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Lu X, Xu H, Zhang X, Sun T, Lin Y, Li H, Li X, Zhang L, Duan H, Yang X, Ling Y. Target-Based Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel 1,2,4-Triazolone Derivatives as Potential nAChR Modulators. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:19333-19342. [PMID: 38050804 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c04998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Novel agrochemicals have been successfully developed using target-based drug design (TBDD). To discover a novel, efficient, and highly selective nicotinic insecticide candidate, we developed a unified pharmacological model using TBDD by studying the binding modes of 11 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulators with acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) targets for the first time. This model was used to design and develop a series of 1,2,4-triazolone derivatives. Bioassays demonstrated excellent insecticidal activities against Aphis glycines of compounds 4k (LC50 = 4.95 mg/L) and 4q (LC50 = 3.17 mg/L), and low toxicities to Apis mellifera. Additionally, compound 4q was stably bound to Aplysia californica AChBP, which was consistent with the pharmacological model obtained via molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Therefore, compound 4q could be a potential lead candidate targeting nAChR. The explicit pharmacological model of nAChR modulators with Ac-AChBP in this study may facilitate the future rational design of eco-friendly nicotinic insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Lu
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Huan Xu
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Tengda Sun
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yufan Lin
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Honghong Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agro-Product Safety, Agricultural College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi Province 530004, China
| | - Xuesheng Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agro-Product Safety, Agricultural College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi Province 530004, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hongxia Duan
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xinling Yang
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yun Ling
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Cerdan AH, Peverini L, Changeux JP, Corringer PJ, Cecchini M. Lateral fenestrations in the extracellular domain of the glycine receptor contribute to the main chloride permeation pathway. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadc9340. [PMID: 36240268 PMCID: PMC9565810 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adc9340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are ligand-gated ion channels mediating signal transduction at chemical synapses. Since the early patch-clamp electrophysiology studies, the details of the ion permeation mechanism have remained elusive. Here, we combine molecular dynamics simulations of a zebrafish GlyR-α1 model devoid of the intracellular domain with mutagenesis and single-channel electrophysiology of the full-length human GlyR-α1. We show that lateral fenestrations between subunits in the extracellular domain provide the main translocation pathway for chloride ions to enter/exit a central water-filled vestibule at the entrance of the transmembrane channel. In addition, we provide evidence that these fenestrations are at the origin of current rectification in known anomalous mutants and design de novo two inward-rectifying channels by introducing mutations within them. These results demonstrate the central role of lateral fenestrations on synaptic neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien H. Cerdan
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Channel-Receptors Unit, Paris, France
| | - Laurie Peverini
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Channel-Receptors Unit, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Changeux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Channel-Receptors Unit, Paris, France
- Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Collège de France, Paris, France
| | - Pierre-Jean Corringer
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Channel-Receptors Unit, Paris, France
| | - Marco Cecchini
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France
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Chrestia JF, Oliveira AS, Mulholland AJ, Gallagher T, Bermúdez I, Bouzat C. A Functional Interaction Between Y674-R685 Region of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and the Human α7 Nicotinic Receptor. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:6076-6090. [PMID: 35859025 PMCID: PMC9299415 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02947-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is present in neuronal and non-neuronal cells and has anti-inflammatory actions. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that α7 nAChR interacts with a region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S), and a potential contribution of nAChRs to COVID-19 pathophysiology has been proposed. We applied whole-cell and single-channel recordings to determine whether a peptide corresponding to the Y674-R685 region of the S protein can directly affect α7 nAChR function. The S fragment exerts a dual effect on α7. It activates α7 nAChRs in the presence of positive allosteric modulators, in line with our previous molecular dynamics simulations showing favourable binding of this accessible region of the S protein to the nAChR agonist binding site. The S fragment also exerts a negative modulation of α7, which is evidenced by a profound concentration-dependent decrease in the durations of openings and activation episodes of potentiated channels and in the amplitude of macroscopic responses elicited by ACh. Our study identifies a potential functional interaction between α7 nAChR and a region of the S protein, thus providing molecular foundations for further exploring the involvement of nAChRs in COVID-19 pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Facundo Chrestia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Camino La Carrindanga Km 7-8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ana Sofia Oliveira
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | | | - Isabel Bermúdez
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
| | - Cecilia Bouzat
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Camino La Carrindanga Km 7-8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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4
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Montgomery M, Rendine S, Zimmer CT, Elias J, Schaetzer J, Pitterna T, Benfatti F, Skaljac M, Bigot A. Structural Biology-Guided Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Insect Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Orthosteric Modulators. J Med Chem 2022; 65:2297-2312. [PMID: 34986308 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The development of novel and safe insecticides remains an important need for a growing world population to protect crops and animal and human health. New chemotypes modulating the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have been recently brought to the agricultural market, yet with limited understanding of their molecular interactions at their target receptor. Herein, we disclose the first crystal structures of these insecticides, namely, sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, triflumezopyrim, flupyrimin, and the experimental compound, dicloromezotiaz, in a double-mutated acetylcholine-binding protein which mimics the insect-ion-channel orthosteric site. Enabled by these findings, we discovered novel pharmacophores with a related mode of action, and we describe herein their design, synthesis, and biological evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Montgomery
- Syngenta Crop Protection, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, RG42 6EY Bracknell, Berkshire, U.K
| | - Stefano Rendine
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
| | - Christoph T Zimmer
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
| | - Jan Elias
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Rosentalstrasse 67, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Schaetzer
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Pitterna
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
| | - Fides Benfatti
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
| | - Marisa Skaljac
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
| | - Aurélien Bigot
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
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Cerdan AH, Cecchini M. On the Functional Annotation of Open-Channel Structures in the Glycine Receptor. Structure 2021; 28:690-693.e3. [PMID: 32492413 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The glycine receptor (GlyR) is by far the best-characterized pentameric ligand-gated ion channel, with several high-resolution structures from X-ray crystallography, cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM), and modeling. Nonetheless, the significance of the currently available open-pore conformations is debated due to their diversity in the pore geometry. Here, we discuss the physiological significance of existing models of the GlyR active state based on conductance and selectivity measurements by computational electrophysiology. The results support the conclusion that the original cryo-EM reconstruction of the active state obtained in detergents as well as its subsequent refinement by molecular dynamics simulations are likely to be non-physiological as they feature artificially dilated ion pores. In addition, the calculations indicate that a physiologically relevant open pore should be constricted within a radius of 2.5 and 2.8 Å, which is consistent with previous modeling, electrophysiology measurements, and the most recent cryo-EM structures obtained in a native lipid membrane environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Henri Cerdan
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR 7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex 67083, France; Channel-Receptors Unit, UMR 3571, CNRS, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France
| | - Marco Cecchini
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR 7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex 67083, France.
