Human Glycine Receptor Research Articles

Modulation of Ligand-Gated Glycine Receptors Via Functional Monoclonal Antibodies.

Ion channels are targets of considerable therapeutic interest to address a wide variety of neurologic indications, including pain perception. Current pharmacological strategies have focused mostly on small molecule approaches that can be limited by selectivity requirements within members of a channel family or superfamily. Therapeutic antibodies have been proposed, designed, and characterized to alleviate this selectivity limitation; however, there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved therapeutic antibody-based drugs targeting ion channels on the market to date. Here, in an effort to identify novel classes of engineered ion channel modulators for potential neurologic therapeutic applications, we report the generation and characterization of six (EC50 < 25nM) Cys-loop receptor family monoclonal antibodies with modulatory function against rat and human glycine receptor alpha 1 (GlyRα1) and/or GlyRα3. These antibodies have activating (i.e., positive modulator) or inhibiting (i.e., negative modulator) profiles. Moreover, GlyRα3 selectivity was successfully achieved for two of the three positive modulators identified. When dosed intravenously, the antibodies achieved sufficient brain exposure to cover their calculated in vitro EC50 values. When compared head-to-head at identical exposures, the GlyRα3-selective antibody showed a more desirable safety profile over the nonselective antibody, thus demonstrating, for the first time, an advantage for GlyRα3-selectivity. Our data show that ligand-gated ion channels of the glycine receptor family within the central nervous system can be functionally modulated by engineered biologics in a dose-dependent manner and that, despite high protein homology between the alpha subunits, selectivity can be achieved within this receptor family, resulting in future therapeutic candidates with more desirable drug safety profiles. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study presents immunization and multiplatform screening approaches to generate a diverse library of functional antibodies (agonist, potentiator, or inhibitory) raised against human glycine receptors (GlyRs). This study also demonstrates the feasibility of acquiring alpha subunit selectivity, a desirable therapeutic profile. When tested in vivo, these tool molecules demonstrated an increased safety profile in favor of GlyRα3-selectivity. These are the first reported functional GlyR antibodies that may open new avenues to treating central nervous system diseases with subunit selective biologics.

Characterization of the subunit composition and structure of adult human glycine receptors

The strychnine-sensitive pentameric glycine receptor (GlyR) mediates fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian nervous system. Only heteromeric GlyRs mediate synaptic transmission, as they contain the β subunit that permits clustering at the synapse through its interaction with scaffolding proteins. Here, we show that α2 and β subunits assemble with an unexpected 4:1 stoichiometry to produce GlyR with native electrophysiological properties. We determined structures in multiple functional states at 3.6-3.8Å resolutions and show how 4:1 stoichiometry is consistent with the structural features of α2β GlyR. Furthermore, we show that one single β subunit in each GlyR gives rise to the characteristic electrophysiological properties of heteromeric GlyR, while more β subunits render GlyR non-conductive. A single β subunit ensures a univalent GlyR-scaffold linkage, which means the scaffold alone regulates the cluster properties.

Mechanisms underlying the selectivity of meta‐diamides between insect resistance to dieldrin (RDL) and human γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine receptors

Meta-diamides [3-benzamido-N-(4-(perfluoropropan-2-yl)phenyl)benzamides] show high insecticide activity by acting as antagonists to the insect resistance to dieldrin (RDL) γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. In contrast, low-level antagonist activities of meta-diamides have been demonstrated against the human GABA type A receptor (GABAA R) α1β2γ2S, mammalian GABAA R α1β3γ2S, and the human glycine receptor (GlyR) α1β. Glycine residue 336 in the membrane-spanning region M3 of the Drosophila RDL GABA receptor is essential for its high sensitivity to meta-diamide 7, [3-benzamido-N-(2-bromo-4-(perfluoropropan-2-yl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-fluorobenzamide]. We examined the effects of an equivalent mutation (M288G) in spontaneously opened human GABAA R β3 homomers using membrane potential assay. Picrotoxin and fipronil blocked spontaneously opened human GABAA Rs β3 and β3-M286G in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, meta-diamide 7 did not block spontaneously opened GABAA R β3 homomers, although meta-diamide 7 blocked spontaneously opened GABAA R β3-M286G homomers. In addition, inhibitory potency of meta-diamide 7 for GABA-induced membrane potential change in cells expressing GABAA R α1β3-M286G was much higher than that in cells expressing GABAA R α1β3. In the same way, the equivalent mutation (A288G) in GlyR α1 increased the inhibitory potency of meta-diamide 7 for GlyRs α1 and α1β. Studies substituting an equivalent mutation (M288G) in spontaneously opening human GABAA R β3 homomers and human GABAA Rs α1β3 heteromers suggest that M286 in human GABAA R β3 is important for the low sensitivity to meta-diamide 7. In this study, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the selectivity of meta-diamides between insect RDL and human GABA and glycine receptors. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Glutamate, d-(-)-2-Amino-5-Phosphonopentanoic Acid, and N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Do Not Directly Modulate Glycine Receptors.

