Diazipine, a novel photoaffinity probe for dihydropyridine receptors of calcium channels.

A new 1,4-dihydropyridine photoaffinity ligand, [3H]diazipine, has been assessed by binding and photolabeling, and compared with a currently used [3H]azidopine. [3H]Diazipine reversibly binds to skeletal muscle Ca2+ channels with a similar affinity to [3H]azidopine, but [3H]diazipine labels the channel two times more efficiently and no release of the incorported amount is observed after dithiothreitol treatment.