Solubilization of the benzodiazepine/gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor complex: comparison of the detergents octylglucopyranoside and 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS)

Cryo-EM structures of prokaryotic ligand-gated ion channel GLIC provide insights into gating in a lipid environment

GLIC, a proton-activated prokaryotic ligand-gated ion channel, served as a model system for understanding the eukaryotic counterparts due to their structural and functional similarities. Despite extensive studies conducted on GLIC, the molecular mechanism of channel gating in the lipid environment requires further investigation. Here, we present the cryo-EM structures of nanodisc-reconstituted GLIC at neutral and acidic pH in the resolution range of 2.6 - 3.4 Å. In our apo state at pH 7.5, the extracellular domain (ECD) displays conformational variations compared to the existing apo structures. At pH 4.0, three distinct conformational states (C1, C2 and O states) are identified. The protonated structures exhibit a compacted and counter-clockwise rotated ECD compared with our apo state. A gradual widening of the pore in the TMD is observed upon reducing the pH, with the widest pore in O state, accompanied by several layers of water pentagons. The pore radius and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggest that the O state represents an open conductive state. We also observe state-dependent interactions between several lipids and proteins that may be involved in the regulation of channel gating. Our results provide comprehensive insights into the importance of lipids impact on gating.

Radioligand binding studies of caloporoside and novel congeners with contrasting effects upon [35S] TBPS binding to the mammalian GABAA receptor

Caloporoside is a natural active fungal metabolite, which was isolated from Caloporous dichrous and was described to exhibit antibacterial, antifungal and phospholipase C inhibitory activity. We have previously reported evidence that related beta-linked compounds, lactose and octyl-beta-d-mannoside, bind and functionally modulate rodent GABA(A) receptors, respectively. We have characterized the binding pharmacology of synthetic caloporoside and two further congeners, 2-hydroxy-6-([(16R)-(beta-d-mannopyranosyloxy)heptadecyl]) benzoic acid and octyl-beta-d-glucoside on GABA(A) receptors using a [35S]-t-butylbicyclophosphoorothionate (TBPS) radioligand binding assay. Caloporoside and 2-hydroxy-6-([(16R)-(beta-d-mannopyranosyloxy)heptadecyl]) benzoic acid produced concentration-dependent complete inhibition of specific [35S] TBPS binding with overall apparent IC50 values of 14.7+/-0.1 and 14.2+/-0.1 microM, respectively. In contrast, octyl-beta-d-glucoside elicited a concentration-dependent stimulation of specific [35S] TBPS binding (E(max)=144+/-4%; EC50=39.2+/-22.7 nM). The level of stimulation was similar to that elicited by diazepam (E(max)=147+/-6%; EC50=0.8+/-0.1 nM), and was occluded by GABA (0.3 microM). However, the three test compounds failed to elicit any significant effect (positive or negative) upon [3H] flunitrazepam or [3H] muscimol binding, indicating that they did not bind directly, or allosterically couple, to the benzodiazepine or agonist binding site of the GABA(A) receptor, respectively. The constituent monosaccharide, glucose, and both the closely related congeners octyl-beta-d-glucoside or hexyl-beta-d-glucoside have no significant effect upon [35S] TBPS binding. These data, together, provide strong evidence that a beta-glycosidic linkage and chain length are crucial for the positive modulation of [35S] TBPS binding to the GABA(A) receptor by this novel chemical class.

Loss of glucose transport in developing avian red cells

Although red cells are generally associated with significant glucose transport and dependence on glycolysis, the mature red cells of some species (e.g. pig) show very low glucose transport. The generally low level of glucose transport in mature mammalian red cells is the result of maturational development, since it has been shown that even in red cells which have negligible glucose transport (e.g. pig red cells) the corresponding reticulocytes have significant glucose transport activity. The reticulocytes of the chicken, however, show minimal glucose transport activity. But this also is the result of maturational development, since chicken bone marrow red cells do transport glucose which diminishes upon cell maturation in vitro. The erythroblast chicken cell line, HD3, has high glucose transport activity which is lost upon induction to the red cell phenotype. Growing HD3 cells have much higher levels of transport than native chicken bone marrow cells and this is associated in part with elevation of glucose transporter (GLUT) mRNAs as a consequence of the expression of the v-erbA and v-erbB oncogenes. Both native bone marrow red cells and HD3 cells, when incubated in vitro under conditions where maturation occurs, show substantial losses of GLUT mRNA and GLUT proteins. To assess whether the inducers of maturation (hemin and butyrate) affect only the normally expressed GLUTs, chicken GLUT3 expressed from a different promoter was introduced into the HD3 cell by retroviral infection. Both the endogenous and exogenous transporters were lost upon cell differentiation and maturation, leaving a cell with low glucose transport activity. Conversely, in growing cells, butyrate had a pronounced effect on the elevation of the GLUT3 mRNA, especially on the exogenous GLUT3 mRNA, and elevated glucose transport prior to differentiation. These results are consistent with the conclusion that chicken red cell development involves a requirement to reduce glucose transport activity. The near absence of glucose transport in the embryonic chicken red cell is thus due to a loss of this transporter during early development which occurs at an earlier developmental stage in the chicken red cell than in the mammalian red cell.

Size-exclusion chromatographic reconstitution of the bovine brain benzodiazepine receptor. Effects of lipid environment on the binding characteristics

The benzodiazepine receptor from calf brain was solubilized with sodium deoxycholate (2 mg/ml) in the presence of 0.5 M KCl and protease inhibitors, and bound flunitrazepam with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 2.7 +/- 1.2 nM and with 0.40 +/- 0.04 pmol binding sites per mg protein (Bmax). Up to 60% of the benzodiazepine binding sites (average 25%) could be reconstituted in lipid vesicles, upon size-exclusion chromatography of protein-detergent-lipid mixtures on Sephadex G-50 Medium for detergent depletion. The flunitrazepam affinity for the reconstituted receptor varied with the lipid composition (Kd 1.4-4 nM). Freezing and thawing increased the size of the small proteoliposomes obtained by chromatographic reconstitution and, on the average, doubled the number of operative flunitrazepam binding sites. When the proteoliposomes were stored at -20 degrees C or -80 degrees C or in lyophilized state, the receptor retained its benzodiazepine binding affinity and Bmax over a period of 2 months.

Loss of glucose transporters is an early event in differentiation of HD3 cells

The HD3 cell, a chicken erythroblast cell line infected with a temperature-sensitive avian erythroblastosis virus, becomes committed to differentiate to an erythrocyte upon temperature shift in presence of inducers. Before induction, the HD3 cell transports glucose and 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG). 3-O-methylglucose is poorly taken up. Upon induction of differentiation, glucose and 2-DG transport activity fall. Twenty-four hours postinduction, up to 75% of the glucose transport activity may disappear. By use of cDNA probes for chicken glucose transporters, two species of mRNA of 3.1 and 1.7 kb (equivalent to mammalian GLUT1 and GLUT3 mRNA, respectively) are detected. Both messages virtually disappear within 48 h after induction. Run-on assays show the cessation of synthesis of the corresponding RNAs parallel to the loss of glucose transport. In contrast to the glucose transporters, the nucleoside transporter level increases after induction of hematopoiesis. This developmental pattern is consistent with earlier studies showing that mature chicken erythrocytes have little glucose transport activity but retain appreciable levels of the nucleoside transporter and that nucleosides and glutamine provide major sources of oxidizable carbon compounds to sustain metabolism in circulating chicken erythrocytes.

Expression and loss of the transferrin receptor in growing and differentiating HD3 cells

During induced differentiation and maturation of HD3 cells (a chicken erythroblast cell line infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant of the avian erythroblastosis virus), the levels of transferrin receptor (TFR) and nucleoside transporter increase. Both these activities increase before elevated levels of hemoglobin are detected. Shortly after induction, as cellular TFR levels rise, a native-size TFR is detected in the cell-free culture medium, associated with an exosome fraction (100,000 xg pellet). Nucleoside transporter (measured as NBMPR-binding activity) is not increased in this pellet with induction. Previous studies have suggested that exosome formation in peripheral reticulocytes may be a significant route for loss of specific membrane proteins (Johnstone et al., 1991). Although the present experiments in HD3 cells do not address the quantitative importance of exosome formation, the studies suggest that exosome formation is an early event in commitment to the red cell lineage and is not a phenomenon restricted to the terminal stages of red cell maturation.

Solubilization of benzodiazepine receptors from long- and short-sleep mice

Previous studies have shown that long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) mice, which were selectively bred for differential responses to the sedative-hypnotic actions of ethanol, also differ in response to several other agents that act at the GABAergic receptor. Binding at cortical benzodiazepine receptors is enhanced differentially by GABA and ethanol in membranes prepared from the two lines of mice with SS receptors enhanced to a greater extent. Heat denaturation studies and other biochemical characterizations of these receptors suggest that the GABAergic receptor complex from the two lines of mice differs. The present study examined whether perturbation of receptor-membrane interactions by treatment with detergent altered either GABA enhancement of [3H]flunitrazepam binding or ethanol enhancement of this binding. Octylglucopyranoside (OCTG), 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), or deoxycholate solubilization of cortical membranes resulted in a loss of the LS/SS difference in GABA enhancement. Ethanol's effects on binding were altered differently from those of GABA by treatment with OCTG as an increase, not a decrease, in enhancement was observed in both lines of mice. These results suggest that protein-membrane interactions play an important role in mediating LS/SS differences in the allosteric interactions within the GABAergic receptor complex.

