Extraction of Soluble Gonadotrophin Receptors from Rat Testis

Abstract

PEPTIDE hormone receptors have been studied in homogenates and membrane preparations from a variety of target tissues, and in some cases have been shown to be associated with adenylate cyclase activity in such particulate fractions^1-7. They have a moderately high stability to physical fractionation procedures; more detailed analysis of their properties has been impeded by the complexity and insoluble nature of the membrane-bound receptor sites, so that various techniques were used to obtain soluble forms of receptor for structure-function studies. Receptors for adrenocorticotrophic hormone were successfully dispersed into minute membrane fragments by sonication and pressure disruption of adrenal tumour particles in the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine³. Treatment with detergents such as ‘Lubrol’ and ‘Triton X-100’ has been used to prepare soluble forms of the cardiac β adrenergic receptor⁸ and the insulin receptors of liver and adipose tissue⁹.