Molecular mechanism of the effects of guanine nucleotide and sulfhydryl reagent on muscarinic receptors in smooth muscles studied by radiation inactivation.

The molecular sizes of the units concerned in 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) binding and in the effects of guanine nucleotide and sulfhydryl reagent on the inhibition of QNB binding by carbachol in smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum were determined to be 76,000, 179,000 and 107,000, respectively by the radiation inactivation method. One or more subunits (GTP subunit) other than the receptor subunit in a muscarinic receptor appeared to be involved in the effect of guanine nucleotide. When guanine nucleotide was present, the receptor subunit seemed to be dissociated from the GTP subunit.