ADP is an important platelet agonist which initiates platelet shape change, aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen receptors, and calcium mobilization. Because of the limitations of previously used affinity analogs and photolabeling studies as well as controversies surrounding the identity of an ADP receptor on platelets, we have used an affinity label capable of alkylating a putative exofacial receptor on platelets. We now report that 8-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)adenosine-5-diphosphate (8-BDB-TADP), which is an analog of the natural ligand ADP, blocked ADP-induced platelet shape change, aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen-binding sites, secretion, and calcium mobilization. Following modification by 8-BDB-TADP, the rates of aggregation of platelets induced by thrombin, a calcium ionophore (A23187) or a stimulator of protein kinase C (phorbol myristate acetate) were minimally affected. However, the 8-BDB-TADP-modified platelets exhibited decreased rates of aggregation in response to ADP, as well as collagen and a thromboxane mimetic (U46619), both of which partially require ADP. Autoradiograms of the gels obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of solubilized platelets modified by either [- Although ADP (Fig. 1A) is one of the earliest known agonists for platelet activation (1, 2), the identity of the receptor is still uncertain. ADP receptors on platelets and magakaryocytes are unique (3); they constitute a subtype P 2T of a class of P 2 purinergic receptors where ADP is the strongest agonist and ATP is an antagonist (4). The presence of a P 2T receptor on human erythroleukemia cells has recently been demonstrated (5). Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that 5Ј-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA) 1 (Fig. 1B), an ADP affinity label, blocked ADP-induced platelet shape change (6), aggregation, and exposure of fibrinogen-binding sites (7) with concomitant covalent modification of a single surface protein, aggregin (100 kDa), an ADP receptor on platelet surface (8, 9). Covalent modification of platelets by FSBA was shown to block platelet aggregation induced by U46619 (a thromboxane mimetic) (10) and collagen (11), suggesting that aggregation induced by these agonists, in part, depends on interaction of ADP with aggregin.Other investigators have proposed different candidates for a putative ADP rceceptor on platelet surface. Greco et al. (12) suggested that there is an ADP-binding site on platelet glycoprotein IIb (GPIIb) based on results obtained by photolabeling of platelets by [ 35