Comments on 'A quantitative model of amphetamine action on the serotonin transporter', by Sandtner et al., Br J Pharmacol 171: 1007-1018

Monoamine Transporters as Ionotropic Receptors

It is well established that glutamate and GABA signal through both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Conversely, it is thought that, with one exception, monoamines (dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine) signal via metabotropic receptors. Given their capacity to generate fast-acting currents, I suggest that the monoamine transporters should be considered as ionotropic receptors.

Electrophysiological Actions of Synthetic Cathinones on Monoamine Transporters

Products containing psychoactive synthetic cathinones, such as mephedrone and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) are prevalent in our society. Synthetic cathinones are structurally similar to methamphetamine, and numerous synthetics have biological activity at dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine transporters. Importantly, monoamine transporters co-transport sodium ions along with their substrate, and movement of substrates and ions through the transporter can generate measurable ionic currents. Here we review how electrophysiological information has enabled us to determine how synthetic cathinones affect transporter-mediated currents in cells that express these transporters. Specifically, drugs that act as transporter substrates induce inward depolarizing currents when cells are held near their resting membrane potential, whereas drugs that act as transporter blockers induce apparent outward currents by blocking an inherent inward leak current. We have employed the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique in Xenopus laevis oocytes overexpressing monoamine transporters to determine whether synthetic cathinones found in the so-called bath salts products behave as blockers or substrates. We also examined the structure-activity relationships for synthetic cathinone analogs related to the widely abused compound MDPV, a common constituent in "bath salts" possessing potent actions at the dopamine transporter.

Chloride requirement for monoamine transporters

This review focuses on the Cl(-) requirement for dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine (DA, 5-HT, and NE) transport and induced current via the transporters for these transmitters, DAT, SERT, and NET. Indirect evidence exists for the passage of Cl(-) ions through monoamine transporters; however, direct evidence is sparse. An unanswered question is why in some preparations, notably native neurons, it appears that Cl(-) ions carry the current through DAT, whereas in heterologous expression systems Na(+) ions carry the current often referred to as the uncoupled current. It is suggested that different functional states in monoamine transporters represent conformational states that carry dominantly Cl(-) or Na(+). Structures of monoamine transporters contribute enormously to structure-function relationships; however, thus far no structural features support the functionally relevant ionic currents that are known to exist in monoamine transporters.

The conservative view: is it necessary to implant a stent into the dopamine transporter?

This article is a reply to De Felice LJ and Cameron KN (2015). Comments on ‘A quantitative model of amphetamine action on the serotonin transporter’, by Sandtner et al., Br J Pharmacol 171: 1007–1018. Br J Pharmacol 172: this issue, doi: 10.1111/bph.12767, commenting on Sandtner W, Schmid D, Schicker K, Gerstbrein K, Koenig X, Mayer FP, Boehm S, Freissmuth M and Sitte HH (2014). A quantitative model of amphetamine action on the 5-HT transporter. Br J Pharmacol 171: 1007–1018. doi: 10.1111/bph.12520

Structural analysis of dopamine- and amphetamine-induced depolarization currents in the human dopamine transporter

Amphetamine (AMPH) induces depolarizing currents through the human dopamine transporter (hDAT). Recently we discovered that the S(+) enantiomer of AMPH induces a current through hDAT that persists long after its removal from the external milieu. The persistent current is less prominent for R(-)AMPH and essentially absent for dopamine (DA)-induced currents. Related agents such as methamphetamine also exhibit persistent currents, which are present in both frog oocyte and mammalian HEK expression systems. Here, we study hDAT-expressing Xenopus laevis oocytes voltage-clamped and exposed from outside to DA, S(+)AMPH, R(-)AMPH, and related synthesized compounds, including stereoisomers. The goal of the study was to determine how structural transitioning from dopamine to amphetamine influences hDAT potency and action. At saturating concentrations, S(+)AMPH or R(-)AMPH induce a sharply rising depolarizing current from -60 mV that is comparable in amplitude to DA-induced currents. The magnitude and duration of the currents and the presence or absence of persistent currents depend on the concentration, duration of exposure, and chemical structure and enantiomeric versions of the agents.