Characterization of two cerebellar binding sites of [3H]Ro 15-4513

Ro 15-4513 (ethyl-8-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H- imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate), a partial inverse agonist of central benzodiazepine receptors, binds to two distinct sites in the cerebellum. The binding to diazepam-sensitive (DZ-S) sites is displaced by different benzodiazepine receptor ligands, whereas the other site is insensitive to benzodiazepine agonists [diazepam-insensitive (DZ-IS)]. The binding of [3H]Ro 15-4513 was studied in pig cerebellar membranes and in receptors solubilized and purified from these. Micromolar concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) decreased DZ-S binding at both 0 and 37 degrees C, whereas it had no effect on DZ-IS binding at 0 degrees C and was stimulatory at 37 degrees C. The pH profiles of [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding were quite similar in both binding sites in the pH range of 5.5-10.5 but differed at acidic pH values from those reported for flunitrazepam and Ro 15-1788 (flumazenil; ethyl-8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H- imidazol[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate) binding in DZ-S sites, suggesting that [3H]Ro 15-4513 does not interact with a histidine residue apparently present in the binding site. Zn2+, Cu2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ enhanced the binding to DZ-S sites, and the first three mentioned also enhanced the binding to DZ-IS sites. [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding activity was solubilized by various detergents. All detergents tested were more efficient in solubilizing DZ-S binding activity. High ionic strength improved especially the solubility of DZ-IS binding activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Exosome formation during maturation of mammalian and avian reticulocytes: evidence that exosome release is a major route for externalization of obsolete membrane proteins

We have assessed whether exosome formation is a significant route for loss of plasma membrane functions during sheep reticulocyte maturation in vitro. Although the recovery of transferrin binding activity in exosomes is at best approximately 25-30% of the lost activity, recoveries of over 50% of the lost receptor can be obtained if 125I-labelled transferrin receptor is measured using an that receptor instability may contribute to the less than quantitative recovery of the transferrin receptor. Significantly higher (75-80%) levels of the nucleoside transporter can be recovered in exosomes during red cell maturation using 3H-nitrobenzylthioinosine binding to measure the nucleoside transporter. These data suggest that exosome formation is a major route for removal of plasma membrane proteins during reticulocyte maturation and plasma membrane remodelling. We have also shown that both in vivo and in vitro, embryonic chicken reticulocytes form exosomes which contain the transferrin receptor. Thus, exosome formation is not restricted to mammalian red cells, but also occurs in red cells, which retain organelles, such as nuclei and mitochondria, into the mature red cell stage.

Immunocytochemistry of neurotransmitter receptors

Over the last several years our knowledge of neurotransmitter receptors has increased dramatically as receptor types and subtypes have been identified through the development of selective antagonists, neuropharmacological studies, and radioactive ligand binding studies. At the same time major advances were made in the immunocytochemical localization of neurotransmitters and their related enzymes. However, only recently has immunocytochemistry been used to localize neurotransmitter receptors, and these studies have been limited. Four receptors have been localized in the CNS with immunocytochemistry: the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, the beta-adrenergic receptor, the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor, and the glycine receptor. Of these the glycine receptor has been the most thoroughly characterized. Glycine receptor immunoreactivity is highly concentrated at postsynaptic sites, and the distribution of immunoreactivity appears to correlate closely with glycinergic neurons. However, immunocytochemical studies done on other receptors suggest such a distribution may not always be the case. Some receptors may not be concentrated at postsynaptic sites, and receptor distribution may not always closely fit the distribution of the respective neurotransmitter. Work is rapidly progressing on the purification of other receptors and on the production of selective antibodies which will allow immunocytochemical studies which address these and other questions.