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6
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Minguez-Viñas T, Nielsen BE, Shoemark DK, Gotti C, Sessions RB, Mulholland AJ, Bouzat C, Wonnacott S, Gallagher T, Bermudez I, Oliveira AS. A conserved arginine with non-conserved function is a key determinant of agonist selectivity in α7 nicotinic ACh receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:1651-1668. [PMID: 33506493 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The α7 and α4β2* ("*" denotes possibly assembly with another subunit) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are the most abundant nAChRs in the mammalian brain. These receptors are the most targeted nAChRs in drug discovery programmes for brain disorders. However, the development of subtype-specific agonists remains challenging due to the high degree of sequence homology and conservation of function in nAChRs. We have developed C(10) variants of cytisine, a partial agonist of α4β2 nAChR that has been used for smoking cessation. The C(10) methyl analogue used in this study displays negligible affinity for α7 nAChR, while retaining high affinity for α4β2 nAChR. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The structural underpinning of the selectivity of 10-methylcytisine for α7 and α4β2 nAChRs was investigated using molecular dynamic simulations, mutagenesis and whole-cell and single-channel current recordings. KEY RESULTS We identified a conserved arginine in the β3 strand that exhibits a non-conserved function in nAChRs. In α4β2 nAChR, the arginine forms a salt bridge with an aspartate residue in loop B that is necessary for receptor expression, whereas in α7 nAChR, this residue is not stabilised by electrostatic interactions, making its side chain highly mobile. This lack of constrain produces steric clashes with agonists and affects the dynamics of residues involved in agonist binding and the coupling network. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS We conclude that the high mobility of the β3-strand arginine in the α7 nAChR influences agonist binding and possibly gating network and desensitisation. The findings have implications for rational design of subtype-selective nAChR agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Minguez-Viñas
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Beatriz E Nielsen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | | | - Cecilia Gotti
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Biometra Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Cecilia Bouzat
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Susan Wonnacott
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | | | - Isabel Bermudez
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Ana Sofia Oliveira
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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7
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Zhou W, Guan Z. Ion Channels in Anesthesia. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1349:401-413. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-4254-8_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Reddy KKA, Jayashree M, Govindu PCV, Gowd KH. Ligand-induced transition in conformations of vicinal cysteine disulfides in proteins. Proteins 2020; 89:599-613. [PMID: 33378101 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Vicinal cysteine disulfides are thought to be associated with specific conformations of cysteine disulfides due to the restricted rotation of single bonds in an eight-membered cyclic disulfide loop. Conformations of vicinal cysteine disulfides are analyzed using χ1 , χ2 , χ3 , χ2 ', χ1 ' torsion angles in the crystal structures of proteins retrieved from Protein Data Bank (PDB). 85% of vicinal disulfides have (+, -)LHStaple conformation with trans configuration of the peptide bond and 9% have (-, -)RHStaple conformation with cis configured peptide bond. Conformational analysis of dipeptide Cys-Cys vicinal disulfide by density functional theory (DFT) further supported (+, -)LHStaple, (-, -)RHStaple, and (+, +)RHStaple as the preferred conformations of vicinal disulfides. Interestingly, the rare conformations of vicinal disulfides are observed in the ligand-bound forms of proteins and have higher disulfide strain energy. Conformations of vicinal disulfides in palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1, AChBP, and α7 nicotinic receptor are changed from preferred (+, -)LHStaple to rare (+, -)AntiLHHook/(+, -)AntiRHHook/(+, +)RHStaple conformation due to binding of ligands. Surprisingly, ligands are proximal to the vicinal disulfides in protein complexes that exhibited rare conformations of vicinal disulfides. The report has identified (+, -) LHStaple/(-, -) RHStaple as the hallmark conformations of vicinal disulfides and unraveled ligand-induced transition in conformations of vicinal cysteine disulfides in proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kasi Amarnath Reddy
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi, India
| | - Muddagoni Jayashree
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi, India
| | - Panchada Ch V Govindu
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi, India
| | - Konkallu Hanumae Gowd
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi, India
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Cerdan AH, Sisquellas M, Pereira G, Barreto Gomes DE, Changeux JP, Cecchini M. The Glycine Receptor Allosteric Ligands Library (GRALL). Bioinformatics 2020; 36:3379-3384. [PMID: 32163115 PMCID: PMC7267813 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Glycine receptors (GlyRs) mediate fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain and have been recognized as key pharmacological targets for pain. A large number of chemically diverse compounds that are able to modulate GlyR function both positively and negatively have been reported, which provides useful information for the development of pharmacological strategies and models for the allosteric modulation of these ion channels. RESULTS Based on existing literature, we have collected 218 unique chemical entities with documented modulatory activities at homomeric GlyR-α1 and -α3 and built a database named GRALL. This collection includes agonists, antagonists, positive and negative allosteric modulators and a number of experimentally inactive compounds. Most importantly, for a large fraction of them a structural annotation based on their putative binding site on the receptor is provided. This type of annotation, which is currently missing in other drug banks, along with the availability of cooperativity factors from radioligand displacement experiments are expected to improve the predictivity of in silico methodologies for allosteric drug discovery and boost the development of conformation-based pharmacological approaches. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The GRALL library is distributed as a web-accessible database at the following link: https://ifm.chimie.unistra.fr/grall. For each molecular entry, it provides information on the chemical structure, the ligand-binding site, the direction of modulation, the potency, the 3D molecular structure and quantum-mechanical charges as determined by our in-house pipeline. CONTACT mcecchini@unistra.fr. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien H Cerdan
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France
- Channel-Receptors Unit, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Marion Sisquellas
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Gilberto Pereira
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Diego E Barreto Gomes
- Diretoria de Metrologia Aplicada às Ciências da Vida-Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia, Duque de Caxias 25.250-020, Brazil
| | - Jean-Pierre Changeux
- CNRS, URA 2182, F-75015, Collège de France, F-75005 Paris, France
- Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Marco Cecchini
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France
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Munro L, Ladefoged LK, Padmanathan V, Andersen S, Schiøtt B, Kristensen AS. Conformational Changes in the 5-HT 3A Receptor Extracellular Domain Measured by Voltage-Clamp Fluorometry. Mol Pharmacol 2019; 96:720-734. [PMID: 31582575 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.116657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) type 3 receptor is a member of the cysteine (Cys)-loop receptor super family of ligand-gated ion channels in the nervous system and is a clinical target in a range of diseases. The 5-HT3 receptor mediates fast serotonergic neurotransmission by undergoing a series of conformational changes initiated by ligand binding that lead to the rapid opening of an intrinsic cation-selective channel. However, despite the availability of high-resolution structures of a mouse 5-HT3 receptor, many important aspects of the mechanistic basis of 5-HT3 receptor function and modulation by drugs remain poorly understood. In particular, there is little direct evidence for the specific conformational changes predicted to occur during ligand-gated channel activation and desensitization. In the present study, we used voltage-clamp fluorometry (VCF) to measure conformational changes in regions surrounding the orthosteric binding site of the human 5-HT3A (h5-HT3A) receptor during binding of 5-HT and different classes of 5-HT3 receptor ligands. VCF utilizes parallel measurements of receptor currents with photon emission from fluorescent reporter groups covalently attached to specific positions in the receptor structure. Reporter groups that are highly sensitive to the local molecular environment can, in real time, report conformational changes as changes in fluorescence that can be correlated with changes in receptor currents reporting the functional states of the channel. Within the loop C, D, and E regions that surround the orthosteric binding site in the h5-HT3A receptor, we identify positions that are amenable to tagging with an environmentally sensitive reporter group that reports robust fluorescence changes upon 5-HT binding and receptor activation. We use these reporter positions to characterize the effect of ligand binding on the local structure of the orthosteric binding site by agonists, competitive antagonists, and allosterically acting channel activators. We observed that loop C appears to show distinct fluorescence changes for ligands of the same class, while loop D reports similar fluorescence changes for all ligands binding at the orthosteric site. In contrast, the loop E reporter position shows distinct changes for agonists, antagonists, and allosteric compounds, suggesting the conformational changes in this region are specific to ligand function. Interpretation of these results within the framework of current models of 5-HT3 and Cys-loop mechanisms are used to expand the understanding of how ligand binding in Cys-loop receptors relates to channel gating. