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Crystal structures of a GABAA-receptor chimera reveal new endogenous neurosteroid-binding sites.


ABSTRACT: ?-Aminobutyric acid receptors (GABAARs) are vital for controlling excitability in the brain. This is emphasized by the numerous neuropsychiatric disorders that result from receptor dysfunction. A critical component of most native GABAARs is the ? subunit. Its transmembrane domain is the target for many modulators, including endogenous brain neurosteroids that impact anxiety, stress and depression, and for therapeutic drugs, such as general anesthetics. Understanding the basis for the modulation of GABAAR function requires high-resolution structures. Here we present the first atomic structures of a GABAAR chimera at 2.8-Å resolution, including those bound with potentiating and inhibitory neurosteroids. These structures define new allosteric binding sites for these modulators that are associated with the ?-subunit transmembrane domain. Our findings will enable the exploitation of neurosteroids for therapeutic drug design to regulate GABAARs in neurological disorders.

SUBMITTER: Laverty D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6853794 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Crystal structures of a GABA<sub>A</sub>-receptor chimera reveal new endogenous neurosteroid-binding sites.

Laverty Duncan D   Thomas Philip P   Field Martin M   Andersen Ole J OJ   Gold Matthew G MG   Biggin Philip C PC   Gielen Marc M   Smart Trevor G TG  

Nature structural & molecular biology 20171002 11


γ-Aminobutyric acid receptors (GABA<sub>A</sub>Rs) are vital for controlling excitability in the brain. This is emphasized by the numerous neuropsychiatric disorders that result from receptor dysfunction. A critical component of most native GABA<sub>A</sub>Rs is the α subunit. Its transmembrane domain is the target for many modulators, including endogenous brain neurosteroids that impact anxiety, stress and depression, and for therapeutic drugs, such as general anesthetics. Understanding the bas  ...[more]

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