Differential effects of metal ligands on synaptic membrane glutamate binding and uptake systems.

The high affinity, Na+-independent L-[3H]glutamate binding process in synaptic membranes and in the purified binding protein was shown to be inhibited to an almost equal extent by the metal ligands NaN3, KCN, and o-phenanthroline, and by 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine (6-OH DOPA). The high affinity, Na+-dependent glutamate transport activity in these membranes was almost totally insensitive to NaN3, o-phenanthroline, KCN, and 6-OH DOPA. These agents, especially 6-OH DOPA, may be useful tools in achieving a discrimination between putative physiologic receptors and uptake carrier sites for L-glutamate in synaptic membranes. The sensitivity of the glutamate binding sites to the effects of the metal ligands may be correlated to the presence of an iron-sulfur center in the purified glutamate binding protein. some of the characteristics of this metallic center were explored by optical and paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques and are described in this study.