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The 5-HT3 receptor is an important ligand-gated ion channel and drug target in the central and peripheral nervous system. Determining how ligand binding induced conformational changes in the receptor is central for understanding the structural mechanisms underlying 5-HT3 receptor function. Here, we employ voltage-gated fluorometry to characterize conformational changes in the extracellular domain of the human 5-HT3 receptor to identify intrareceptor motions during binding of a range of 5-HT3 receptor agonists and antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan Munro
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (L.M., V.P., S.A., A.S.K.); and Department of Chemistry (L.K.L., B.S.) and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (B.S.), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lucy Kate Ladefoged
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (L.M., V.P., S.A., A.S.K.); and Department of Chemistry (L.K.L., B.S.) and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (B.S.), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Vithushan Padmanathan
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (L.M., V.P., S.A., A.S.K.); and Department of Chemistry (L.K.L., B.S.) and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (B.S.), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Signe Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (L.M., V.P., S.A., A.S.K.); and Department of Chemistry (L.K.L., B.S.) and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (B.S.), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Birgit Schiøtt
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (L.M., V.P., S.A., A.S.K.); and Department of Chemistry (L.K.L., B.S.) and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (B.S.), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anders S Kristensen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (L.M., V.P., S.A., A.S.K.); and Department of Chemistry (L.K.L., B.S.) and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (B.S.), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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11
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Ma Q, Tae HS, Wu G, Jiang T, Yu R. Exploring the Relationship between Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Ligand Size, Efficiency, Efficacy, and C-Loop Opening. J Chem Inf Model 2017; 57:1947-1956. [PMID: 28718646 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.7b00152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels mediating fundamental physiological activities in the nervous system and have become important targets for drug design. For a long time, the acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) has been used as a surrogate to study the nAChR structure-function. Taking advantage of more than 100 AChBP crystal structures in the Protein DataBank (PDB), we explored the relationship between the size, efficiency, and efficacy of nAChR ligands and the C-loop movement. We found that the size of the ligand is correlated with the opening of the C-loop, which can be used in selecting AChBP crystal structures with appropriate C-loop opening to be used for nAChR ligand docking. Ligand size and C-loop opening are reversely correlated with the ligand efficiency rather than the binding affinity. Ligand efficiency could be accurately predicted using simple computational docking, giving a correlation coefficients (R2) up to 0.73. The efficacy of nAChR ligands might be related to ligand size, C-loop opening, and ligand efficiency. Results from this study are useful for engineering the binding affinity and efficacy of nAChR ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyun Ma
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China , Qingdao 266003, China.,Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology , Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Han-Shen Tae
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong , Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Guanzhao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China , Qingdao 266003, China.,Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology , Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China , Qingdao 266003, China.,Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology , Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Rilei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China , Qingdao 266003, China.,Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology , Qingdao 266003, China
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12
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Dutertre S, Nicke A, Tsetlin VI. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor inhibitors derived from snake and snail venoms. Neuropharmacology 2017. [PMID: 28623170 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) represents the prototype of ligand-gated ion channels. It is vital for neuromuscular transmission and an important regulator of neurotransmission. A variety of toxic compounds derived from diverse species target this receptor and have been of elemental importance in basic and applied research. They enabled milestone discoveries in pharmacology and biochemistry ranging from the original formulation of the receptor concept, the first isolation and structural analysis of a receptor protein (the nAChR) to the identification, localization, and differentiation of its diverse subtypes and their validation as a target for therapeutic intervention. Among the venom-derived compounds, α-neurotoxins and α-conotoxins provide the largest families and still represent indispensable pharmacological tools. Application of modified α-neurotoxins provided substantial structural and functional details of the nAChR long before high resolution structures were available. α-bungarotoxin represents not only a standard pharmacological tool and label in nAChR research but also for unrelated proteins tagged with a minimal α-bungarotoxin binding motif. A major advantage of α-conotoxins is their smaller size, as well as superior selectivity for diverse nAChR subtypes that allows their development into ligands with optimized pharmacological and chemical properties and potentially novel drugs. In the following, these two groups of nAChR antagonists will be described focusing on their respective roles in the structural and functional characterization of nAChRs and their development into research tools. In addition, we provide a comparative overview of the diverse α-conotoxin selectivities that can serve as a practical guide for both structure activity studies and subtype classification. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Venom-derived Peptides as Pharmacological Tools.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Dutertre
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, Université Montpellier - CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Annette Nicke
- Walther Straub Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Nußbaumstr. 26, 80336 Munich, Germany.
| | - Victor I Tsetlin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya str.16/10, Moscow 117999, Russian Federation
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13
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Shahsavar A, Gajhede M, Kastrup JS, Balle T. Structural Studies of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: Using Acetylcholine-Binding Protein as a Structural Surrogate. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2016; 118:399-407. [DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.12528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Azadeh Shahsavar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Michael Gajhede
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Jette S. Kastrup
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Thomas Balle
- Faculty of Pharmacy; The University of Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
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14
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Bertrand D, Lee CHL, Flood D, Marger F, Donnelly-Roberts D. Therapeutic Potential of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 67:1025-73. [DOI: 10.1124/pr.113.008581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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15
