piperidines and tetramethylammonium

Previously published results appeared to show that vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) does not transport choline (Ch). Because it is uniquely suited to detect transport of weakly bound substrates, a recently developed assay that detects transmembrane reorientation of the substrate binding site was used to re-examine transport selectivity. Rat VAChT was expressed in PC12(A1237) cells, postnuclear supernatant-containing microvesicles was prepared, and the reorientation assay was conducted with unlabeled Ch and tetramethylammonium (TMA). Also, [(14)C]Ch and [(3)H]acetylcholine (ACh) were used in an optimized accumulation assay. The results demonstrate that Ch is transported at least as well as ACh is, but with sevenfold lower affinity. Even TMA is transported, but with 26-fold lower affinity. Ch transport by VAChT is of interest in view of the possibilities that Ch (i) occurs at higher concentration than ACh does in terminal cytoplasm under some conditions, and (ii) is an agonist for alpha 7 nicotinic receptors.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Binding, Competitive; Biological Transport; Carbon Radioisotopes; Choline; Intracellular Membranes; Membrane Transport Proteins; PC12 Cells; Piperidines; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Subcellular Fractions; Tritium; Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins

The interaction of the lipophilic cyclophane 1 with several acetylcholine (ACh) and tetramethylammonium (TMA) salts has been investigated in deuteriochloroform to ascertain the influence of the counterion on the cation-pi interaction. Reliable association constants have been measured for 17 salts of commonly used anions; corresponding binding free energies -DeltaG degrees ranged from over 8 kJ mol(-1) down to the limit of detection. The dramatic dependence of the binding energy on the anion showed that the latter takes part in the process with a passive and adverse contribution, which inhibits cation binding even to complete suppression in unfavorable cases. Thermodynamic parameters for the association of 1 with TMA picrate demonstrate that binding is enthalpic in origin, showing a substantial enthalpy gain (DeltaH degrees = -16.7 kJ mol(-1)) and an adverse entropic contribution (DeltaS degrees = -27.9 J mol(-1) K(-1)). A correlation has been found between the "goodness" of anions as binding partners and the solubility of their salts. Conversion of the anion into a more charge-dispersed species, for example, conversion of chloride into dialkyltrichlorostannate, improves cation binding substantially, indicating that charge dispersion is a main factor determining the influence of the anion on the cation-pi interaction. DFT computational studies show that the variation of the binding free energy of TMA with the counterion is closely accounted for by the electrostatic potential (EP) of the ion pair: guest binding appears to respond to the cation's charge density exposed to the receptor, which is determined by the anion's charge density through a polarization mechanism. A value of -DeltaG degrees = 38.6 kJ mol(-1) has been extrapolated for the free energy of binding of TMA to 1 in chloroform but in the absence of a counterion. The transmission of electrostatic effects from the ion pair to the cation-pi interaction demonstrates that host-guest association is governed by Coulombic attraction, as long as factors (steric, entropic, solvation, etc.) other than pure electrostatics are not prevalent.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Cations; Chloroform; Deuterium; Ethers, Cyclic; Ligands; Models, Molecular; Piperidines; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Solubility; Static Electricity; Thermodynamics

1. Intracellular recordings were made in intact and in acutely dissociated vagal afferent neurones (nodose ganglion cells) of the ferret to investigate the effects of substance P(SP). 2. In current-clamp recordings, SP (100 nM) applied by superfusion hyperpolarized the membrane potential (7 +/- 0.7 mV; mean +/- S.E.M.; n = 105) and decreased the input resistance in 80% of the neurones. With voltage-clamp recording, SP produced an outward current of 3 +/- 0.2 nA (n = 10). 3. The SP current was concentration dependent with an estimated EC50 of 68 nM. The SP-induced hyperpolarization or current was mimicked by the tachykinin receptor NK1 agonist Ac-[Arg6, Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP(6-11) (ASM-SP; 100 nM; n = 10) and blocked by the NK1 antagonist CP-96,345 (10 nM; n = 6), but not by the NK2 antagonist SR48968 (100 nM; n = 4). No measurable change in membrane potential or input resistance was observed with application of either [beta-Ala8]neurokinin A or senktide, selective NK2 and NK3 receptor agonists, respectively (100 nM; n = 3 for each agonist). 4. The reversal potential (Erev) for the SP outward current was -85 +/- 2.5 mV (n = 4). The Erev for the SP response shifted in a Nernstian manner with changes in extracellular potassium concentration. Alterations in extracellular sodium or chloride concentrations had no significant effect on the Erev for the SP response (n = 3 for each ion). 5. Nominally Ca(2+)-free external solution abolished the SP response. Removal of magnesium from the extracellular solution had no effect on the response. 6. Caesium (100 microM), barium (1 mM), tetraethylammonium (TEA; 5 mM), apamin (10 nM) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 4 mM) each completely prevented the SP response (n > or = 3 for each). 7. These results indicate that SP, via an NK1 receptor, can induce a Ca(2+)-dependent outward potassium current which hyperpolarizes the resting membrane potential of vagal afferent somata.

Topics: 4-Aminopyridine; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Apamin; Benzamides; Biphenyl Compounds; Cations, Divalent; Cesium; Electrophysiology; Ferrets; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Neurons, Afferent; Nodose Ganglion; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Peptide Fragments; Piperidines; Potassium; Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Receptors, Tachykinin; Substance P; Vagus Nerve