Probing human beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptors with domain-specific fusion protein antibodies

In order to generate antibodies suitable for immunological studies on beta-adrenoceptors constitutively expressed at low levels in cells or tissues we have produced fusion proteins of the amino- and carboxy-terminus, and the second extracellular loop of the human beta(1)- or beta(2)-adrenoceptors with bacterial glutathione-S-transferase in E. coli. Rabbit antibodies raised against these fusion proteins strongly reacted with intact human beta(1)- or beta(2)-adrenoceptors in a subtype- and domain-specific manner. Antibodies directed against the second extracellular loop of the beta(1)-adrenoceptor reacted stronger with non-denatured receptors and decreased the affinity of the H-3-labelled antagonist (-)-4-(3-t-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-[5,7-H-3]benzimidazol-2-one ([H-3]CGP 12 177), indicating a specific interaction with the native receptor. Tn contrast, antibodies directed against carboxy- and amino-terminal receptor domains reacted strongly both with denatured and non-denatured receptors but did not interfere with binding of [H-3]CGP 12 177. Affinity purified antibodies were used for detecting the beta(1)- or the beta(2)-adrenoceptor subtype heterologously produced in Sf9 cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Moreover, we could demonstrate that avidity, titers, and specificity of these antibodies were high enough for studying beta-adrenoceptors constitutively expressed in human A431 cells, where we observed a patched membrane distribution of the receptors.