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Di Domizio A, Vitriolo A, Vistoli G, Pedretti A. SPILLO-PBSS: detecting hidden binding sites within protein 3D-structures through a flexible structure-based approach. J Comput Chem 2014; 35:2005-17. [PMID: 25179993 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.23714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The study reports a flexible structure-based approach aimed at identifying binding sites within target proteins starting from a well-defined reference binding site. The method, named SPILLO potential binding sites searcher (SPILLO-PBSS), includes a suitably designed tolerance which allows an efficient recognition of the potential binding sites regardless of both involved residues and protein conformation. Hence, the proposed method overcomes the rigidity which affects the available approaches and which prevents a proper analysis of distorted binding sites. We apply SPILLO-PBSS to several test cases, including the search for the guanosine diphosphate binding site in distorted H-Ras proteins and the identification of acetylcholine binding proteins from among a library of heterogeneous resolved proteins. Tests are also performed to compare SPILLO-PBSS with other related and available methods. The encouraging results confirm the notable potentialities of this approach and lay the foundation for its use to analyze and predict target proteins on a proteome-wide scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Di Domizio
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli, 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
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16
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Schaefer N, Langlhofer G, Kluck CJ, Villmann C. Glycine receptor mouse mutants: model systems for human hyperekplexia. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 170:933-52. [PMID: 23941355 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Revised: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Human hyperekplexia is a neuromotor disorder caused by disturbances in inhibitory glycine-mediated neurotransmission. Mutations in genes encoding for glycine receptor subunits or associated proteins, such as GLRA1, GLRB, GPHN and ARHGEF9, have been detected in patients suffering from hyperekplexia. Classical symptoms are exaggerated startle attacks upon unexpected acoustic or tactile stimuli, massive tremor, loss of postural control during startle and apnoea. Usually patients are treated with clonazepam, this helps to dampen the severe symptoms most probably by up-regulating GABAergic responses. However, the mechanism is not completely understood. Similar neuromotor phenotypes have been observed in mouse models that carry glycine receptor mutations. These mouse models serve as excellent tools for analysing the underlying pathomechanisms. Yet, studies in mutant mice looking for postsynaptic compensation of glycinergic dysfunction via an up-regulation in GABAA receptor numbers have failed, as expression levels were similar to those in wild-type mice. However, presynaptic adaptation mechanisms with an unusual switch from mixed GABA/glycinergic to GABAergic presynaptic terminals have been observed. Whether this presynaptic adaptation explains the improvement in symptoms or other compensation mechanisms exist is still under investigation. With the help of spontaneous glycine receptor mouse mutants, knock-in and knock-out studies, it is possible to associate behavioural changes with pharmacological differences in glycinergic inhibition. This review focuses on the structural and functional characteristics of the various mouse models used to elucidate the underlying signal transduction pathways and adaptation processes and describes a novel route that uses gene-therapeutic modulation of mutated receptors to overcome loss of function mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Schaefer
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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17
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Structural basis for cooperative interactions of substituted 2-aminopyrimidines with the acetylcholine binding protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:10749-54. [PMID: 25006260 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1410992111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and the acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) are pentameric oligomers in which binding sites for nicotinic agonists and competitive antagonists are found at selected subunit interfaces. The nAChR spontaneously exists in multiple conformations associated with its activation and desensitization steps, and conformations are selectively stabilized by binding of agonists and antagonists. In the nAChR, agonist binding and the associated conformational changes accompanying activation and desensitization are cooperative. AChBP, which lacks the transmembrane spanning and cytoplasmic domains, serves as a homology model of the extracellular domain of the nAChRs. We identified unique cooperative binding behavior of a number of 4,6-disubstituted 2-aminopyrimidines to Lymnaea AChBP, with different molecular variants exhibiting positive, nH > 1.0, and negative cooperativity, nH < 1.0. Therefore, for a distinctive set of ligands, the extracellular domain of a nAChR surrogate suffices to accommodate cooperative interactions. X-ray crystal structures of AChBP complexes with examples of each allowed the identification of structural features in the ligands that confer differences in cooperative behavior. Both sets of molecules bind at the agonist-antagonist site, as expected from their competition with epibatidine. An analysis of AChBP quaternary structure shows that cooperative ligand binding is associated with a blooming or flare conformation, a structural change not observed with the classical, noncooperative, nicotinic ligands. Positively and negatively cooperative ligands exhibited unique features in the detailed binding determinants and poses of the complexes.
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18
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Mazzaferro S, Gasparri F, New K, Alcaino C, Faundez M, Iturriaga Vasquez P, Vijayan R, Biggin PC, Bermudez I. Non-equivalent ligand selectivity of agonist sites in (α4β2)2α4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: a key determinant of agonist efficacy. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:21795-806. [PMID: 24936069 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.555136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is the most abundant nAChR type in the brain, and this receptor type exists in alternate (α4β2)2α4 and (α4β2)2β2 forms, which are activated by agonists with strikingly differing efficacies. Recent breakthroughs have identified an additional operational agonist binding site in the (α4β2)2α4 nAChR that is responsible for the signature sensitivity of this receptor to activation by agonists, yet the structural mechanisms determining agonist efficacy at this receptor type are not yet fully understood. In this study, we characterized the ligand selectivity of the individual agonist sites of the (α4β2)2α4 nAChR to determine whether differences in agonist selectivity influence agonist efficacy. Applying the substituted cysteine accessibility method to individual agonist sites in concatenated (α4β2)2α4 receptors, we determined the agonist selectivity of the agonist sites of the (α4β2)2α4 receptor. We show that (a) accessibility of substituted cysteines to covalent modification by methanesulfonate reagent depends on the agonist site at which the modification occurs and (b) that agonists such as sazetidine-A and TC-2559 are excluded from the site at the α4/α4 interface. Given that additional binding to the agonist site in the α4/α4 interface increases acetylcholine efficacy and that agonists excluded from the agonist site at the α4/α4 interface behave as partial agonists, we conclude that the ability to engage all agonist sites in (α4β2)2α4 nAChRs is a key determinant of agonist efficacy. The findings add another level of complexity to the structural mechanisms that govern agonist efficacy in heteromeric nAChRs and related ligand-gated ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Mazzaferro
- From the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Gasparri
- From the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
| | - Karina New
- From the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
| | - Constanza Alcaino
- From the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
| | - Manuel Faundez
- the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Ranjit Vijayan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, and
| | - Philip C Biggin
- Structural Bioinformatics and Computational Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Bermudez
- From the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom,
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19
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Mowrey DD, Kinde MN, Xu Y, Tang P. Atomistic insights into human Cys-loop receptors by solution NMR. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2014; 1848:307-14. [PMID: 24680782 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2014.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cys-loop receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) mediating fast neurotransmission in the central and peripheral nervous systems. They are important targets for many currently used clinical drugs, such as general anesthetics, and for allosteric modulators with potential therapeutic applications. Here, we provide an overview of advances in the use of solution NMR in structural and dynamic characterization of ion channels, particularly human Cys-loop receptors. We present challenges to overcome and realistic solutions for achieving high-resolution structural information for this family of receptors. We discuss how subtle structural differences among homologous channels define unique channel pharmacological properties and advocate the necessity to determine high-resolution structures for individual receptor subtypes. Finally, we describe drug binding to the TMDs of Cys-loop receptors identified by solution NMR and the associated dynamics changes relevant to channel functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David D Mowrey
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Department of Computational & Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA
| | - Monica N Kinde
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA.
| | - Pei Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Department of Computational & Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA.
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20
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Olsen JA, Balle T, Gajhede M, Ahring PK, Kastrup JS. Molecular recognition of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine by an acetylcholine binding protein reveals determinants of binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91232. [PMID: 24637639 PMCID: PMC3956608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive studies on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and homologues, details of acetylcholine binding are not completely resolved. Here, we report the crystal structure of acetylcholine bound to the receptor homologue acetylcholine binding protein from Lymnaea stagnalis. This is the first structure of acetylcholine in a binding pocket containing all five aromatic residues conserved in all mammalian nAChRs. The ligand-protein interactions are characterized by contacts to the aromatic box formed primarily by residues on the principal side of the intersubunit binding interface (residues Tyr89, Trp143 and Tyr185). Besides these interactions on the principal side, we observe a cation-π interaction between acetylcholine and Trp53 on the complementary side and a water-mediated hydrogen bond from acetylcholine to backbone atoms of Leu102 and Met114, both of importance for anchoring acetylcholine to the complementary side. To further study the role of Trp53, we mutated the corresponding tryptophan in the two different acetylcholine-binding interfaces of the widespread α4β2 nAChR, i.e. the interfaces α4(+)β2(−) and α4(+)α4(−). Mutation to alanine (W82A on the β2 subunit or W88A on the α4 subunit) significantly altered the response to acetylcholine measured by oocyte voltage-clamp electrophysiology in both interfaces. This shows that the conserved tryptophan residue is important for the effects of ACh at α4β2 nAChRs, as also indicated by the crystal structure. The results add important details to the understanding of how this neurotransmitter exerts its action and improves the foundation for rational drug design targeting these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeppe A. Olsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- NeuroSearch A/S, Ballerup, Denmark
| | - Thomas Balle
- Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael Gajhede
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Philip K. Ahring
- Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Aniona ApS, Ballerup, Denmark
| | - Jette S. Kastrup
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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21
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Stornaiuolo M, De Kloe GE, Rucktooa P, Fish A, van Elk R, Edink ES, Bertrand D, Smit AB, de Esch IJP, Sixma TK. Assembly of a π-π stack of ligands in the binding site of an acetylcholine-binding protein. Nat Commun 2013; 4:1875. [PMID: 23695669 PMCID: PMC3674282 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine-binding protein is a water-soluble homologue of the extracellular ligand-binding domain of cys-loop receptors. It is used as a structurally accessible prototype for studying ligand binding to these pharmaceutically important pentameric ion channels, in particular to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, due to conserved binding site residues present at the interface between two subunits. Here we report that an aromatic conjugated small molecule binds acetylcholine-binding protein in an ordered π-π stack of three identical molecules per binding site, two parallel and one antiparallel. Acetylcholine-binding protein stabilizes the assembly of the stack by aromatic contacts. Thanks to the plasticity of its ligand-binding site, acetylcholine-binding protein can accommodate the formation of aromatic stacks of different size by simple loop repositioning and minimal adjustment of the interactions. This type of supramolecular binding provides a novel paradigm in drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Stornaiuolo
- Division of Biochemistry and Center for Biomedical Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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22
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Grishin AA, Cuny H, Hung A, Clark RJ, Brust A, Akondi K, Alewood PF, Craik DJ, Adams DJ. Identifying key amino acid residues that affect α-conotoxin AuIB inhibition of α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:34428-42. [PMID: 24100032 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.512582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Conotoxin AuIB is a selective α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtype inhibitor. Its analgesic properties are believed to result from it activating GABAB receptors and subsequently inhibiting CaV2.2 voltage-gated calcium channels. The structural determinants that mediate diverging AuIB activity at these targets are unknown. We performed alanine scanning mutagenesis of AuIB and α3β4 nAChR, homology modeling, and molecular dynamics simulations to identify the structural determinants of the AuIB·α3β4 nAChR interaction. Two alanine-substituted AuIB analogues, [P6A]AuIB and [F9A]AuIB, did not inhibit the α3β4 nAChR. NMR and CD spectroscopy studies demonstrated that [F9A]AuIB retains its native globular structure, so its activity loss is probably due to loss of specific toxin-receptor residue pairwise contacts. Compared with AuIB, the concentration-response curve for inhibition of α3β4 by [F9A]AuIB shifted rightward more than 10-fold, and its subtype selectivity profile changed. Homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that Phe-9 of AuIB interacts with a two-residue binding pocket on the β4 nAChR subunit. This hypothesis was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis of the β4-Trp-59 and β4-Lys-61 residues of loop D, which form a putative binding pocket. AuIB analogues with Phe-9 substitutions corroborated the finding of a binding pocket on the β4 subunit and gave further insight into how AuIB Phe-9 interacts with the β4 subunit. In summary, we identified critical residues that mediate interactions between AuIB and its cognate nAChR subtype. These findings might help improve the design of analgesic conopeptides that selectively "avoid" nAChR receptors while targeting receptors involved with nociception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton A Grishin
- From the Health Innovations Research Institute, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3083, Australia and
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23
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Fujisawa I, Kitamura Y, Okamoto R, Murayama K, Kato R, Aoki K. Crystal structure of pyrogallol[4]arene complex with phosphocholine: A molecular recognition model for phosphocholine through cation–π interaction. J Mol Struct 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2013.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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24
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Structural basis for ion permeation mechanism in pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. EMBO J 2013; 32:728-41. [PMID: 23403925 PMCID: PMC3590989 DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2013.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the molecular mechanism of ion permeation in pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGIC), we solved the structure of an open form of GLIC, a prokaryotic pLGIC, at 2.4 Å. Anomalous diffraction data were used to place bound anions and cations. This reveals ordered water molecules at the level of two rings of hydroxylated residues (named Ser6' and Thr2') that contribute to the ion selectivity filter. Two water pentagons are observed, a self-stabilized ice-like water pentagon and a second wider water pentagon, with one sodium ion between them. Single-channel electrophysiology shows that the side-chain hydroxyl of Ser6' is crucial for ion translocation. Simulations and electrostatics calculations complemented the description of hydration in the pore and suggest that the water pentagons observed in the crystal are important for the ion to cross hydrophobic constriction barriers. Simulations that pull a cation through the pore reveal that residue Ser6' actively contributes to ion translocation by reorienting its side chain when the ion is going through the pore. Generalization of these findings to the pLGIC family is proposed.
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25
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Ussing CA, Hansen CP, Petersen JG, Jensen AA, Rohde LAH, Ahring PK, Nielsen EØ, Kastrup JS, Gajhede M, Frølund B, Balle T. Synthesis, Pharmacology, and Biostructural Characterization of Novel α4β2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists. J Med Chem 2013; 56:940-51. [DOI: 10.1021/jm301409f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Ussing
- Department of Drug Design and
Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Camilla P. Hansen
- Department of Drug Design and
Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jette G. Petersen
- Department of Drug Design and
Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders A. Jensen
- Department of Drug Design and
Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Line A. H. Rohde
- Department of Drug Design and
Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
- NeuroSearch A/S, Pederstrupvej 93, DK-2750 Ballerup,
Denmark
| | | | | | - Jette S. Kastrup
- Department of Drug Design and
Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Gajhede
- Department of Drug Design and
Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bente Frølund
- Department of Drug Design and
Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Balle
- Department of Drug Design and
Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Building
A15, The University of Sydney, Sydney,
NSW 2006, Australia
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26
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Cholinergic receptors: functional role of nicotinic ACh receptors in brain circuits and disease. Pflugers Arch 2013; 465:441-50. [PMID: 23307081 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-012-1200-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) can regulate neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system by acting on both the cys-loop ligand-gated nicotinic ACh receptor channels (nAChRs) and the G protein-coupled muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs). The hippocampus is an important area in the brain for learning and memory, where both nAChRs and mAChRs are expressed. The primary cholinergic input to the hippocampus arises from the medial septum and diagonal band of Broca, the activation of which can activate both nAChRs and mAChRs in the hippocampus and regulate synaptic communication and induce oscillations that are thought to be important for cognitive function. Dysfunction in the hippocampal cholinergic system has been linked with cognitive deficits and a variety of neurological disorders and diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. My lab has focused on the role of the nAChRs in regulating hippocampal function, from understanding the expression and functional properties of the various subtypes of nAChRs, and what role these receptors may be playing in regulating synaptic plasticity. Here, I will briefly review this work, and where we are going in our attempts to further understand the role of these receptors in learning and memory, as well as in disease and neuroprotection.