Biochemical characterization of an isolated and functionally reconstituted gamma-aminobutyric acid/benzodiazepine receptor

We have solubilized, affinity-purified, and functionally reconstituted the gamma-aminobutyric acid/benzodiazepine (GABA/BDZ) receptor from rat brain into natural brain lipid liposomes. The detergent, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio] 1-propanesulphonate, was employed for the isolation of the receptor in the presence of a whole rat brain lipid extract supplemented with cholesteryl hemisuccinate. The soluble and reconstituted protein showed a homogeneous [3H]flunitrazepam binding population and the allosteric modulation of this binding site by GABA, by the pyrazolopyridine, cartazolate, and by the depressant barbiturate, pentobarbital. The purified GABA/BDZ receptor when incorporated into liposomes has been visualized by electron microscopy and reveals rosette structures, 8-9 nm in diameter, which appear to have a central pore. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the reconstituted GABA/BDZ receptor reveals three major protein bands of 41, 52-56, and 59-62 kDa, the latter two of which appears as doublets. Functional receptor reconstitution is demonstrated by the measurement of GABA-stimulated 36Cl- flux into the purified GABA/BDZ receptor incorporated liposomes and its modulation by the BDZs, barbiturates, and pyrazolopyridines.

Solubilization and reconstitution of a nucleoside-transport system from Ehrlich ascites-tumour cells

Uptake of [3H]uridine by Ehrlich cells was mediated by both nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR)-sensitive (75%) and NBMPR-insensitive (25%) mechanisms. Each cell contained approx. 26,000 high-affinity (KD = 0.19 nM) recognition sites for [3H]NBMPR, and binding was inhibited by dipyridamole and adenosine at concentrations similar to those required for inhibition of [3H]uridine uptake. Calculations show that each cell contains a total of about 35,000 nucleoside transporters. Photoaffinity labelling of a partially purified preparation of plasma membranes with [3H]NBMPR resulted in a single broad 3H-labelled band on SDS/polyacrylamide gels, with an apparent molecular-mass peak of 42 kDa. This is in contrast with human erythrocyte membranes, where [3H]NBMPR photolabelled two broad bands with peaks at 55 and 80 kDa. Treatment of photoaffinity-labelled membranes with endoglycosidase F decreased the apparent molecular masses of both the Ehrlich-cell and erythrocyte [3H]NBMPR-labelled proteins to approx. 40 kDa. These results suggest that the human erythrocyte [3H]NBMPR-binding polypeptides are more extensively glycosylated than the corresponding Ehrlich-cell polypeptides. Octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside [1.0% (w/v) + asolectin] solubilized over 90% of the [3H]NBMPR-binding sites, with near-complete retention of [3H]NBMPR-binding characteristics. The only major change was a 65-fold decrease in affinity for dipyridamole, which was partly reversed upon incorporation of the solubilized proteins into asolectin membranes. Proteoliposomes, prepared by using asolectin and the octyl glucoside-solubilized plasma membranes, were capable of accumulating [3H]uridine via a protein-dependent dipyridamole/nitrobenzylthioguanosine/dilazep-sensitive mechanism. We have thus demonstrated the efficient solubilization and functional reconstitution of a nucleoside-transport system from Ehrlich ascites-tumour cells.

Maturation-associated loss and incomplete de novo synthesis of the transferrin receptor in peripheral sheep reticulocytes: response to heme and iron

Hemin, but not iron, in the culture medium stimulates the maturation-associated loss of the transferrin receptor from sheep reticulocytes (t1/2 for loss approximately 6 hr) and its appearance in a population of externalized vesicles. A similar pattern is seen with nucleoside binding (a measure of the nucleoside transporter), where hemin increases the loss of binding activity from the cells during culture, concomitant with an increase in nucleoside binding in the externalized vesicles. Sheep reticulocytes retain the ability to synthesize the transferrin receptor, but the 35S-labeled receptors are not detected in released vesicles. Whereas hemin stimulates the loss of 35S-labeled transferrin receptors from the cell (t1/2 for loss approximately 20 hr), nonheme iron is more effective than heme. This difference in response of native and 35S-labeled receptor to hemin and iron supplements appears to be related to the differences in the two classes of receptors. Although the 35S-labeled receptor binds transferrin and both native and 35S-labeled peptides comigrate after chemical deglycosylation, the 35S-receptor is approximately 2 kD smaller than the native receptor and fails to acquire its complete size even when chased for up to 24 hr. Moreover, the 35S-labeled receptor is not expressed at the cell surface, but is retained in a nonrecycling compartment, where it is insensitive to digestion by trypsin at both 0 degrees C and 37 degrees C.

