Receptors on phaeochromocytoma cells for two members of the PP-fold family--NPY and PP.

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) belong to a family of regulatory peptides which hold a distinct tertiary structure, the PP-fold, even in dilute aqueous solution. High-affinity receptors, specific for both PP and NPY, are described on the rat phaeochromocytoma cell line, PC-12. The binding of [125I-Tyr36]PP to PC-12 cells was inhibited by concentrations of unlabeled PP which correspond to physiological concentrations of the hormone, 10(-11)-10(-9) mol/l. The affinity of the receptor for the neuropeptide, NPY, was 10(2)-times lower than that of the PP receptor. C-terminal fragments of both PP (PP24-36) and NPY (NPY13-36) were between 10(2)- and 10(3)-times less potent in displacing the radiolabeled 36-amino-acid peptides from their respective receptors. It is concluded that PC-12 cells are suited for structure-function studies of the PP-fold peptides and studies on the cellular events following cellular binding of PP-fold peptides.