of induction comparable to that seen with hGH. Although hormone treatment restored PRL receptor levels to those seen in male rats, the much higher levels of female rats were not attained. Treatment of hepatocytes with hGH, bGH, or oPRL affected neither cell number (through 10 days of culture) nor PRL receptor affinity. At supramaximal doses hGH, PRL, and bGH down-regulated PRL receptors, but this was particularly noticeable for oPRL and hGH. 17 beta-Estradiol and testosterone added to male and female hepatocytes simultaneously with hGH had little or no effect on receptor induction. We conclude that hepatic PRL receptors are induced by both PRL and GH, each acting through its own receptor. The failure to restore receptor levels to those seen in female rats attests to the importance of other modulators. This dual regulation of the PRL receptor explains the unusual potency of hGH which binds to both PRL and GH receptors.     

Binding sites of human growth hormone and ovine and bovine prolactins in the mammary gland and the liver of lactating dairy cow

Membrane preparations and Triton X-100 solubilized fractions from the mammary gland and liver of the lactating dairy cow were capable of specific binding of [125I]hGH and [125I]oPRL. The specific binding of the latter was significantly lower and could not be increased by higher receptor levels. Displacement studies of [125I]hGh by hGH, bPRL and oPRL revealed that the two latter hormones have a 20-40-fold lower affinity for the receptor than hGH, although strong indications exist that they all bind or the same sites. This feature is unique for cows and does not exist or is much less pronounced in rodents.     

Characterization of solubilized prolactin receptors from Rana catesbeiana tadpole tissues

Prolactin (PRL) receptors were solubilized from Rana catesbeiana tadpole liver and tail fin and female Sprague-Dawley rat-liver membranes by treatment with 1% Triton X-100. Binding of [125I]oPRL to tadpole-liver and tail-fin solubilized extracts reached equilibrium by 12 h at 19 degrees C. The binding was linear up to 50 micrograms of tadpole liver and tail-fin protein and 30-40 micrograms of rat-liver protein. Solubilization did not affect the dissociation constant for [125I]oPRL binding but did result in a greater number of sites. The binding was specific for oPRL and hGH, which has PRL-like activity. Neuraminidase pretreatment of membranes altered the binding affinity of oPRL to tadpole-liver membranes and solubilized extracts but not to tadpole-tail fin membranes or extracts. Pretreatment of membranes with neuraminidase did not affect the binding capacity of tadpole-liver or tail-fin membranes or solubilized extracts.     

Differential solubilization of placental lactogen (PL)- and growth hormone-binding sites: further evidence for a unique PL receptor in fetal and maternal liver

Previous studies from this laboratory provided evidence for the existence of a specific placental lactogen (PL) receptor in tissues of fetal lambs and pregnant sheep. The PL receptor is structurally and functionally distinct from somatotropic (GH) and lactogenic (PRL) receptors, and there are conspicuous differences in the expression of the three receptors during ontogeny. The results of the present study indicate striking differences in the solubilization of PL- and GH-binding sites in maternal and fetal sheep liver. Radiolabeled ovine PL (oPL) bound specifically and with high affinity (Kd, 0.97 nM) to soluble detergent extracts of ovine fetal liver, but there was no specific binding of radiolabeled ovine GH (oGH) or oPRL to soluble extracts or insoluble fractions of fetal liver. When liver microsomes of pregnant sheep were extracted with Triton X-100, 80% of the [125I]oPL-binding sites were recovered in the soluble fraction, but 76% of the [125I]oGH binding sites were recovered in the insoluble pellet. Soluble extracts of maternal liver had high affinity for oPL (Kd, 1.45 nM), but low affinity for oGH (Kd 33 nM) and oPRL (Kd, 1-2 microM). On the other hand, Triton-insoluble fractions of maternal liver had high affinity for oGH (Kd, 0.95 nM) as well as oPL (Kd, 0.91 nM), but low affinity for oPRL (Kd, 1-2 microM). The subunit structure of the [125I]oPL-binding site in soluble fractions of fetal and maternal liver (mol wt, 38-47K) was distinct from that of the [125I]oGH-binding site in Triton-insoluble fractions of maternal liver (mol wt, 54/118K). These findings indicate that treatment of microsomal fractions of fetal and maternal sheep liver with Triton X-100 solubilizes the oPL receptor but not the oGH receptor. The differential solubilization of PL- and GH-binding sites may facilitate purification of the two distinct receptors and clarification of their respective roles in the regulation of fetal and postnatal growth.     

