NMR structures of the human ?7 nAChR transmembrane domain and associated anesthetic binding sites.

ABSTRACT: The ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), assembled as homomeric pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, is one of the most abundant nAChR subtypes in the brain. Despite its importance in memory, learning and cognition, no structure has been determined for the ?7 nAChR TM domain, a target for allosteric modulators. Using solution state NMR, we determined the structure of the human ?7 nAChR TM domain (PDB ID: 2MAW) and demonstrated that the ?7 TM domain formed functional channels in Xenopus oocytes. We identified the associated binding sites for the anesthetics halothane and ketamine; the former cannot sensitively inhibit ?7 function, but the latter can. The ?7 TM domain folds into the expected four-helical bundle motif, but the intra-subunit cavity at the extracellular end of the ?7 TM domain is smaller than the equivalent cavity in the ?4?2 nAChRs (PDB IDs: 2LLY; 2LM2). Neither drug binds to the extracellular end of the ?7 TM domain, but two halothane molecules or one ketamine molecule binds to the intracellular end of the ?7 TM domain. Halothane and ketamine binding sites are partially overlapped. Ketamine, but not halothane, perturbed the ?7 channel-gate residue L9'. Furthermore, halothane did not induce profound dynamics changes in the ?7 channel as observed in ?4?2. The study offers a novel high-resolution structure for the human ?7 nAChR TM domain that is invaluable for developing ?7-specific therapeutics. It also provides evidence to support the hypothesis: only when anesthetic binding perturbs the channel pore or alters the channel motion, can binding generate functional consequences.

SUBMITTER: Bondarenko V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4003566 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature