Affinity labeling of muscarinic receptors in rat cerebral cortex with a photolabile antagonist.

Highly potent photoaffinity probes for muscarinic binding sites were prepared by the incorporation of an azido group into the benzilic acid moiety in two compound, 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate (3QNB) and N-methyl-4-piperidyl benzilate (4NMPB). Inactivation of muscarinic sites in rat cortex depends on the formation of a reversible complex with the azides prior to their photolytic conversion to the highly reactive nitrenes. During photolysis, radiolabeled azido-4NMPB interacted specifically and with high affinity (Kd = 1.06 nM) with the muscarinic receptors, and the ligand could be covalently incorporated into a macromolecule of about 86,000 Mr, presumably the muscarinic receptor. The incorporation was almost stoichiometric when compared to determination of receptor density by reversible ligands. Atropine (10 microM) afforded specific protection (greater than 83%) of the receptor against inactivation by azido-[3H]4NMPB. This compound and the other ligands described here (i.e., amino-4NMPB, amino-3QNB, and azido-3QNB) represent powerful potential probes for the biochemical isolation and characterization of muscarinic receptors.