Replication studies play an essential role in corroborating research findings and ensuring that subsequent experimental works are interpreted correctly. A previously published paper indicated that the neurotransmitter glutamate, along with the compounds N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and d-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5), acts as positive allosteric modulators of inhibitory glycine receptors. The paper further suggested that this form of modulation would play a role in setting the spinal inhibitory tone and influencing sensory signaling, as spillover of glutamate onto nearby glycinergic synapses would permit rapid crosstalk between excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Here, we attempted to replicate this finding in primary cultured spinal cord neurons, spinal cord slice, and Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing recombinant human glycine receptors. Despite extensive efforts, we were unable to reproduce the finding that glutamate, AP5, and NMDA positively modulate glycine receptor currents. We paid careful attention to critical aspects of the original study design and took into account receptor saturation and protocol deviations such as animal species. Finally, we explored possible explanations for the experimental discrepancy. We found that solution contamination with a high-affinity modulator such as zinc is most likely to account for the error, and we suggest methods for preventing this kind of misinterpretation in future studies aimed at characterizing high-affinity modulators of the glycine receptor. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: A previous study indicates that glutamate spillover onto inhibitory synapses can directly interact with glycine receptors to enhance inhibitory signalling. This finding has important implications for baseline spinal transmission and may play a role when chronic pain develops. However, we failed to replicate the results and did not observe glutamate, d-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, or N-methyl-d-aspartate modulation of native or recombinant glycine receptors. We ruled out various sources for the discrepancy and found that the most likely cause is solution contamination.

Fine-Tuning of Neuronal Ion Channels-Mapping of Residues Involved in Glucose Sensitivity of Recombinant Human Glycine Receptors.

The inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) mediates synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord, brain stem, and other regions of the mammalian central nervous system. Glucose was shown to potentiate α1 GlyRs by interacting with K143. Here, additional amino acids involved in glucose modulation were identified using a structure-based approach of site-directed mutagenesis followed by whole-cell patch-clamp analysis. We identified two additional lysine residues in the α1 GlyR extracellular domain, K16 and K281, that were involved in glucose modulation. Mutation of either residue to alanine abolished glucose potentiation. Residue K281 is located in the same pocket as K143 and could thus contribute to glucose binding. The double mutant K143A-K281A showed a 6-fold increase of EC50, while EC50 of both single mutants K143A and K281A was only slightly increased (1.7- and 1.3-fold, respectively). K16 is located at an analgesic binding site that is distant from the agonist or glucose sites, and the K16A mutation may generate a receptor species that is not potentiated. GlyR position α1-S267 is close to the postulated glucose binding site and known for interactions with ethanol and anesthetics. In the presence of glucose, GlyR α1 mutants S267A, S267I, and S267R showed potentiation, no effect, and reduction of current responses, respectively. This pattern follows that of ethanol modulation and suggests that the interaction sites of glucose and ethanol are identical or located close to each other. Our results support the presence of a distinct binding site for glucose on the glycine receptor, overlapping with the ivermectin/ethanol binding pocket near the transmembrane region and the TM2-3 loop.

Molecular Insight into the Mutual Interactions of Two Transmembrane Domains of Human Glycine Receptor (TM23-GlyR), with the Lipid Bilayers

Appearing as a computational microscope, MD simulation can ‘zoom in’ to atomic resolution to assess detailed interactions of a membrane protein with its surrounding lipids, which play important roles in the stability and function of such proteins. This study has employed the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, to determine the effect of added DMPC or DMTAP molecules on the structure of DPPC bilayer, and also to characterize the mutual interactions of TM23-GlyR (The second and third transmembrane domains of glycine receptor), with the pure and mixed lipid bilayers. Structural properties of DPPC bilayer, namely the order of acyl chains and the area per lipid, were affected by cationic DMTAP and zwitterionic DMPC lipids, in completely reverse ways. In the case of the mutual interactions of lipid molecules and TM23-GlyR, the cationic DMTAP lipids showed greater impact on the structural properties of this protein. On the other hand, TM23-GlyR caused clear increase in the lipid chain order, due to the positive hydrophobic mismatch. In total, this study could shed light on the effect of lipid force field, chain length, and the head group charge and size, on the lipid-protein interplay.

