Endocrinology, Vol 128, 2731-2738, Copyright © 1991 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Characterization and regulation of high affinity calcitonin gene- related peptide receptors in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes

TK Chatterjee, JA Moy and RA Fisher
Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242.

Previous studies have shown that stimulation of cultured beating cardiac myocytes with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) produces increased beating frequency, increased cellular cAMP concentration, and a homologous desensitization of the cAMP-elevating action of CGRP. In the present study, the characteristics and regulation of [125I]CGRP binding sites in cultured cardiac myocytes were investigated. Binding of [125I] CGRP to membranes prepared from these cells was selective, saturable, and of high affinity. Scatchard transformation of the saturation isotherm generated a linear plot suggesting the existence of a homogeneous population of binding sites with an equilibrium binding constant of 41 +/- 7 pM and maximum binding capacity of 31 +/- 5 fmol/mg protein. Binding of [125I]CGRP to membranes was inhibited completely by guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (250 microM), suggesting association of the binding sites with a G protein. Consistent with the saturation binding data, association kinetic studies indicated that [125I]CGRP associated with a single population of binding sites. Dissociation kinetic data, in contrast, indicated that [125I]CGRP dissociated from two affinity component sites on membranes, suggesting the existence of multiple affinity states of the G protein-coupled forms of the CGRP receptor. Nonequilibrium dissociation kinetic experiments revealed a time-dependent conversion of [125I] CGRP binding sites from a fast- to a slow-dissociating state. Desensitization of cells to CGRP by prior exposure to CGRP (10 nM) for 5 min reduced the maximal cAMP response of cells to further CGRP challenge and the number of [125I]CGRP binding sites in membranes prepared from these cells approximately 90% and 80%, respectively. These results demonstrate the existence of high affinity CGRP receptors in cardiac myocytes which appear coupled to G proteins and which undergo ligand-induced affinity alterations and desensitization-induced loss of receptor activity. The present findings also suggest the existence of multiple affinity states of the CGRP:receptor:G protein ternary complex.