Hepatic prolactin receptors in the rat: characterization using monoclonal antireceptor antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the rat hepatic PRL receptor were produced and used for characterization of the receptor. A microsomal fraction from female rat liver was solubilized, purified 300- to 500-fold by affinity chromatography, and injected into mice. Two hybridoma clones (E21 and E29) were established, and immunoglobulin G fraction was obtained. Both E21 and E29 at 200 micrograms/ml could inhibit [125I]ovine PRL (oPRL) binding to microsomes from rat liver by 40% and 95%, respectively. E29 also inhibited PRL binding to solubilized receptors, whereas E21 stimulated PRL binding by about 50%. The action of E21 was markedly attenuated when [125I]human GH (hGH) was used as tracer in both microsomal (inhibition) and solubilized (stimulation) receptors. Specificity studies using microsomes from other tissues showed that both mAbs were specific to rat tissues (mammary gland, ovary, prostate, testis, and adrenal) and did not cross-react with tissues from other species (rabbit, mouse, human, pig, and cat) examined. Immunoprecipitation of PRL receptors with mAbs were assessed using 125I-labeled or [125I]oPRL-labeled PRL receptors. Both E21 and E29 were capable of immunoprecipitating a 44,000 mol wt band, the migration of which on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis gel was not affected by the absence or presence of a reducing agent. Only E21 was able to precipitate [125I]oPRL-receptor complexes. Binding studies of 125I-labeled mAb to microsomal receptors showed that oPRL could inhibit 90% of specific E29 binding, whereas inhibition of E21 binding was only 30%. Immunoblotting of PRL receptors confirmed the finding of immunoprecipitation; a band with a similar mol wt was identified with E21, although two closely located bands could be distinguished. There was no reaction in the presence of a reducing agent. These studies demonstrate that E21 recognizes a region distinct from the lactogen-binding site, while E29 binds to a closely related but not completely coincident domain; those regions recognized by both antibodies are specific to PRL receptors in the rat but not to those in other species; from immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting studies, the mol wt of the PRL receptor (or its subunit) is estimated to be 42-46K, similar to that reported for the rabbit mammary gland; this receptor molecule does not appear to bind to other receptor molecules through disulfide linkages; and hGH appears to recognize the PRL receptor-binding site in a somewhat different manner from that of oPRL.     

Characterization of antisera to a partially purified prolactin receptor: effect on prolactin binding in different target tissues

Prolactin (PRL) receptors have been purified by affinity chromatography using a lactogenic hormone (human growth hormone, hGH) coupled to Affigel-10. The mean binding capacity of 3 separate purifications was 1.18 +/- 0.26 nmoles prolactin per mg protein, representing a 836-fold purification over crude microsomes and 4000-5000-fold over mammary gland homogenates and 16% purity. The receptor was characterized by HPLC using a TSK-SW-4000 and 3000 column connected in series and eluted in 0.1 M borate buffer containing 0.2 M NaCl and 0.1% Triton. A single peak of [125I]hGH binding activity with a retention time of 45.2 min (22.6 ml), representing an apparent molecular weight of 133000, was observed. A single peak of activity was also observed following polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified receptor in 0.1% Triton coincident with the Coomassie-stained protein band. Antibodies to the partially purified receptor preparations were prepared in sheep, goats and guinea pigs. Antisera to the prolactin receptor prepared in all three species were capable of inhibiting the binding of 125I-labeled ovine prolactin to receptors from rabbit mammary glands. Significant inhibition of binding was observed at antisera dilution of 1:10 000 with the sheep antiserum being the most potent (half-maximal inhibition (IM50) = 1:5700). All three antisera were able to inhibit PRL binding completely, but failed to affect labeled insulin or hCG binding and had very little effect on bGH binding. The specificity of the sheep antiserum was tested in rabbit mammary glands, ovary, adrenal, pig mammary glands and 8 rat tissues which contain PRL receptors. The antiserum was able to inhibit the binding of labeled PRL in all tissues, with the inhibition curves for the rat tissues being non-parallel when compared to rabbit mammary gland, suggesting a homology but not a complete identity between PRl receptors in various tissues and animal species. These studies demonstrate that prolactin receptors can be purified from rabbit mammary tissue and that antisera can be produced in several species. In addition, the binding studies suggest that in the various tissues the receptor molecule is more or less exposed to interaction with the antisera, or that the receptor protein differs somewhat between species.     

