Guanine nucleotides regulate both agonist and antagonist binding to cod brain alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

The effect of guanine nucleotides on the binding of 3H-prazosin and its displacement by various agonists and antagonists were studied in membranes prepared from the cod brain. When cod brain membranes were maintained in a buffer containing 8 mM Mg2+, GTP (1 mM) was found to increase the specific binding of 3H-prazosin Computer modelling 3H-prazosin saturation curves, suggested that the number of binding sites for 3H-prazosin was increased by 18 +/- 5% by GTP without affecting the affinity for 3H-prazosin (dissociation constant, Kd, 56 +/- 3 pM). Displacement of 3H-prazosin by adrenaline produced shallow displacement curves. Computer modelling these curves suggested that adrenaline bound to two sites - one high and one low affinity site - the Kd's being 0.14 +/- 0.03 (KH) and 7.6 +/- 0.5 microM (KL), respectively. When 1 mM GTP was present the displacement curves were shifted to the right and became steeper. Computer modelling these curves suggested that adrenaline now bound to only one low affinity site with a Kd of 7.6 +/- 0.5 microM. When unlabelled prazosin was used to displace 3H-prazosin the displacement curves were uniphasic and steep, irrespective of whether GTP was present or not. Computer modelling these curves suggested that prazosin bound to only one site with a Kd of 68 +/- 11 pM. In the absence of Mg2+ and in the presence of EDTA (0.8 mM) the displacement curve of adrenaline became steeper and the effect of GTP was almost abolished. During these conditions the ability of GTP to enhance 3H-prazosin binding was also abolished.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)