Interaction of 7-bromoacetyl-7-desacetylforskolin, and alkylating derivative of forskolin, with bovine brain adenylyl cyclase and human erythrocyte glucose transporter.

7-Bromoacetyl-7-desacetylforskolin (BrAcFsk), an alkylating derivative of forskolin, activated adenylyl cyclase and irreversibly blocked high affinity forskolin binding sites in human platelet membranes and rat brain membranes (Laurenza et al., 1990). Photoincorporation of an iodinated arylazido derivative of forskolin, 125I-6-AIPP-Fsk, into adenylyl cyclase in bovine brain membranes was irreversibly inhibited by BrAcFsk but not by 1,9-dideoxy-BrAcFsk, suggesting that BrAcFsk was reacting specifically with a nucleophilic group(s) at the forskolin binding site of adenylyl cyclase. Immunoblotting with antiforskolin antiserum demonstrated that partially purified bovine brain adenylyl cyclase had incorporated BrAcFsk. The interaction of BrAcFsk with the glucose transporter in human erythrocyte membranes was examined in a similar manner. Photoincorporation of 125I-7-AIPP-Fsk, an iodinated arylazido derivative of forskolin which is specific for the glucose transporter, into the glucose transporter was not irreversibly inhibited by BrAcFsk, suggesting that, in contrast to adenylyl cyclase, there is no reactive nucleophilic group at the forskolin binding site on the human erythrocyte glucose transporter. The immunoblotting procedure with antiforskolin antiserum confirmed that BrAcFsk was not covalently attached to human erythrocyte glucose transporter.