Partial purification and properties of the TSH receptors from human thyroid plasma membranes

Human thyroid plasma membranes were solubilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 and TSH receptors were purified by using DEAE-Sephadex, Con A and TSH affinity chromatography. A TSH binding activity was bound to DEAE-Sephadex equilibrated with 0.05 M sodium acetate, pH 6.3, 0.2% Triton X-100 and was eluted by a linear gradient of 0.1 M to 1.0 M ammonium acetate, pH 6.3. Eighty-five percent of the activity was absorbed to Con A Sepharose and was eluted with 0.5 M alpha-methyl-D-mannoside, 0.05 M sodium acetate, pH 6.0. Seventy-five per cent of the TSH binding capacity could be absorbed to TSH-affinity column and was eluted with 0.1 M glycine-HCl, pH 3.0. By sequential application of the above procedures, more than 100-fold purification of the receptor activity was attainable. [125I]TSH binding of this fraction was inhibited by addition of unlabelled TSH in a dose-dependent manner. Scatchard analysis gave a curvilinear plot with a high affinity association constant of 0.72 X 10(9)M-1. By using Ultrogel AcA 34 gel filtration, the molecular size of the hormonereceptor complex was estimated to be 180 000.     

Specific binding sites for prolactin and growth hormone in the adult rabbit lung

Specific prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) binding sites were identified and characterized in lung membranes from male and female adult rabbits. The binding of iodinated human GH ([125I]iodo-hGH) and iodinated ovine PRL ([125I]iodo-oPRL) was time, temperature and protein dependent and was found to conform to the requirements defining a physiological receptor, in terms of hormonal and immunological specificities as well as kinetic properties. [125I]Iodo-hGH was displaced from lung membranes by hGH, oPRL, ovine GH and rat GH, while [125I]iodo-oPRL was effectively displaced only by oPRL and hGH. Scatchard plots of the competition curves of [125I]iodo-hGH and [125I]iodo-oPRL were both linear, suggesting, in each case, a single class of binding sites with affinity constants (Ka) of 1.74 +/- 0.64 X 10(9) M-1 and 0.78 +/- 0.28 X 10(9) M-1 and binding capacities of 6.43 +/- 0.53 and 4.16 +/- 0.69 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Anti-PRL-receptor antiserum significantly inhibited the binding of the [125I]iodo-oPRL to rabbit lung membranes, while it was less potent in preventing the binding of [125I]iodo-hGH, which has both lactogenic and somatogenic activity. Removal of endogenous ligand by treating lung membranes with 4 M MgCl2 increased specific binding of hGH about 2.5-fold, exposing additional specific binding sites without significantly changing the binding affinity. The level of binding of hGH and oPRL to rabbit lung did not show a pronounced sex differentiation. In summary, PRL and GH binding sites have been demonstrated for the first time in adult rabbit lung membranes, and they support the possibility of a physiological role for PRL and GH in the lung.     

Short-term regulation of prolactin receptors in the liver, mammary gland and kidney of pregnant and lactating rats infused with ovine prolactin or human growth hormone

Short-term regulation of prolactin (PRL) receptors was studied in ketamine-anaesthetized 18-day pregnant or 7-day lactating female rats, by infusing them with various doses of oPRL or human growth hormone (hGH) for 0-3 h and measuring the binding of [125I]oPRL of [125I]hGH to the microsomal fractions prepared from the liver, mammary gland and kidneys of animals sacrificed at various states of infusion. Our main findings are: In pregnant rats, only 30% of liver receptors are unoccupied and infusion with 25 micrograms/h for 3 h of either oPRL of hGH decreased both free and total receptors by 22-30% while infusion with 250 micrograms/ml caused an additional decrease only in the free receptors. In the mammary gland and the kidney of pregnant rats, all receptors seem to be unoccupied; infusion with 25 micrograms/ml had none or a slight elevating effect on the number of both free and total receptors in the mammary gland but caused a significant 3-fold increase in the kidney; infusion with 250 micrograms/ml, however, resulted in a slight decrease in the mammary gland and a significant decrease in the kidney in both total and free receptors. In the liver of the lactating rats, there was no significant difference between the number of free and total receptors, but in mammary gland, specific binding to the total receptor was higher than to the free ones indicating partial occupancy; infusion with 25 micrograms/ml caused a significant decrease in free and total liver receptors without a remarkable change in the mammary gland and some decrease (by infusion with hGH only) in the kidney. In all cases, the changes in the specific binding resulted from the increase or decrease in receptor number and not from the change in receptor-hormone affinity. In almost all cases, infusion with oPRL or hGH yielded similar results. Infusion with both hormones did not affect the level of the endogenous rat prolactin. In conclusion, our results indicate the short-term regulation of PRL receptors by exogenous hormones is a complicated process which is affected by the level of the infused hormone, physiological state of the animal and may yield, simultaneously, different or even opposite changes in receptor number in various organs.     

