title: Characterization of nuclear angiotensin-II-binding sites in rat liver and comparison with plasma membrane receptors.
abstract: Although the action of angiotensin-II (Ang-II) is believed to be mediated by a transmembrane signal transduction mechanism, accumulating evidence suggests that Ang-II may also have a direct nuclear action. We have characterized the nuclear Ang-II-binding site in purified nuclei preparation from rat liver and compared it to plasma membrane Ang-II receptors. [125I]Ang-II binding to isolated nuclei reached equilibration in 30 min at 25 C, slower than binding to plasma membrane, which reached equilibration within 10 min. Scatchard analysis of [125I]Ang-II binding to isolated nuclei revealed a single class of binding sites (Kd = 1.4 nM; binding capacity = 10 fmol/mg protein or 460 sites/nucleus). In the nuclear preparation, Ang-II and its fragments competed for binding a potency order of Ang-III = Ang-II greater than Ang-II-(1-7) greater than Ang-II-(1-6) greater than Ang-II-(1-5). Losartan potassium (DuP 753), a selective blocker of the Ang-II receptor subtype I, fully inhibits nuclear Ang-II binding with affinity similar to that in plasma membrane. The pH optimum for [125I]Ang-II binding to nuclei was 7.0, while binding to plasma membrane was optimal at pH 8.0. Low concentrations (0.05-0.1 mM) of dithiothreitol increased [125I]Ang-II binding to nuclei, but not to plasma membrane. In the absence of detergent, Ang-II-binding sites appear to consist of soluble protein releasable from nuclei by freezing and thawing, hence distinct in physicochemical properties from the membrane-bound receptor. Size-exclusion HPLC estimated the mol wt of the soluble Ang-II-binding sites to be 66 kilodaltons. These nuclear Ang-II-binding sites have some similarities to but also show notable physicochemical differences from plasma membrane Ang-II receptors, and they may play a role in mediating the intracellular action of Ang-II.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Vascular Research Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rogg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Dzau
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D000804:Angiotensin II; D004229:Dithiothreitol