Glycine Receptor Autoantibodies Impair Receptor Function and Induce Motor Dysfunction.

Impairment of glycinergic neurotransmission leads to complex movement and behavioral disorders. Patients harboring glycine receptor autoantibodies suffer from stiff-person syndrome or its severe variant progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus. Enhanced receptor internalization was proposed as the common molecular mechanism upon autoantibody binding. Although functional impairment of glycine receptors following autoantibody binding has recently been investigated, it is still incompletely understood. A cell-based assay was used for positive sample evaluation. Glycine receptor function was assessed by electrophysiological recordings and radioligand binding assays. The in vivo passive transfer of patient autoantibodies was done using the zebrafish animal model. Glycine receptor function as assessed by glycine dose-response curves showed significantly decreased glycine potency in the presence of patient sera. Upon binding of autoantibodies from 2 patients, a decreased fraction of desensitized receptors was observed, whereas closing of the ion channel remained fast. The glycine receptor N-terminal residues 29 A to 62 G were mapped as a common epitope of glycine receptor autoantibodies. An in vivo transfer into the zebrafish animal model generated a phenotype with disturbed escape behavior accompanied by a reduced number of glycine receptor clusters in the spinal cord of affected animals. Autoantibodies against the extracellular domain mediate alterations of glycine receptor physiology. Moreover, our in vivo data demonstrate that the autoantibodies are a direct cause of the disease, because the transfer of human glycine receptor autoantibodies to zebrafish larvae generated impaired escape behavior in the animal model compatible with abnormal startle response in stiff-person syndrome or progressive encephalitis with rigidity and myoclonus patients. ANN NEUROL 2020;88:544-561.

PNU-120596, a positive allosteric modulator of mammalian α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, is a negative modulator of ligand-gated chloride-selective channels of the gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis.

Excitatory α7 neuronal nicotinic receptors (nAChR) are widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous and immune systems and are important for learning, memory, and immune response regulation. Specific α7 nAChR ligands, including positive allosteric modulators are promising to treat cognitive disorders, inflammatory processes, and pain. One of them, PNU-120596, highly increased the neuron response to α7 agonists and retarded desensitization, showing selectivity for α7 as compared to heteromeric nAChRs, but was not examined at the inhibitory ligand-gated channels. We studied PNU-120596 action on anion-conducting channels using voltage-clamp techniques: it slightly potentiated the response of human glycine receptors expressed in PC12 cells, of rat GABAA receptors in cerebellar Purkinje cells and mouse GABAA Rs heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes. On the contrary, PNU-120596 exerted an inhibitory effect on the receptors mediating anion currents in Lymnaea stagnalis neurons: two nAChR subtypes, GABA and glutamate receptors. Acceleration of the current decay, contrary to slowing down desensitization in mammalian α7 nAChR, was observed in L. stagnalis neurons predominantly expressing one of the two nAChR subtypes. Thus, PNU-120596 effect on these anion-selective nAChRs was just opposite to the action on the mammalian cation-selective α7 nAChRs. A comparison of PNU-120596 molecule docked to the models of transmembrane domains of the human α7 AChR and two subunits of L. stagnalis nAChR demonstrated some differences in contacts with the amino acid residues important for PNU-120596 action on the α7 nAChR. Thus, our results show that PNU-120596 action depends on a particular subtype of these Cys-loop receptors.

Kavalactones from Kava (Piper methysticum) root extract as modulators of recombinant human glycine receptors.

Roots of kava (Piper methysticum) plant are used in almost all Pacific Ocean cultures to prepare a drink with sedative, anesthetic and euphoric properties. One of the main active ingredients of the extract are kava lactones. Here, kava root CO2 extract and three kavalactones, DL-kavain, dihydrokavain and yangonin (isolated from whole extract by column chromatography) were tested for their inhibitory action on recombinant homomeric human α1 glycine receptors expressed in HEK293 cells. Kava CO2 root extract, as well as the individual components DL-kavain, dihydrokavain and yangonin inhibited glycine receptor activity in a dose-dependent manner. DL-kavain was the most potent inhibitor (IC50 = 0.077 ± 0.002 mm), followed by yangonin (IC50 = 0.31 ± 0.04 mm) and dihydrokavain (IC50 = 3.23 ± 0.10 mm) which were 4- and 40-fold less active than DL-kavain, respectively. Application of kava root extract did not reduce maximum currents, but increased EC50 of glycine. Simultaneous application of kava extract and strychnine showed additive inhibition, suggesting that binding of kavalactones and strychnine on the receptor is mutually exclusive. Overall, kavalactones exert a moderate inhibitory effect on the human α1 glycine receptor with DL-kavain being the most potent constituent.