Prolactin-binding components in rabbit mammary gland: characterization by partial purification and affinity labeling

The molecular characteristics of the PRL receptor isolated from rabbit mammary gland microsomes were investigated. Two approaches were employed: 1) affinity purification of PRL receptors and direct electrophoretic analysis, and 2) affinity cross-linking of microsomal receptors with [125I]ovine PRL [( 125I]oPRL). PRL receptors were solubilized from mammary microsomes with 3-[( 3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]1-propane sulfonate and purified using an oPRL agarose affinity column. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining of the gel revealed at least nine bands, including a 32,000 mol wt band which was most intensively labeled with 125I using the chloramine-T method. Covalent labeling of PRL receptors with [125I]oPRL was performed using N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azido benzoate, disuccinimidyl suberate, or ethylene glycol bis (succinimidyl succinate). A single band of 59,000 mol wt was produced by all three cross-linkers when sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed under reducing conditions. Assuming 1:1 binding of hormone and binding subunit and by subtracting the mol wt of [125I]oPRL, which was estimated from the migration distance on the gel, the mol wt of the binding subunit was calculated as 32,000. In the absence of dithiothreitol during electrophoresis, only one major hormone-receptor complex band was observed. The same mol wt binding components were also detected in microsomal fractions of rabbit kidney, ovary, and adrenal. A slightly higher mol wt binding subunit was observed in rat liver microsomes. Rabbit liver microsomes revealed five [125I]oPRL-binding components, three of which were considered to be those of a GH receptor. Moreover, affinity labeling of detergent-solubilized and affinity purified mammary PRL receptors showed a similar major binding subunit. From these observations, we conclude that this predominant 32,000 mol wt component is a major binding subunit of the PRL receptor molecule and does not aggregate with itself or with other subunits through S-S linkages.     

Recombinant prolactin receptor extracellular domain of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): subcloning, preparation, and characterization

The cDNA of the extracellular domain of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) prolactin receptor (trPRLR-ECD) was cloned in the prokaryotic expression vector pMON to enable its expression in Escherichia coli after induction with nalidixic acid. The bacterially expressed trPRLR-ECD protein, contained within the refractile body pellet, was solubilized in 4.5 M urea, refolded, and purified on a Q-Sepharose column, pH 8, by stepwise elution with NaCl. The bioactive monomeric 26-kDa fraction was eluted in 0.2 M NaCl, yielding 20 mg/2.5 L of induced culture. The purified protein was over 98% homogeneous, as shown by SDS-PAGE in the presence or absence of reducing agent and by chromatography on a Superdex column. Binding experiments using [125I]ovine placental lactogen (oPL) as a ligand revealed that human growth hormone (hGH), oPL, and ovine prolactin (oPRL) were the most effective competitors, with respective IC50 values of 1.32, 2.27, and 2.70 nM. Chicken (ch) PRL did not compete at all, and homologous trPRL was much less effective, with a corresponding IC50 value of 1826 nM. Gel-filtration was used to determine the stoichiometry of trPRLR-ECD's interaction with oPL, hGH, and oPRL. Only oPL yielded a 2:1 complex, whereas hGH and oPRL formed only 1:1 complexes, with excess trPRLR-ECD being seen at the initial 2:1 trPRLR-ECD:hGH or trPRLR-ECD:oPRL ratios. No studies were performed with chPRL because of its inability to compete with [125I]oPL or with trPRL because of its low affinity toward trPRLR-ECD. The present results agree with previous findings indicating, as in mammals, that homologous PRL interacts transiently with its receptor and suggest that transient homologous PRL-induced homodimerization of the receptor is sufficient to initiate a biological signal, despite the fact that, in classical binding experiments, only low specific binding can be detected.     

