Heterogeneity of L-type calcium channel alpha 1 subunits: stereoselective discrimination of different populations by the novel 1,4-dihydropyridine B 874-67.

The basic (pKa = 8.49) 1,4-dihydropyridine B 874-67 [[3-(C1R,2S)- 2-methylamino-1-phenylpropyl]-5-methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-(4R)-4-( 3-nitrophenyl)pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate hydrochloride] has unique properties; it can discriminate two populations of alpha 1 subunits in 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channels labeled with the neutral 1,4-dihydropyridine (+)-[3H]PN 200-110. The two populations, which occur in proportions of approximately 2:1 in rabbit skeletal muscle membranes and highly purified calcium channel preparations, differ approximately 20-fold in their affinity.