title: Purification of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor from porcine brain using a yohimbine-agarose affinity matrix.
abstract: A procedure has been developed for purification of the porcine brain alpha 2-adrenergic receptor to homogeneity. alpha 2-Adrenergic receptors were solubilized from porcine brain particulate preparations using sequential extraction into sodium cholate- and digitonin-containing buffers. The alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in the digitonin extract were identified using the alpha 2-adrenergic selective antagonist, [3H]yohimbine, and demonstrated the same specificity for interaction with adrenergic ligands as did the receptors in particulate preparations. Extraction into digitonin-containing buffers eliminated the modulation of receptor-agonist interactions by guanine nucleotides, but not by monovalent cations. A novel affinity resin, yohimbine-agarose, was synthesized and used for purification of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Using two sequential yohimbine-agarose affinity chromatography steps, digitonin-solubilized alpha 2-adrenergic receptors from porcine brain cortex were purified to homogeneity as assessed by radioiodination and silver stain analysis of these preparations on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified alpha 2-adrenergic receptor has an approximate Mr = 65,000, as determined by photolabeling of the adrenergic ligand-binding subunit. The yohimbine-agarose affinity resin should be useful for purifying quantities of receptor sufficient for studies of receptor structure and function.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000032:analysis; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012685:Sepharose; D013552:Swine; D015016:Yohimbine
chemical_list: D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D015016:Yohimbine; D012685:Sepharose