Conserved site for neurosteroid modulation of GABA A receptors

Neuropharmacology. 2009 Jan;56(1):149-54. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.07.050. Epub 2008 Aug 13.

Abstract

This study addresses whether the potentiation site for neurosteroids on GABA(A) receptors is conserved amongst different GABA(A) receptor isoforms. The neurosteroid potentiation site was previously identified in the alpha1beta2gamma2S receptor by mutation of Q241 to methionine or leucine, which reduced the potentiation of GABA currents by the naturally occurring neurosteroids, allopregnanolone or tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC). By using heterologous expression of GABA(A) receptors in HEK cells, in combination with whole-cell patch clamp recording methods, a relatively consistent potentiation by allopregnanolone of GABA-activated currents was evident for receptors composed of one alpha subunit isoform (alpha2-5) assembled with beta3 and gamma2S subunits. Using mutant alphabetagamma receptors, the neurosteroid potentiation was universally dependent on the conserved glutamine residue in M1 of the respective alpha subunit. Studying wild-type and mutant receptors composed of alpha4beta3delta subunits revealed that the delta subunit is unlikely to contribute to the neurosteroid potentiation binding site and probably affects the efficacy of potentiation. Thus, in keeping with the ability of neurosteroids to potentiate GABA currents via a broad variety of GABA(A) receptor isoforms in neurons, the potentiation site is structurally highly conserved on this important neurotransmitter receptor family.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Desoxycorticosterone / analogs & derivatives
  • Desoxycorticosterone / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating / drug effects*
  • Ion Channel Gating / genetics
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Membrane Potentials / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed / methods
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / pharmacology*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods
  • Pregnanolone / pharmacology*
  • Protein Subunits
  • Receptors, GABA-A / chemistry*
  • Receptors, GABA-A / drug effects
  • Receptors, GABA-A / genetics*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Protein Subunits
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Desoxycorticosterone
  • tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone
  • Pregnanolone