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27
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Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: From basic science to therapeutics. Pharmacol Ther 2013; 137:22-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2012.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 382] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Accepted: 08/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Shi C, Yu R, Shao S, Li Y. Partial activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: insights from molecular dynamics simulations. J Mol Model 2012; 19:871-8. [PMID: 23086458 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-012-1618-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2012] [Accepted: 09/30/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are drug targets for neuronal disorders and diseases. Partial agonists for nAChRs are currently being developed as drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases for their relative safety originated from reduced excessive stimulation. In the current study, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and binding energy calculations were performed to theoretically investigate the interactions between the partial agonists, 4-OH-DMXBA and tropisetron with α7-nAChR. The results suggest that the partial agonists 4-OH-DMXBA and tropisetron bind with α7-nAChR in a binding mode similar to that with AChBP. The non-conserved residues in the binding sites contribute to the orientation deviation of these partial agonists from their orientation in AChBP. Energy calculation and decomposition using MM-GB/SA suggests that the van der Waals term (ΔE(VDW)) is the main driving force for the binding of the partial agonists to α7-nAChR. The molecular dynamics simulations showed that the opening of the C-loop binding with the partial agonists is in-between the openings for the binding with the full agonist and in the apo state. This conformation difference for the C-loop sheds light on the partial agonism of nAChR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caijuan Shi
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
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Corringer PJ, Poitevin F, Prevost MS, Sauguet L, Delarue M, Changeux JP. Structure and pharmacology of pentameric receptor channels: from bacteria to brain. Structure 2012; 20:941-56. [PMID: 22681900 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2012.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2012] [Revised: 05/16/2012] [Accepted: 05/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Orthologs of the pentameric receptor channels that mediate fast synaptic transmission in the central and peripheral nervous systems have been found in several bacterial species and in a single archaea genus. Recent X-ray structures of bacterial and invertebrate pentameric receptors point to a striking conservation of the structural features within the whole family, even between distant prokaryotic and eukaryotic members. These structural data reveal general principles of molecular organization that allow allosteric membrane proteins to mediate chemoelectric transduction. Notably, several conformations have been solved, including open and closed channels with distinct global tertiary and quaternary structure. The data reveal features of the ion channel architecture and of diverse categories of binding sites, such as those that bind orthosteric ligands, including neurotransmitters, and those that bind allosteric modulators, such as general anesthetics, ivermectin, or lipids. In this review, we summarize the most recent data, discuss insights into the mechanism of action in these systems, and elaborate on newly opened avenues for drug design.
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Jadey S, Auerbach A. An integrated catch-and-hold mechanism activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 140:17-28. [PMID: 22732309 PMCID: PMC3382718 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201210801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In neuromuscular acetylcholine (ACh) receptor channels (AChRs), agonist molecules bind with a low affinity (LA) to two sites that can switch to high affinity (HA) and increase the probability of channel opening. We measured (by using single-channel kinetic analysis) the rate and equilibrium constants for LA binding and channel gating for several different agonists of adult-type mouse AChRs. Almost all of the variation in the equilibrium constants for LA binding was from differences in the association rate constants. These were consistently below the limit set by diffusion and were substantially different even though the agonists had similar sizes and the same charge. This suggests that binding to resting receptors is not by diffusion alone and, hence, that each binding site can undergo two conformational changes ("catch" and "hold") that connect three different structures (apo-, LA-bound, and HA-bound). Analyses of ACh-binding protein structures suggest that this binding site, too, may adopt three discrete structures having different degrees of loop C displacement ("capping"). For the agonists we tested, the logarithms of the equilibrium constants for LA binding and LA↔HA gating were correlated. Although agonist binding and channel gating have long been considered to be separate processes in the activation of ligand-gated ion channels, this correlation implies that the catch-and-hold conformational changes are energetically linked and together comprise an integrated process having a common structural basis. We propose that loop C capping mainly reflects agonist binding, with its two stages corresponding to the formation of the LA and HA complexes. The catch-and-hold reaction coordinate is discussed in terms of preopening states and thermodynamic cycles of activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehal Jadey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
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Pentameric ligand-gated ion channel ELIC is activated by GABA and modulated by benzodiazepines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:E3028-34. [PMID: 23035248 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1208208109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
GABA(A) receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels involved in fast inhibitory neurotransmission and are allosterically modulated by the anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and sedative-hypnotic benzodiazepines. Here we show that the prokaryotic homolog ELIC also is activated by GABA and is modulated by benzodiazepines with effects comparable to those at GABA(A) receptors. Crystal structures reveal important features of GABA recognition and indicate that benzodiazepines, depending on their concentration, occupy two possible sites in ELIC. An intrasubunit site is adjacent to the GABA-recognition site but faces the channel vestibule. A second intersubunit site partially overlaps with the GABA site and likely corresponds to a low-affinity benzodiazepine-binding site in GABA(A) receptors that mediates inhibitory effects of the benzodiazepine flurazepam. Our study offers a structural view how GABA and benzodiazepines are recognized at a GABA-activated ion channel.
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Shahsavar A, Kastrup JS, Nielsen EØ, Kristensen JL, Gajhede M, Balle T. Crystal structure of Lymnaea stagnalis AChBP complexed with the potent nAChR antagonist DHβE suggests a unique mode of antagonism. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40757. [PMID: 22927902 PMCID: PMC3425559 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2012] [Accepted: 06/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels that belong to the Cys-loop receptor superfamily. These receptors are allosteric proteins that exist in different conformational states, including resting (closed), activated (open), and desensitized (closed) states. The acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) is a structural homologue of the extracellular ligand-binding domain of nAChRs. In previous studies, the degree of the C-loop radial extension of AChBP has been assigned to different conformational states of nAChRs. It has been suggested that a closed C-loop is preferred for the active conformation of nAChRs in complex with agonists whereas an open C-loop reflects an antagonist-bound (closed) state. In this work, we have determined the crystal structure of AChBP from the water snail Lymnaea stagnalis (Ls) in complex with dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE), which is a potent competitive antagonist of nAChRs. The structure reveals that binding of DHβE to AChBP imposes closure of the C-loop as agonists, but also a shift perpendicular to previously observed C-loop movements. These observations suggest that DHβE may antagonize the receptor via a different mechanism compared to prototypical antagonists and toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azadeh Shahsavar
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jette S. Kastrup
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Jesper L. Kristensen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Gajhede
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Balle