Functional reconstitution of the bovine brain GABAA receptor from solubilized components

The GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor has been solubilized from membrane preparations of bovine cerebral cortex and has been reconstituted, in a functionally active form, into phospholipid vesicles. In preliminary experiments, the receptor was labeled with the photoactive benzodiazepine [3H]flunitrazepam prior to solubilization. A peptide of apparent molecular weight 53,500 was specifically labeled by this method, and this was used as a marker for the receptor during the reconstitution procedures. The labeled protein was solubilized with approximately 40% efficiency by 1% beta-octyl glucoside. Reconstitution was achieved by mixing the solubilized proteins with a 4:1 mixture of soybean asolectin and bovine brain phospholipids, followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-50-80 to remove detergent. The incorporation of the GABAA receptor into membrane vesicles has been verified by sucrose gradient centrifugation in which the [3H]-flunitrazepam-labeled peptide comigrated with [14C]phosphatidylcholine used as a lipid marker. Vesicles prepared without labeled markers retained the ability to bind both [3H]flunitrazepam and the GABA analogue [3H]muscimol. Furthermore, the binding parameters were very similar to those measured using native membrane preparations. A novel fluorescence technique has been used to measure chloride transport mediated by the GABAA receptor in reconstituted vesicles. Chloride influx was rapidly stimulated in the presence of micromolar concentrations of muscimol and was blocked by preincubation of the membranes with muscimol (desensitization). Flux was also blocked by pretreatment with the competitive GABAA receptor blocker bicuculline or with the noncompetitive GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin.

Solubilisation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid/benzodiazepine receptor from rat cerebellum: optimal preservation of the modulatory responses by natural brain lipids

We have solubilised the gamma-aminobutyric acid/benzodiazepine (GABA/BDZ) receptor from rat cerebellum using 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio] 1-propane sulphonate (CHAPS) in the presence of a natural brain lipid extract and cholesteryl hemisuccinate. The soluble material shows a homogeneous [3H]flunitrazepam ([3H]FNZ) binding population with an equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 4.4 +/- 0.2 nM compared to a KD of 2.3 +/- 0.2 nM in cerebellar synaptosomal membranes. The receptor complex in solution retains the characteristic facilitation of [3H]flunitrazepam binding induced by GABA, the pyrazolopyridine cartazolate, and the depressant barbiturate pentobarbital to the same extent as that observed in synaptosomal membranes. Furthermore, these responses are retained both quantitatively and qualitatively when this preparation is stored for 48 h at 4 degrees C. This is contrary to the results obtained with a CHAPS-soluble preparation including asolectin in which these responses are anomalous and extremely labile on storage.

Modulation of [3H]flunitrazepam binding to rat cerebellar benzodiazepine receptors by phosphatidylserine

The influence of phosphatidylserine on ligand binding to the benzodiazepine/GABA receptor complex was assessed in rat cerebellar synaptic membranes and in a detergent-solubilized membrane preparation. Intact synaptic membranes or membranes solubilized with the zwitterionic detergent CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]propanesulfonate) were incubated with a range of concentrations of phosphatidylserine for 2 h at 4 degrees C, prior to use in radioligand binding assays. Phosphatidylserine, an endogenous membrane phospholipid, facilitated the site-specific binding of [3H]flunitrazepam to synaptic membranes and CHAPS-solubilized preparations. In addition, phosphatidylserine inhibited the facilitation of [3H]flunitrazepam binding induced by either cartazolate or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Although the maximum effect (38% facilitation of [3H]flunitrazepam binding; greater than 90% inhibition of the cartazolate action) was produced using 130 microM phosphatidylserine, a significant enhancement of [3H]flunitrazepam binding could be observed upon preincubation of synaptic membranes with concentrations of phosphatidylserine as low as 5 microM. These results suggest that endogenous phosphatidylserine may play a role in the regulation of benzodiazepine/GABA receptor function, possibly through modulation of the mechanisms which functionally link the various components of this complex receptor system.

Solubilisation of the benzodiazepine receptor from rat cerebellum by the detergent n-octylpentaoxyethylene

The detergent n-octylpentaoxyethylene is one in the series of tenside detergents developed for membrane solubilisation. We have used this detergent to solubilise benzodiazepine receptors from rat cerebellum. The soluble receptor has an affinity (KD) for [3H]flunitrazepam of 1.8 nM +/- 0.2, which is not significantly different from that observed in synaptic membranes. Under optimal conditions (0.6% wt/vol), the number of soluble flunitrazepam binding sites (Bmax) of 0.35 pmol/mg protein suggests an apparent solubilisation of 40% of sites from the membrane. However, the absence of the characteristic facilitation of [3H]flunitrazepam binding by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), cartazolate, and pentobarbital in this soluble receptor preparation suggests that such a preparation is unlikely to be a useful preparation for further studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying GABAA receptor function.