Thiol-specific probes indicate that the beta-chain of platelet glycoprotein Ib is a transmembrane protein with a reactive endofacial sulfhydryl group.

We used two membrane-permeable fluorescent reagents, monobromobimane and N-[[5-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthalenyl]sulfonyl]aziridine (N-dansylaziridine), and one membrane-impermeable fluorescent probe, monobromo(trimethylammonio)bimane, all three of which react selectively with protein thiols, to assess the presence of reactive sulfhydryls in the platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) molecule and establish the topology of any GPIb-reactive thiols in the platelet membrane. Intact platelets were reacted with 1-10 mM monobromobimane or monobromo(trimethylammonio)bimane or 50-100 microM N-dansylaziridine for 30-60 min at 37 degree C. The platelets were then washed, solubilized in 1% Triton X-100, and analyzed by nonreduced-reduced polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis either directly or indirectly after immunopurification of GPIb. Monobromobimane and N-dansylaziridine labeled GPIb beta but not GPIb alpha in intact platelets. This labeling could be inhibited by pretreating the platelets with either N-ethylmalemide or p-(chloromercuri)benzenesulfonic acid, confirming the specificity of these probes for thiol groups. Monobromo(trimethylammonio)bimane, the membrane-impermeable reagent, did not label GPIb beta in intact platelets. However, it did label GPIb beta in sonicated platelets, indicating that the thiol group of GPIb beta occupies an intracellular location. Since the carbohydrate moiety of GPIb beta can be labeled from the outside of intact platelets with membrane-impermeable reagents, we conclude that GPIb beta has a transmembrane orientation.