A sulfhydryl group of the canine cardiac beta-adrenergic receptor observed in the absence of hormone.

Canine cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors contain a free sulfhydryl group in the adrenergic ligand binding site. [125 I]-Iodohydroxybenzylpindolol [( 125 I]-IHYP) binding to cardiac beta-receptors was inhibited 80% by treatment with 1 mM p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (pCMB). Occupation of the beta-receptors by an antagonist prior to treatment with pCMB prevented this effect suggesting that a sulfhydryl group is present in or near the ligand binding site of the cardiac beta-receptor. In the presence of agonists, the sensitivity of cardiac beta-receptors to pCMB was increased. Incubation of isoproterenol-occupied cardiac beta-receptors, resulted in a 57% inhibition of [125 I]-IHYP binding measured after extensive washing to remove bound agonist. The ability of isoproterenol to increase the reactivity of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors supports the hypothesis that agonists produce a conformational change upon binding.