Legros, C, Devavry, S, Caignard, S, Tessier, C, Delagrange, P, Ouvry, C, Boutin, JA and Nosjean, O (2014) Melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors display different molecular pharmacologies only in the G-protein coupled state. British Journal of Pharmacology. pp. 186-201.

Abstract

Background and Purpose Melatonin receptors have been extensively characterized regarding their affinity and pharmacology, mostly using 2-[ <sup>125</sup>I]-melatonin as a radioligand. Although [<sup>3</sup>H]-melatonin has the advantage of corresponding to the endogenous ligand of the receptor, its binding has not been well described. Experimental Approach We characterized [<sup>3</sup>H]-melatonin binding to the hMT<sub>1</sub> and hMT<sub>2</sub> receptors expressed in a range of cell lines and obtained new insights into the molecular pharmacology of melatonin receptors. Key Results The binding of [ <sup>3</sup>H]-melatonin to the hMT<sub>1</sub> and hMT<sub>2</sub> receptors displayed two sites on the saturation curves. These two binding sites were observed on cell membranes expressing recombinant receptors from various species as well as on whole cells. Furthermore, our GTPS/NaCl results suggest that these sites on the saturation curves correspond to the G-protein coupled and uncoupled states of the receptors, whose pharmacology was extensively characterized. Conclusions and Implications hMT<sub>1</sub> and hMT<sub>2</sub> receptors spontaneously exist in two states when expressed in cell lines; these states can be probed by [<sup>3</sup>H]-melatonin binding. Overall, our results suggest that physiological regulation of the melatonin receptors may result from complex and subtle mechanisms, a small difference in affinity between the active and inactive states of the receptor, and spontaneous coupling to G-proteins. 2013 The British Pharmacological Society

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	NIBR author: Tessier, C institute: NIBR- address only contributor address: (Legros, Devavry, Caignard, Tessier, Ouvry, Boutin, Nosjean) Biotechnologies, Pharmacologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 chemin de ronde, F-78290 Croissy-sur-Seine, France (Devavry) INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France (Devavry) CNRS, UMR6175, Nouzilly, France (Delagrange) Unite de Recherches en Neurosciences, Institut de Recherches Servier, Croissy-sur-Seine, France (Tessier) Respiratory Disease Area, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Horsham RH12 5AB, United Kingdom
Date Deposited:	13 Oct 2015 13:12
Last Modified:	13 Oct 2015 13:12
URI:	https://oak.novartis.com/id/eprint/22647