title: Differential coupling of m-cholinoceptors to Gi/Go-proteins in failing human myocardium.
abstract: Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) mediate their main cardiac effects via pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins. Physiological effects differ considerably between atrium and ventricle, and it is unknown to which extent these differences derive from selective receptor-G-protein coupling or further downstream events. We have characterized specific coupling between mAChRs and Gi/Go-protein isoforms in atrial and ventricular myocardium by agonist-dependent photoaffinity labeling with [(32)P]azidoanilido GTP (aaGTP) and immunoprecipitation in sarcolemmal membranes from terminally failing human hearts. The total amount of mAChRs, as determined by specific binding of [(3)H]QNB, was significantly higher in right-atrial (RA +/- SEM, 959 +/- 68 fmol/mg, n = 4) than in left-ventricular membranes (LV, 582 +/- 53 fmol/mg, n = 6). Standardized immunoblots revealed that Gialpha-2 was the predominant subtype in both regions. A 40-kDa splice variant of Goalpha (Goalpha-1 and/or Goalpha-3) was almost exclusively detectable in RA. Levels of Gialpha-3 and a 39-kDa splice variant of Goalpha (Goalpha-2) were also higher in RA. Basal aaGTP binding was higher in RA than in LV for all Gialpha/Goalpha subtypes. The carbachol (10 micromol/l)-induced increase in aaGTP binding was significantly higher in RA than in LV for Goalpha-1/3 (336 +/- 95% of LV, n = 4) and for Gialpha-3 (211 +/- 83%), lower for Gialpha-2 (42 +/- 5%), and was similar in both regions for Goalpha-2 (130 +/- 62%). The differential coupling of mAChRs in human RA and LV suggests that the initiation of different physiological responses to mAChR stimulation starts with signal sorting at the receptor-G-protein level.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000246:Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D000246:Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D002217:Carbachol; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; D000109:Acetylcholine