Long-Term Changes in the Muscarinic M₁ Receptor Induced by Instantaneous Formation of Wash-Resistant Xanomeline-Receptor Complex

Abstract

Unlike other M₁ muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonists, xanomeline demonstrates a unique mode of binding to the receptor. It not only binds reversibly to the receptor's conventional orthosteric site but also binds persistently at a secondary binding domain(s) on the M₁ receptor. This results in persistent activation of the receptor even after extensive washout, and allosteric modulation of the orthosteric site. In the current study, we investigated how the effects of very brief exposure (1 min) of intact Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing M₁ receptors to xanomeline followed by washout change with time. Pretreatment with xanomeline for 1 min resulted in a concentration-dependent wash-resistant inhibition of [³H]N-methylscopolamine (NMS) binding, with a lower potency than that observed in the continuous presence of xanomeline in the binding assay medium. This effect was associated with wash-resistant receptor activation. Incubation of pretreated and washed cells in control medium for 24 h transformed the monophasic xanomeline wash-resistant binding curve to one that exhibits two distinct potencies. This was the result of the appearance of a new very high-potency binding component without a change in the low-potency state. The delayed effects of persistently bound xanomeline are mainly due to reduction of the maximal binding of [³H]NMS without a change in its affinity. These treatment conditions also reversed persistent receptor activation by xanomeline. Our results imply that brief exposure to xanomeline followed by washing and prolonged waiting may result in delayed receptor desensitization accompanied by internalization or down-regulation.