Evidence for a rapid stimulation of tyrosine kinase activity by prolactin in Nb2 rat lymphoma cells.

Studies were designed to determine if the activation of tyrosine kinases may be involved in the signal transduction pathway for PRL. Tyrosyl phosphorylation of cellular proteins was evaluated by western blot analysis of Nb2 cell proteins employing an antibody to phosphotyrosine. Physiological concentrations of ovine PRL (oPRL) had a pronounced effect on the tyrosyl phosphorylation of a 121 kDa protein. Increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein was detectable with concentrations of oPRL as low as 0.5 ng/ml. Consistent with oPRL acting through a PRL receptor, hGH also stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein when tested at concentrations between 5 and 20 ng/ml. In time course experiments, increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein was apparent after a 5 min incubation with 20 ng/ml hGH, and maintained for at least one h. At higher concentrations of hGH (200 ng/ml), increased phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein was clearly evident after only 1 min, indicating that tyrosyl phosphorylation of cellular proteins is an early event following ligand binding to the PRL receptor. Increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of proteins of 40, 90 and 55-65 kDa was also evident after incubation with hGH for 10, 10, and 60 min respectively. These findings are consistent with PRL-dependent tyrosine kinase activation being an early and perhaps initiating event in the signal transduction pathway for PRL in Nb2 cells.     

Characterization of prolactin receptors in human choroid plexus.

The specific binding of 125I-human prolactin (hPRL) was studied in different areas of the human brain. Particularly high binding affinity of the hormone was found in the choroid plexus and this tissue was therefore selected for further studies. The hippocampus, the hypothalamus and the pituitary were among other regions containing prolactin-binding sites. In the choroid plexus the amount of PRL receptors was significantly higher in females than in males and was also found in both sexes to decrease with age. The binding affinity of 125I-hPRL to choroid plexus was 3.0 x 10(9) M-1 and the binding capacity was 10.3 pmol per mg protein. Following solubilization with Triton X-100 the PRL receptor fraction retained its hormone-binding properties and upon molecular sieve chromatography it behaved as a protein with a molecular mass of approximately 250,000. Cross-linking of 125I-hPRL to receptors from choroid plexus and subsequent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated a major hormone-binding unit of M(r) 44,000. This value is about 7,000 smaller than that reported earlier by us for the growth hormone receptors from the same tissue, following cross-linking to 125I-human growth hormone (hGH). By affinity column chromatography a complete separation of the hPRL and hGH binding units was achieved. It was thus shown that in choroid plexus the binding sites for GH and PRL occur as discrete entities.     

Evolution of prolactin and placental lactogen receptors in ewes during pregnancy and lactation

The present paper describes a method of membrane preparation from ewe mammary gland using a sucrose cushion (1.3 M) to select smooth membranes; this results in a membrane preparation richer in PRL receptors than the microsomal preparation classically used. This method was used for the characterization and measurement of PRL and ovine placental lactogen (oPL) receptors in three organs of the ewe (mammary gland, liver, and adipose tissue). PRL receptors were measured by competition of iodinated human GH ([125I]hGH) with ovine PRL (oPRL). This hormone, which has both growth and lactogenic activities, appears to interact with PRL receptors with a higher affinity than oPRL itself and is a good probe for the determination of PRL receptors in the ewe. oPL receptors were measured by the specific binding of [125I]oPL. This hormone appears to bind exclusively to a somatogenic site in the ewe, since various GHs compete efficiently for binding, whereas oPRL is without effect. The evolution of PRL and oPL receptors was determined during pregnancy and lactation and at different periods after an estradiol and progesterone treatment, which provokes growth of the mammary gland and milk secretion. During pregnancy, PRL receptors increased in the mammary gland up to day 100. During the last trimester, receptor content remained stable, and a second increase occurred during early lactation. No additional significant changes were observed either for PRL receptors in liver or adipose tissue or for oPL receptors in any of the organs studied (mammary gland, liver, adipose tissue). Injections of large doses of estradiol and progesterone to nonpregnant ewes were able to reproduce effectively the pattern of PRL receptors observed during pregnancy, but had no effect on oPL receptor levels. These studies demonstrate the independence of PRL and PL receptor sites in the ewe and suggest a different hormonal regulation for each type of receptor.     

