Contribution of gangliosides to thyroxin binding with plasma membranes

Abstract

Besides intracellular receptors of thyroid hormones, specific binding sites for T3 and T4 were detected on plasma membranes (PM) of some cells and a relationship between membrane reception .and lipid composition of membranes shown. The parameters of 125I-T4 binding to highly purified PM of hepatic and cerebral cells of rats were studied. The hepatic and cerebral cellular membranes were found to contain two sites of hormone binding each, one of these sites being characterized by a high affinity and low capacity, and the other by low affinity and a higher binding capacity. The association constant of highly affine site of hepatocyte membranes was found to be higher than that of brain cell membranes. T4 membranous receptors may be significant in the process of cell “recognition" by the hormone. In vivo and in vitro experiments with 125I-T4 and 14C-labeled thyroxin in ganglioside fractions showed appreciable binding of the hormone to Gm3 fraction, this evidently pointing to participation of this, ganglioside in T4 interaction with membrane receptor. It is possible that gangliosides situated on membranous surface are components of or function as receptors.