Stabilization of follicle-stimulating hormone-receptor complexes may involve calcium-dependent transglutaminase activation.

Calcium-dependent transglutaminase (TGase) activity, determined by incorporation of [1,4-14C]diaminobutane dihydrochloride (putrescine) into casein, was demonstrated in a light membrane fraction prepared from bovine calf testicular homogenates. Purification of these membranes by sucrose density gradient centrifugation produced a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor-enriched fraction containing TGase activity which cosolubilized with the FSH receptor and could be incorporated with detergent-solubilized receptor into liposomes. In the present study, we show that calcium increases specific binding of FSH to receptor in a concentration-related manner, and is associated with an increase (13.2-fold at 20 mM) in the affinity (Ka) of the receptor with no significant (P greater than 0.05) change in receptor concentration. Treatment of the light membrane fraction with monodansylcadaverine (MDC, 1 mM), a specific inhibitor of TGase, did not affect specific binding of FSH, but resulted in only a 3.9-fold increase in Ka at 20 mM calcium with no change in receptor concentration. Specific binding of FSH to receptor at 4 degrees C was also enhanced by calcium. Scatchard analysis of competitive binding inhibition data showed a Ka at 20 mM calcium similar to that observed with MDC. Dissociation of [125I]hFSH-receptor complexes formed at 30 degrees C in the presence of calcium was significantly less than dissociation of complexes formed at 30 degrees C in the absence of calcium. When [125I]hFSH-receptor complexes were formed at 30 degrees C in the presence of calcium and dissociated in calcium-deficient buffer, dissociation increased 3-fold. Similar results were obtained in the presence of MDC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)