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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Du J, Dong H, Zhou HX. Size matters in activation/inhibition of ligand-gated ion channels. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2012; 33:482-93. [PMID: 22789930 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2012.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2012] [Revised: 06/07/2012] [Accepted: 06/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cys loop, glutamate, and P2X receptors are ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) with 5, 4, and 3 protomers, respectively. There is now growing atomic level understanding of their gating mechanisms. Although each family is unique in the architecture of the ligand-binding pocket, the pathway for motions to propagate from ligand-binding domain to transmembrane domain, and the gating motions of the transmembrane domain, there are common features among the LGICs, which are the focus of the present review. In particular, agonists and competitive antagonists apparently induce opposite motions of the binding pocket. A simple way to control the motional direction is ligand size. Agonists, usually small, induce closure of the binding pocket, leading to opening of the channel pore, whereas antagonists, usually large, induce opening of the binding pocket, thereby stabilizing the closed pore. A cross-family comparison of the gating mechanisms of the LGICs, focusing in particular on the role played by ligand size, provides new insight on channel activation/inhibition and design of pharmacological compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Du
- Department of Physics and Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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34
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Stober ST, Abrams CF. Enhanced meta-analysis of acetylcholine binding protein structures reveals conformational signatures of agonism in nicotinic receptors. Protein Sci 2012; 21:307-17. [PMID: 22170867 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The soluble acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) is the default structural proxy for pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs). Unfortunately, it is difficult to recognize conformational signatures of LGIC agonism and antagonism within the large set of AChBP crystal structures in both apo and ligand-bound states, primarily because AChBP conformations in this set are nearly superimposable (root mean square deviation < 1.5 Å). We have undertaken a systematic, alignment-free approach to elucidate conformational differences displayed by AChBP that cleanly differentiate apo/antagonist-bound from agonist-bound states. Our approach uses statistical inference based on both crystallographic states and conformations sampled during long molecular dynamics simulations to select important inter-C(α) distances and map their collective values onto functional states. We observe that binding of (nAChR) agonists to AChBP elicits clockwise rotation of the inner β-sheet with respect to the outer β-sheet, causing tilting of the cys-loop away from the five-fold axis, in a manner quite similar to that speculated for α-subunits of the heteromeric nAChR structure (Unwin, J Mol Biol 2005;346:967), making this motion potentially important in transmission of the gating signal to the transmembrane domain of a LGIC. The method is also successful at discriminating partial from full agonists and supports the hypothesis that a particularly controversial ligand, lobeline, is in fact an LGIC antagonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer T Stober
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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35
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Pan J, Chen Q, Willenbring D, Yoshida K, Tillman T, Kashlan OB, Cohen A, Kong XP, Xu Y, Tang P. Structure of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel ELIC cocrystallized with its competitive antagonist acetylcholine. Nat Commun 2012; 3:714. [PMID: 22395605 PMCID: PMC3316889 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2011] [Accepted: 01/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
ELIC, the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel from Erwinia chrysanthemi, is a prototype for Cys-loop receptors. Here we show that acetylcholine is a competitive antagonist for ELIC. We determine the acetylcholine–ELIC cocrystal structure to a 2.9-Å resolution and find that acetylcholine binding to an aromatic cage at the subunit interface induces a significant contraction of loop C and other structural rearrangements in the extracellular domain. The side chain of the pore-lining residue F247 reorients and the pore size consequently enlarges, but the channel remains closed. We attribute the inability of acetylcholine to activate ELIC primarily to weak cation-π and electrostatic interactions in the pocket, because an acetylcholine derivative with a simple quaternary-to-tertiary ammonium substitution activates the channel. This study presents a compelling case for understanding the structural underpinning of the functional relationship between agonism and competitive antagonism in the Cys-loop receptors, providing a new framework for developing novel therapeutic drugs. The pentameric ligand gated ion channel from Erwinia chrysanthemi (ELIC) is similar in structure to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, a member of the Cys-loop receptor family. This study reports the crystal structure of ELIC bound to acetylcholine and shows that acetylcholine is a competitive antagonist of ELIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianjun Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, 2057 Biomedical Science Tower 3, 3501 Fifth Avenue, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA
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36
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Structure of the human M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor bound to an antagonist. Nature 2012; 482:547-51. [PMID: 22278061 PMCID: PMC3345277 DOI: 10.1038/nature10753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 600] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Accepted: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The parasympathetic limb of the autonomic nervous system regulates the activity of multiple organ systems. Muscarinic receptors are G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that mediate the response to acetylcholine released from parasympathetic nerves.1–5 Their role in the unconscious regulation of organ and central nervous system function makes them potential therapeutic targets for a broad spectrum of diseases. The M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M2 receptor) is essential for the physiologic control of cardiovascular function through activation of G protein-coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium channels, and is of particular interest because of its extensive pharmacological characterization with both orthosteric and allosteric ligands. Here we report the structure of antagonist-bound M2 receptor, the first human acetylcholine receptor to be characterized structurally. The antagonist QNB binds in the middle of a long aqueous channel extending approximately two-thirds through the membrane. The orthosteric binding pocket is formed by amino acids that are identical in all 5 muscarinic receptor subtypes, and shares structural homology with other functionally unrelated acetylcholine binding proteins from different species. A layer of tyrosine residues forms an aromatic cap restricting dissociation of the bound ligand. A binding site for allosteric ligands has been mapped to residues at the entrance to the binding pocket near this aromatic cap. The M2 receptor structure provides insights into the challenges of developing subtype-selective ligands for muscarinic receptors and their propensity for allosteric regulation.
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Johnson WD, Howard RJ, Trudell JR, Harris RA. The TM2 6' position of GABA(A) receptors mediates alcohol inhibition. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2011; 340:445-56. [PMID: 22072732 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.111.188037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ionotropic GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)Rs), which mediate inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system, are implicated in the behavioral effects of alcohol and alcoholism. Site-directed mutagenesis studies support the presence of discrete molecular sites involved in alcohol enhancement and, more recently, inhibition of GABA(A)Rs. We used Xenopus laevis oocytes to investigate the 6' position in the second transmembrane region of GABA(A)Rs as a site influencing alcohol inhibition. We asked whether modification of the 6' position by substitution with larger residues or methanethiol labeling [using methyl methanethiosulfonate (MMTS)] of a substituted cysteine, reduced GABA action and/or blocked further inhibition by alcohols. Labeling of the 6' position in either α2 or β2 subunits reduced responses to GABA. In addition, methanol and ethanol potentiation increased after MMTS labeling or substitution with tryptophan or methionine, consistent with elimination of an inhibitory site for these alcohols. Specific alcohols, but not the anesthetic etomidate, competed with MMTS labeling at the 6' position. We verified a role for the 6' position in previously tested α2β2 as well as more physiologically relevant α2β2γ2s GABA(A)Rs. Finally, we built a novel molecular model based on the invertebrate glutamate-gated chloride channel receptor, a GABA(A)R homolog, revealing that the 6' position residue faces the channel pore, and modification of this residue alters volume and polarity of the pore-facing cavity in this region. These results indicate that the 6' positions in both α2 and β2 GABA(A)R subunits mediate inhibition by short-chain alcohols, which is consistent with the presence of multiple counteracting sites of action for alcohols on ligand-gated ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- W David Johnson
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, 1 University Station A4800, Austin, TX 78712-05159, USA.
