In the present study, we investigated the nature and the importance of glycosylation of two mammalian bombesin receptors, the neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R) and the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R), using chemical cross-linking and enzymatic deglycosylation. [I-125]-(D-Tyr(0))NMB cross-linked to native NMB-R on rat C-6 glioblastoma cells or rat NMB-R transfected into BALB 3T3 cells revealed a single broad band, M(r) = 63 000, on both cell types that was not altered by DTT. NMB inhibited cross-linking specifically and saturably with an IC50 of 4.8 and 6.1 nM for C-6 and NMB-R transfected cells, respectively, and there was a close correlation between its ability to inhibit binding and its ability to inhibit cross-linking. A single broad band of M(r) = 82 000 was cross-linked with [I-125]GRP on mouse GRP-R transfected BALB 3T3 cells. Peptide-N-4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F (PNGase F) digestion increased the mobility of the original band in C-6, NMB-R, and GRP-R transfected cell membranes. Endoglycosidase H (Endo-H) and endoglycosidase F-2 (Endo-F-2) digestion had no effect on both transfected cells. Neuraminidase digestion slightly increased the mobility of the original band in NMB-R transfected cell membranes; however, it had no effect on GRP-R transfected cell membranes. Endo-alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (O-glycanase) digestion subsequent to neuraminidase treatment showed no additional effect on either receptor. Serial partial deglycosylation of cross-linked NMB-Rs with PNGase F treatment for different incubation periods revealed one band of partially glycosylated receptor (53 kDa) besides the fully glycosylated and fully deglycosylated ones, showing that NMB-R has two oligosaccharide chains. Similarly, three partially deglycosylated species (72, 62, and 52 kDa) are seen with the GRP-R, indicating that the GRP-R has four oligosaccharide chains. Treatment of unlabeled membranes with PNGase F followed by affinity labeling resulted in fully deglycosylated NMB-R or 75% deglycosylated GRP-R. Deglycosylation of the NMB-R did not alter its affinity for NMB or alter G-protein coupling; however, 75% deglycosylation of the GRP-R both decreased its affinity for GRP and altered its ability to couple to G-proteins. The present results demonstrate that NMB-R on native and transfected cells is an N-linked sialoglycoprotein with two triantenary and/or tetraantenary complex oligosaccharide chains. The apparent M(r) of this sialoglycoprotein is 63 000, and this protein does not contain disulfide-linked subunits or O-linked carbohydrates. GRP-R is a similar N-linked glycoprotein of an apparent M(r) = 82 000, with four triantenary and/or tetraantenary complex oligosaccharide chains containing no sialic acid. In NMBR, glycosylation is not required for full affinity or G-protein coupling, whereas in GRP-R it plays a significant role in maintaining full high affinity and G-protein coupling.
