Heterogeneity of the MSH receptor among B16 murine melanoma subclones.

The heterogeneity of melanotropin receptors on B16 sublines was tested by using photoaffinity crosslinking techniques and the superpotent alpha-MSH derivative [Nle4, D-Phe7, 1'-(2-nitro-4-azido-phenylsulfenyl)-Trp9]-alpha- MSH (NAPS-MSH). Specific crosslinking of this compound to B16-F1, B16-F10, B16-M2R or B16-W4 cells revealed three different subtypes of MSH receptor based on SDS-PAGE analysis. Binding of monoiodinated alpha-MSH to these different subclones is saturable and characteristic for a single class of complexes (0.9 nM less than KD less than 1.6 nM). In this article the nature of the different MSH receptor subtypes as well as their possible correlation to the melanogenic potential of a particular cell line is discussed.