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38
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Fujisawa I, Takeuchi D, Kato R, Murayama K, Aoki K. Crystal Structures of Resorcin[4]arene and Tetramethylated Resorcin[4]arene Complexes Incorporating L-Carnitine through Cation–π Interaction. BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 2011. [DOI: 10.1246/bcsj.20110166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Mazzaferro S, Benallegue N, Carbone A, Gasparri F, Vijayan R, Biggin PC, Moroni M, Bermudez I. Additional acetylcholine (ACh) binding site at alpha4/alpha4 interface of (alpha4beta2)2alpha4 nicotinic receptor influences agonist sensitivity. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:31043-31054. [PMID: 21757735 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.262014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α4 and β2 subunits assemble in two alternate stoichiometries to produce (α4β2)(2)α4 and (α4β2)(2)β2, which display different agonist sensitivities. Functionally relevant agonist binding sites are thought to be located at α4(+)/β2(-) subunit interfaces, but because these interfaces are present in both receptor isoforms, it is unlikely that they account for differences in agonist sensitivities. In contrast, incorporation of either α4 or β2 as auxiliary subunits produces isoform-specific α4(+)/α4(-) or β2(+)/β2(-) interfaces. Using fully concatenated (α4β2)(2)α4 nAChRs in conjunction with structural modeling, chimeric receptors, and functional mutagenesis, we have identified an additional site at the α4(+)/α4(-) interface that accounts for isoform-specific agonist sensitivity of the (α4β2)(2)α4 nAChR. The additional site resides in a region that also contains a potentiating Zn(2+) site but is engaged by agonists to contribute to receptor activation. By engineering α4 subunits to provide a free cysteine in loop C at the α4(+)α4(-) interface, we demonstrated that the acetylcholine responses of the mutated receptors are attenuated or enhanced, respectively, following treatment with the sulfhydryl reagent [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate or aminoethyl methanethiosulfonate. The findings suggest that agonist occupation of the site at the α4(+)/(α4(-) interface leads to channel gating through a coupling mechanism involving loop C. Overall, we propose that the additional agonist site at the α4(+)/α4(-) interface, when occupied by agonist, contributes to receptor activation and that this additional contribution underlies the agonist sensitivity signature of (α4β2)(2)α4 nAChRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Mazzaferro
- School of Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
| | - Naïl Benallegue
- School of Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Carbone
- Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie and Neurocure Initiative Charité Universitäts Medizin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Federica Gasparri
- School of Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
| | - Ranjit Vijayan
- Structural Bioinformatics and Computational Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Philip C Biggin
- Structural Bioinformatics and Computational Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Mirko Moroni
- Department of Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Bermudez
- School of Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom.
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Thompson AJ, Price KL, Lummis SCR. Cysteine modification reveals which subunits form the ligand binding site in human heteromeric 5-HT3AB receptors. J Physiol 2011; 589:4243-57. [PMID: 21708905 PMCID: PMC3180581 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.208439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The ligand binding site of Cys-loop receptors is formed by residues on the principal (+) and complementary (-) faces of adjacent subunits, but the subunits that constitute the binding pocket in many heteromeric receptors are not yet clear. To probe the subunits involved in ligand binding in heteromeric human 5-HT(3)AB receptors, we made cysteine substitutions to the + and - faces of A and B subunits, and measured their functional consequences in receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. All A subunit mutations altered or eliminated function. The same pattern of changes was seen at homomeric and heteromeric receptors containing cysteine substitutions at A(R92) (- face), A(L126)(+), A(N128)(+), A(I139)(-), A(Q151)(-) and A(T181)(+), and these receptors displayed further changes when the sulphydryl modifying reagent methanethiosulfonate-ethylammonium (MTSEA) was applied. Modifications of A(R92C)(-)- and A(T181C)(+)-containing receptors were protected by the presence of agonist (5-HT) or antagonist (d-tubocurarine). In contrast modifications of the equivalent B subunit residues did not alter heteromeric receptor function. In addition a double mutant, A(S206C)(-)(/E229C)(+), only responded to 5-HT following DTT treatment in both homomeric and heteromeric receptors, indicating receptor function was inhibited by a disulphide bond between an A+ and an A- interface in both receptor types. Our results are consistent with binding to an A+A- interface at both homomeric and heteromeric human 5-HT(3) receptors, and explain why the competitive pharmacologies of these two receptors are identical.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Thompson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
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41
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Livesey MR, Cooper MA, Lambert JJ, Peters JA. Rings of charge within the extracellular vestibule influence ion permeation of the 5-HT3A receptor. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:16008-17. [PMID: 21454663 PMCID: PMC3091210 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.219618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The determinants of single channel conductance (γ) and ion selectivity within eukaryotic pentameric ligand-gated ion channels have traditionally been ascribed to amino acid residues within the second transmembrane domain and flanking sequences of their component subunits. However, recent evidence suggests that γ is additionally controlled by residues within the intracellular and extracellular domains. We examined the influence of two anionic residues (Asp113 and Asp127) within the extracellular vestibule of a high conductance human mutant 5-hydroxytryptamine type-3A (5-HT3A) receptor (5-HT3A(QDA)) upon γ, modulation of the latter by extracellular Ca2+, and the permeability of Ca2+ with respect to Cs+ (PCa/PCs). Mutations neutralizing (Asp → Asn), or reversing (Asp → Lys), charge at the 113 locus decreased inward γ by 46 and 58%, respectively, but outward currents were unaffected. The D127N mutation decreased inward γ by 82% and also suppressed outward currents, whereas the D127K mutation caused loss of observable single channel currents. The forgoing mutations, except for D127K, which could not be evaluated, ameliorated suppression of inwardly directed single channel currents by extracellular Ca2+. The PCa/PCs of 3.8 previously reported for the 5-HT3A(QDA) construct was reduced to 0.13 and 0.06 by the D127N and D127K mutations, respectively, with lesser, but clearly significant, effects caused by the D113N (1.04) and D113K (0.60) substitutions. Charge selectivity between monovalent cations and anions (PNa/PCl) was unaffected by any of the mutations examined. The data identify two key residues in the extracellular vestibule of the 5-HT3A receptor that markedly influence γ, PCa/PCs, and additionally the suppression of γ by Ca2+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Livesey
- Centre for Neuroscience, Division of Medical Sciences, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
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42
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Moroni M, Meyer JO, Lahmann C, Sivilotti LG. In glycine and GABA(A) channels, different subunits contribute asymmetrically to channel conductance via residues in the extracellular domain. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:13414-22. [PMID: 21343294 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.204610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-channel conductance in Cys-loop channels is controlled by the nature of the amino acids in the narrowest parts of the ion conduction pathway, namely the second transmembrane domain (M2) and the intracellular helix. In cationic channels, such as Torpedo ACh nicotinic receptors, conductance is increased by negatively charged residues exposed to the extracellular vestibule. We now show that positively charged residues at the same loop 5 position boost also the conductance of anionic Cys-loop channels, such as glycine (α1 and α1β) and GABA(A) (α1β2γ2) receptors. Charge reversal mutations here produce a greater decrease on outward conductance, but their effect strongly depends on which subunit carries the mutation. In the glycine α1β receptor, replacing Lys with Glu in α1 reduces single-channel conductance by 41%, but has no effect in the β subunit. By expressing concatameric receptors with constrained stoichiometry, we show that this asymmetry is not explained by the subunit copy number. A similar pattern is observed in the α1β2γ2 GABA(A) receptor, where only mutations in α1 or β2 decreased conductance (to different extents). In both glycine and GABA receptors, the effect of mutations in different subunits does not sum linearly: mutations that had no detectable effect in isolation did enhance the effect of mutations carried by other subunits. As in the nicotinic receptor, charged residues in the extracellular vestibule of anionic Cys-loop channels influence elementary conductance. The size of this effect strongly depends on the direction of the ion flow and, unexpectedly, on the nature of the subunit that carries the residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Moroni
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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