Molecular alteration of a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor system during synaptogenesis

Journal Article · Thu Jul 25 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · J. Biol. Chem.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6335642

Large, T H; Cho, N J; De Mello, F G; Klein, W L

Biochemical properties of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor system of the avian retina were found to change during the period when synapses form in ovo. Comparison of ligand binding to membranes obtained before and after synaptogenesis showed a significant increase in the affinity, but not proportion, of the high affinity agonist-binding state. There was no change in receptor sensitivity to antagonists during this period. Pirenzepine binding, which can discriminate muscarinic receptor subtypes, showed the presence of a single population of low affinity sites (M2) before and after synaptogenesis. The change in agonist binding was not due to the late development of receptor function. However, detergent-solubilization of membranes eliminated differences in agonist binding between receptors from embryos and hatched chicks, suggesting a developmental change in interactions of the receptor with functionally related membrane components. A possible basis for altered interactions was obtained from isoelectric point data showing that the muscarinic receptor population underwent a transition from a predominantly low pI form (4.25) in 13 day embryos to a predominantly high pI form (4.50) in newly hatched chicks. The possibility that biochemical changes in the muscarinic receptor play a role in differentiation of the system by controlling receptor position on the surface of nerve cells is discussed.

• Research Organization: Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL
• OSTI ID: 6335642
• Journal Information: J. Biol. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Biol. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 15; ISSN JBCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACETYLCHOLINE
AMINES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIRDS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL MEMBRANES
CHEMISTRY
CHICKENS
DRUGS
EMBRYOS
ESTERS
EYES
FACE
FOWL
HEAD
IN VITRO
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MEMBRANES
NERVE CELLS
NEUROREGULATORS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PARASYMPATHOMIMETICS
QUATERNARY COMPOUNDS
RECEPTORS
RETINA
SENSE ORGANS
SOMATIC CELLS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES