β2 Subunit Contribution to 4/7 α-Conotoxin Binding to the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

Sébastien Dutertre,Annette Nicke,Richard J Lewis

doi:10.1074/jbc.m504229200

Abstract

The structures of acetylcholine-binding protein (AChBP) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) homology models have been used to interpret data from mutagenesis experiments at the nAChR. However, little is known about AChBP-derived structures as predictive tools. Molecular surface analysis of nAChR models has revealed a conserved cleft as the likely binding site for the 4/7 alpha-conotoxins. Here, we used an alpha3beta2 model to identify beta2 subunit residues in this cleft and investigated their influence on the binding of alpha-conotoxins MII, PnIA, and GID to the alpha3beta2 nAChR by two-electrode voltage clamp analysis. Although a beta2-L119Q mutation strongly reduced the affinity of all three alpha-conotoxins, beta2-F117A, beta2-V109A, and beta2-V109G mutations selectively enhanced the binding of MII and GID. An increased activity of alpha-conotoxins GID and MII was also observed when the beta2-F117A mutant was combined with the alpha4 instead of the alpha3 subunit. Investigation of A10L-PnIA indicated that high affinity binding to beta2-F117A, beta2-V109A, and beta2-V109G mutants was conferred by amino acids with a long side chain in position 10 (PnIA numbering). Docking simulations of 4/7 alpha-conotoxin binding to the alpha3beta2 model supported a direct interaction between mutated nAChR residues and alpha-conotoxin residues 6, 7, and 10. Taken together, these data provide evidence that the beta subunit contributes to alpha-conotoxin binding and selectivity and demonstrate that a small cleft leading to the agonist binding site is targeted by alpha-conotoxins to block the nAChR.

Highlights

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors1 comprise a large family of ion channels formed by the heteropentameric assembly of homologous subunits. ␣-Conotoxins, small disulfide-rich peptides isolated from the venom of predatory cone snails, potently and selectively block nAChRs [1]
Homology Modeling Identifies Val-109, Phe-117, and Leu119 in the ␤2 nAChR Subunit as Likely Residues Interacting with ␣-Conotoxins MII and PnIA—We previously identified two cavities at opposite sides of the ␤9/10 hairpin (C-loop of an ␣ subunit) on the surface of the nAChR, one large and accessible and one small and narrow, from which the ACh binding site could be reached [21]
The cavity has recently been confirmed to represent the binding site used by the large snake neurotoxins to block the nAChR [24], whereas the cleft represents the likely region targeted by ␣-conotoxins [17, 21]

Summary

Introduction

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)1 comprise a large family of ion channels formed by the heteropentameric assembly of homologous subunits. ␣-Conotoxins, small disulfide-rich peptides isolated from the venom of predatory cone snails, potently and selectively block nAChRs [1]. We used an ␣3␤2 model to identify ␤2 subunit residues in this cleft and investigated their influence on the binding of ␣-conotoxins MII, PnIA, and GID to the ␣3␤2 nAChR by two-electrode voltage clamp analysis.

Results

Conclusion