A new, simple and robust radioligand binding method used to determine kinetic off-rate constants for unlabeled ligands. Application at alpha(2A)- and alpha(2C)-adrenoceptors

Kinetic on and off rate constants for many receptor ligands are difficult to determine with regular radioligand binding technique since only few of the ligands are available in labeled form. Here we developed a new and simple radioligand binding method for determining the kinetic off-rate constant for unlabeled ligands, using whole cells expressing alpha(2A)- and alpha(2C)-adrenoceptors. The new method involves pre-incubation with unlabeled ligand, centrifugation of microtiter plates in order to adhere the cells to the bottom surface, and then upside-down centrifugation of the plates for few seconds to wash away the non-bound fraction of the pre-incubated ligand. The final on-reaction assay for the radioligand is then started by quick addition of a relatively fast-associating radioligand to the cells. The curve obtained is defined by a fairly simple mathematical formula that reflects the simultaneous dissociation of pre-incubated ligand and association of the radioligand. The method proved to produce highly reproducible results in determining the k(off) constants for various unlabeled ligands. The results show that the alpha(2C)-selectivity of MK912 depends mainly on a very slow off-rate at the alpha(2C)-adrenoceptor subtype. Regarding the markedly alpha(2C)- over alpha(2A)-selective compound spiroxatrine, its much faster on-rate at alpha(2C)- than alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors explains much of its exceptional alpha(2C)-selectivity. Several new techniques for determining the kinetic component of ligand-receptor interactions at molecular level are currently developing. As a reference, based on standard radioligand binding techniques, the present study describes a simple and robust experimental and mathematical procedure for determining k(off) constants of unlabeled drugs