A (beta)-strand in the (gamma)2 subunit lines the benzodiazepine binding site of the GABA A receptor: structural rearrangements detected during channel gating
- PMID:11438573
- PMCID: PMC6762856
- DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-14-04977.2001
A (beta)-strand in the (gamma)2 subunit lines the benzodiazepine binding site of the GABA A receptor: structural rearrangements detected during channel gating
Abstract
Benzodiazepines (BZDs) exert their effects in the CNS by binding to a modulatory site on GABA(A) receptors. Individual amino acids have been implicated in BZD recognition and modulation of the GABA(A) receptor, but the secondary structure of the amino acids contributing to the BZD binding site has not been elucidated. In this report we used the substituted cysteine accessibility method to understand the structural dynamics of a region of the GABA(A) receptor implicated in BZD binding, gamma(2)Y72-gamma(2)Y83. Each residue within this region was mutated to cysteine and expressed with wild-type alpha(1) and beta(2) subunits in Xenopus oocytes. Methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagents were used to modify covalently the engineered cysteines, and the subsequent effects on BZD modulation of the receptor were monitored functionally by two-electrode voltage clamp. We identified an alternating pattern of accessibility to sulfhydryl modification, indicating that the region gamma(2)T73-gamma(2)T81 adopts a beta-strand conformation. By monitoring the ability of BZD ligands to impede the covalent modification of accessible cysteines, we also identified two residues within this region, gamma(2)A79 and gamma(2)T81, that line the BZD binding site. Sulfhydryl modification of gamma(2)A79C or gamma(2)T81C allosterically shifts the GABA EC(50) of the receptor, suggesting that certain MTS compounds may act as tethered agonists at the BZD binding site. Last, we present structural evidence that a portion of the BZD binding site undergoes a conformational change in response to GABA binding and channel gating (opening and desensitization). These data represent an important step in understanding allosteric communication in ligand-gated ion channels.
Figures








Similar articles
- Structure and dynamics of the GABA binding pocket: A narrowing cleft that constricts during activation.Wagner DA, Czajkowski C.Wagner DA, et al.J Neurosci. 2001 Jan 1;21(1):67-74. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-01-00067.2001.J Neurosci. 2001.PMID:11150321Free PMC article.
- Structural mechanisms underlying benzodiazepine modulation of the GABA(A) receptor.Hanson SM, Czajkowski C.Hanson SM, et al.J Neurosci. 2008 Mar 26;28(13):3490-9. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5727-07.2008.J Neurosci. 2008.PMID:18367615Free PMC article.
- Individually monitoring ligand-induced changes in the structure of the GABAA receptor at benzodiazepine binding site and non-binding-site interfaces.Sharkey LM, Czajkowski C.Sharkey LM, et al.Mol Pharmacol. 2008 Jul;74(1):203-12. doi: 10.1124/mol.108.044891. Epub 2008 Apr 18.Mol Pharmacol. 2008.PMID:18424553Free PMC article.
- A closer look at the high affinity benzodiazepine binding site on GABAA receptors.Sigel E, Lüscher BP.Sigel E, et al.Curr Top Med Chem. 2011;11(2):241-6. doi: 10.2174/156802611794863562.Curr Top Med Chem. 2011.PMID:21189125Review.
- Combining Mutations and Electrophysiology to Map Anesthetic Sites on Ligand-Gated Ion Channels.Forman SA.Forman SA.Methods Enzymol. 2018;602:369-389. doi: 10.1016/bs.mie.2018.01.014. Epub 2018 Feb 28.Methods Enzymol. 2018.PMID:29588039Free PMC article.Review.
Cited by
- Topology characterization of a benzodiazepine-binding beta-rich domain of the GABAA receptor alpha1 subunit.Xu Z, Fang S, Shi H, Li H, Deng Y, Liao Y, Wu JM, Zheng H, Zhu H, Chen HM, Tsang SY, Xue H.Xu Z, et al.Protein Sci. 2005 Oct;14(10):2622-37. doi: 10.1110/ps.051555205.Protein Sci. 2005.PMID:16195550Free PMC article.
- Low Expression in Xenopus Oocytes and Unusual Functional Properties of α1β2γ2 GABAA Receptors with Non-Conventional Subunit Arrangement.Baur R, Sigel E.Baur R, et al.PLoS One. 2017 Jan 23;12(1):e0170572. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170572. eCollection 2017.PLoS One. 2017.PMID:28114407Free PMC article.
- Desformylflustrabromine Modulates α4β2 Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor High- and Low-Sensitivity Isoforms at Allosteric Clefts Containing the β2 Subunit.Weltzin MM, Schulte MK.Weltzin MM, et al.J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2015 Aug;354(2):184-94. doi: 10.1124/jpet.115.223933. Epub 2015 May 29.J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2015.PMID:26025967Free PMC article.
- GABAA receptor: Positive and negative allosteric modulators.Olsen RW.Olsen RW.Neuropharmacology. 2018 Jul 1;136(Pt A):10-22. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.01.036. Epub 2018 Jan 31.Neuropharmacology. 2018.PMID:29407219Free PMC article.Review.
- The GABAA receptor alpha+beta- interface: a novel target for subtype selective drugs.Ramerstorfer J, Furtmüller R, Sarto-Jackson I, Varagic Z, Sieghart W, Ernst M.Ramerstorfer J, et al.J Neurosci. 2011 Jan 19;31(3):870-7. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5012-10.2011.J Neurosci. 2011.PMID:21248110Free PMC article.
References
- Boileau AJ, Kucken AM, Evers AR, Czajkowski C. Molecular dissection of benzodiazepine binding and allosteric coupling using chimeric γ-aminobutyric acidA receptor subunits. Mol Pharmacol. 1998;53:295–303. - PubMed
- Buhr A, Baur R, Sigel E. Subtle changes in residue 77 of the γ-subunit of α1β2γ2 GABAA receptors drastically alter the affinity for ligands of the benzodiazepine binding site. J Biol Chem. 1997;272:11799–11804. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Related information
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources