Identification of propofol binding sites in a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor with a photoreactive propofol analog.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Propofol, a widely used intravenous general anesthetic, acts at anesthetic concentrations as a positive allosteric modulator of ?-aminobutyric acid type A receptors and at higher concentration as an inhibitor of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Here, we characterize propofol binding sites in a muscle-type nAChR by use of a photoreactive analog of propofol, 2-isopropyl-5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-3H-diazirin-3-yl]phenol (AziPm). Based upon radioligand binding assays, AziPm stabilized the Torpedo nAChR in the resting state, whereas propofol stabilized the desensitized state. nAChR-rich membranes were photolabeled with [(3)H]AziPm, and labeled amino acids were identified by Edman degradation. [(3)H]AziPm binds at three sites within the nAChR transmembrane domain: (i) an intrasubunit site in the ? subunit helix bundle, photolabeling in the nAChR desensitized state (+agonist) ?M2-18' and two residues in ?M1 (?Phe-232 and ?Cys-236); (ii) in the ion channel, photolabeling in the nAChR resting, closed channel state (-agonist) amino acids in the M2 helices (?M2-6', ?M2-6' and -13', and ?M2-13') that line the channel lumen (with photolabeling reduced by >90% in the desensitized state); and (iii) at the ?-? interface, photolabeling ?M2-10'. Propofol enhanced [(3)H]AziPm photolabeling at ?M2-10'. Propofol inhibited [(3)H]AziPm photolabeling within the ? subunit helix bundle at lower concentrations (IC50 = 40 ?m) than it inhibited ion channel photolabeling (IC50 = 125 ?m). These results identify for the first time a single intrasubunit propofol binding site in the nAChR transmembrane domain and suggest that this is the functionally relevant inhibitory binding site.
SUBMITTER: Jayakar SS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3585054 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
ACCESS DATA