Transfer of L-type calcium channel IVS6 segment increases phenylalkylamine sensitivity of alpha1A.

Conditioned ("use-dependent") inhibition by phenylalkylamines (PAAs) is a characteristic property of L- type calcium (Ca2+) channels. To determine the structural elements of the PAA binding domain we transferred sequence stretches of the pore-forming regions of repeat III and/or IV from the skeletal muscle alpha1 subunit (alpha1S) to the class A alpha1 subunit (alpha1A and expressed these chimeras together with beta1a and alpha2/delta subunits in Xenopus oocytes. The corresponding barium currents (IBa) were tested for PAA sensitivity during trains of depolarizing test pulses (conditioned block).

In vivo labeling of L-type Ca2+ channels by fluorescent dihydropyridines: evidence for a functional, extracellular heparin-binding site.

We have synthesized and characterized fluorescently labeled dihydropyridines (DHPs) as probes for L-type Ca2+ channels. Racemic as well as (+)- and (-)-1,4-dihydro- 2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3,5-pyridinecarboxylic acid 2-(aminoethyl)ethyl ester hydrochlorides were coupled to boron dipyrromethane (Bodipy) derivatives. (4,4-Difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza)-3- (s-indacene)propionic acid (DMBodipy)-DHP and (4,4-difluoro-7-styryl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza)-3-(s-indacene+ ++)propionic acid (STBodipy)-DHP have Kd values in the nanomolar range for membrane-bound or partially purified skeletal muscle and for neuronal L-type Ca2+ channels.

Stereoselective binding of niguldipine enantiomers to alpha 1A-adrenoceptors labeled with [3H]5-methyl-urapidil.

[3H]5-Methyl-urapidil, a potent antihypertensive derivative of urapidil, binds to alpha 1A-adrenoceptors in rat brain cortex membranes with a dissociation constant (KD) of 0.89 nM and a Bmax of 116 fmol/mg protein. The ligand does not bind to purified liver cell membranes (alpha 1B-adrenoceptors).

[3H]-Nitrendipine, a potent calcium antagonist, binds with high affinity to cardiac membranes.

The tritiated calcium antagonist 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridine carboxylic acid, 3-ethyl-5-methyl ester (nitrendipine, Bay e 5009), a potent analogue of nifedipine, binds in a reversible and saturable manner to partially purified guinea-pig heart membranes. The analyses of the equilibrium binding data with Scatchard plots is in accord with either negative cooperativity of binding or with the assumption of two classes of binding sites, where one site has an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd value) of 0.1 nmol/l and a density of 300 fmol/mg of protein.