Rat growth hormone (GH) but not prolactin (PRL) induces both GH and PRL receptors in female rat liver

This study was designed to elucidate which hormone is responsible for the induction of GH and PRL receptors in rat liver. Intact female rats were implanted with osmotic minipumps delivering rat GH (rGH) or ovine GH (oGH) or PRL at various rates from 75 to 800 micrograms/day for 7 days, and binding of radioiodinated bovine GH or ovine PRL (oPRL) tracer was measured on liver microsomal membranes. MgCl2 treatment was used to remove bound hormones from receptors before tracer binding. Infusion of rGH resulted in a significant increase (P less than 0.001) in both GH and PRL binding, the effect being maximal (2.5- to 3-fold for both ligands) at rGH infusion rates from 150 to 400 micrograms/day. Serum rGH levels were elevated 3- to 5-fold in these animals, but somatomedin-C concentrations were not higher than in controls. MgCl2 treatment showed that GH, but not PRL, binding sites in rGH-treated animals were significantly occupied by administered hormone. Analysis of competitive binding curves indicated that receptors for both GH and PRL increased in concentration without changes in binding affinity. In contrast to the rGH effect, oGH infusion from 75 to 400 micrograms/day failed in two experiments to consistently alter either bovine GH or oPRL binding sites. This was not explained by the potency of the preparation at the somatogenic receptor; oGH was in fact more potent than rGH. The effects of rat PRL and oPRL infusion on receptor levels were also assessed. In contrast to previous reports, neither preparation caused induction of either PRL or GH binding sites. oPRL decreased PRL binding by 30-40% when infused between 200 and 400 micrograms/day, whereas rat PRL had a less consistent effect. MgCl2 stripping of membranes suggested that administered PRL preparations did not significantly occupy PRL receptors. GH receptors were unaffected in any PRL-treated group. It is concluded that in intact female rats, rGH regulates the concentration of both GH and PRL receptors. The slight down-regulation of PRL receptors resulting from PRL infusion casts further doubt on the concept that PRL induces its own hepatic receptors.     

Isolation of a nicotine binding site from rat brain by affinity chromatography.

With the use of affinity chromatography, a [3H]-nicotine binding site was purified almost 1,000-fold from a Triton X-100-solubilized extract of rat brain neural membranes. The affinity column was prepared by conjugation of (R,S)-6-(2-hydroxyethyl)nicotine to epoxy-activated Sepharose. Further purification of the material from the affinity column was resolved by using another column of the same affinity gel, resulting in the isolation of a major protein (about 95% purity) that had a Mr of 56,000, as determined by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with very minor components ranging in Mr from 47,000 to 83,000. With the use of various nicotine analogues, it was shown that the purified material exhibited nearly identical binding characteristics to rat brain membrane preparations, including stereoselectivity for the nicotine enantiomers. The Kd of the purified site, 3.5 x 10(-9) M, was similar to that observed with membrane and Triton X-100-soluble preparations, whereas the binding capacity was greater than 25 pmol/mg of protein, as compared to 0.07 pmol/mg of protein in the starting material. The results are discussed in relation to the purified nicotinic cholinergic receptor from electroplax. It was concluded that the nicotine site in rat brain was different from the cholinergic receptor of electroplax or calf skeletal muscle.     

Binding and cross-linking of iodinated rat prolactin to rat hepatic prolactin receptor

