Coated vesicles (CVs) isolated from bovine striatal tissue were examined to determine whether they are associated with dopamine signal systems consisting of dopamine D, and D Z receptors, G proteins, and adenylate cyclase . Dopamine receptors in CVs were characterized by a dopamine D, receptor antagonist, [3 H]SCH 23390, and a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, [ 3 H]spiroperidol . The bindings of both ligands were specifically saturable and reversible with a dissociation constant (K p) of 0 .65 and 0 .5 nM, respectively . Dopaminergic antagonists and agonists inhibited the specific bindings of [ 3H]SCH 23390 and [3 H]spiroperidol in a stereoselective and concentration-dependent manner with an appropriate rank order potency for dopamine D, or D 2 receptors . The regulations of the agonist binding by guanyl-5-ylimidodiphosphate were observed . ADP ribosylation of the CVs with [32 P]NAD demonstrated predominant labeling of bands of M, 47,000-52,000, 42,000-45,000, and 40,000-39,000, which corresponded to the known molecular weights of the a subunits of GS and G ; proteins . The presence of a and ß subunits of G proteins in the CVs was also confirmed by immunoblotting assay . Adenylate cyclase activity, which was stimulated by SKF 38393 and inhibited by dopamine D Z receptor agonists, was present in the CVs . These findings suggest that the dopamine D,