Basal parameters for binding and cross-linking of 125I-rat prolactin (rPRL) to lactogenic (PRL) binding species present in crude membrane fraction (CMF) or detergent-solubilized preparations of rat liver have been investigated. (1) The highest specific binding to CMF was obtained with an incubation time of 50 h at 20 degrees C and with a 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 8.5. (2) Cross-linking of 125I-rPRL to binding sites in CMF with disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) showed the autoradiographic appearance of an Mr 40,000 binding species. (3) No specific binding or cross-linking of rPRL was seen in Triton X-100-solubilized CMF. This is probably due to Triton X-100-induced changes in the physical properties of rPRL. (4) Specific binding of 125I-rPRL was detected in CHAPS-solubilized CMF. Following cross-linking the autoradiographic appearance of a binding species with an Mr value of 40,000 was shown. 125I-hGH was cross-linked to three PRL binding species with Mr 82,000, 40,000 and 35,000 in CHAPS-solubilized preparations. (5) In Golgi-enriched low-density membrane preparation 125I-rPRL was cross-linked to Mr 82,000, 40,000 and 35,000 species. It is proposed that the inability of rPRL to be cross-linked to Mr 82,000 and 35,000 species present in CHAPS-solubilized preparation is the result of CHAPS-induced changes of rPRL binding properties and low solubilizing capacity of CHAPS. (6) In conclusion, this study shows that also the iodinated endogenous hormone, rat prolactin, and not only hGH identifies high and low molecular forms of the rat liver prolactin receptor.     

Solubilization and characterization of the rat pituitary gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptor

Specific receptors for gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were extracted from the rat pituitary gland with several detergents and characterized by binding studies with the potent GnRH antagonist [Ac-D-pCl-Phe1.2, D-Trp3, D-Lys6, D-Ala10]-GnRH (GnRHant). The particulate GnRH receptors were most effectively solubilized with 5 mM 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulphonate (CHAPS), which extracted 63% of the original membrane binding activity when assayed with 125I-labelled GnRHant. The binding affinities of particulate and CHAPS-solubilized receptors analysed with 125I-labelled GnRHant were 1.5 +/- 0.4 x 10(9) M-1 and 1.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(9) M-1 respectively. Gel filtration of the CHAPS-solubilized receptor revealed a major peak of specific binding activity with Mr of about 700,000. A hormone-receptor complex of similar Mr was observed when CHAPS-solubilized receptors were labelled with photoreactive radioiodinated [D-Lys6]-des-Gly10-GnRH-N-ethyl-amide and then analysed by gel chromatography. However, when pituitary particles were photolabelled and solubilized in 2% Triton X-100 before analysis on Sephacryl S-300, the Mr of the receptor was approximately 250,000, similar to the value obtained by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of the CHAPS-solubilized receptor. After solubilization in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) the photolabelled receptor was eluted from Sephacryl S-300 as a 60 kDa peak which on SDS-gel electrophoresis contained a 52 kDa component, corresponding to the major binding subunit extracted directly from photolabelled pituitary membranes. The difference in higher molecular weight forms observed under non-denaturing and denaturing conditions could reflect the need for additional membrane components to maintain the active conformation of the GnRH receptor site. Whereas the minimum Mr of the solubilized receptor is about 250,000 under non-denaturing conditions, analysis of the photolabelled GnRH-receptor complex by SDS chromatography and electrophoresis indicates that a binding subunit with Mr of 50,000-60,000 is present in the GnRH holoreceptor.     

Intracellular transformation of prolactin following internalization into rat liver

We investigated prolactin (PRL) degradation in rat liver lysosomes both in vivo and in vitro. In previous studies we showed that, in addition to the Golgi apparatus, PRL is internalized towards lysosomes and light, lysosome-like vesicles which we identified as 'prelysosomes'. Injected [125I]oPRL that localized in lysosomes and prelysosomes at times varying from 0 to 45 min showed significant differences from fresh and plasma membrane- (PM) or Golgi-bound hormone. First, it was more easily dissociable by 3 M MgCl2 than Golgi- but less than PM-bound [125I]oPRL. Second, it was only in lysosomal fractions that, as time following injection increased, a significant part of dissociable radioactivity became non-TAC-precipitable. When MgCl2-extracted [125I]oPRL was subjected to gel filtration on a Sephadex G-75 fine column, some of the radioactivity, and especially that extracted from prelysosomal or lysosomal fractions, eluted as a high molecular weight (HMW) entity, most co-migrated with fresh [125I]oPRL, and a little was found in small fragments. Only the central peak had any rebinding activity, which was comparable to that of fresh hormone. In an in vitro study we incubated [125I]hGH with lysosomal fractions for 16 h at 25 degrees C. After centrifugation, an aliquot of supernatant hormone was assayed for its binding capacity to standard receptor preparations and the rest subjected to gel filtration. Peak fractions were also tested in binding assay. [125I]hGH that had been in contact with prelysosomes lost almost all of its ability to bind to standard receptors and totally migrated in the HMW peak, at the void volume of the column.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)