Crystal structures of human glycine receptor α3 bound to a novel class of analgesic potentiators.

Current therapies to treat persistent pain and neuropathic pain are limited by poor efficacy, side effects and risk of addiction. Here, we present a novel class of potent selective, central nervous system (CNS)-penetrant potentiators of glycine receptors (GlyRs), ligand-gated ion channels expressed in the CNS. AM-1488 increased the response to exogenous glycine in mouse spinal cord and significantly reversed mechanical allodynia induced by nerve injury in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. We obtained an X-ray crystal structure of human homopentameric GlyRα3 in complex with AM-3607, a potentiator of the same class with increased potency, and the agonist glycine, at 2.6-Å resolution. AM-3607 binds a novel allosteric site between subunits, which is adjacent to the orthosteric site where glycine binds. Our results provide new insights into the potentiation of cysteine-loop receptors by positive allosteric modulators and hold promise in structure-based design of GlyR modulators for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

A Chemogenetic Receptor That Enhances the Magnitude and Frequency of Glycinergic Inhibitory Postsynaptic Currents without Inducing a Tonic Chloride Flux.

The gene transfer-mediated expression of inhibitory ion channels in nociceptive neurons holds promise for treating intractable pain. Chemogenetics, which involves expressing constructs activated by biologically inert molecules, is of particular interest as it permits tunable neuromodulation. However, current chloride-permeable chemogenetic constructs are problematic as they mediate a tonic chloride influx which over time would deplete the chloride electrochemical gradient and reduce inhibitory efficacy. Inflammatory pain sensitization can be caused by prostaglandin E2-mediated inhibition of glycinergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents in spinal nociceptive neurons. We developed a highly conducting (100 pS) inhibitory chemogenetic construct based on a human glycine receptor (α1Y279F,A288G) with high ivermectin sensitivity. When virally infected into spinal neurons, 10 nM ivermectin increased the magnitude and frequency of glycinergic postsynaptic currents without activating a tonic chloride flux. The construct should thus produce analgesia. Its human origin and the well-established biocompatibility of its ligand suggest it may be suited to human use.

Inter- and Intra-Subunit Butanol/Isoflurane Sites of Action in the Human Glycine Receptor.

Glycine receptors (GlyRs) mediate inhibitory neurotransmission and are targets for alcohols and anesthetics in brain. GlyR transmembrane (TM) domains contain critical residues for alcohol/anesthetic action: amino acid A288 in TM3 forms crosslinks with TM1 (I229) in the adjacent subunit as well as TM2 (S267) and TM4 (Y406, W407, I409, Y410) in the same subunit. We hypothesized that these residues may participate in intra-subunit and inter-subunit sites of alcohol/anesthetic action. The following double and triple mutants of GLRA1 cDNA (encoding human glycine receptor alpha 1 subunit) were injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes: I229C/A288C, I229C/A288C/C290S, A288C/Y406C, A288C/W407C, A288C/I409C, and A288C/Y410C along with the corresponding single mutants and wild-type GLRA1. Butanol (22 mM) or isoflurane (0.6 mM) potentiation of GlyR-mediated currents before and after application of the cysteine crosslinking agent HgCl2 (10 μM) was measured using two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology. Crosslinking nearly abolished butanol and isoflurane potentiation in the I229C/A288C and I229C/A288C/C290S mutants but had no effect in single mutants or wild-type. Crosslinking also inhibited butanol and isoflurane potentiation in the TM3-4 mutants (A288C/Y406C, A288C/W407C, A288C/I409C, A288C/Y410C) with no effect in single mutants or wild-type. We extracted proteins from oocytes expressing I229C/288C, A288C/Y410C, or wild-type GlyRs, used mass spectrometry to verify their expression and possible inter-subunit dimerization, plus immunoblotting to investigate the biochemical features of proposed crosslinks. Wild-type GlyR subunits measured about 50 kDa; after crosslinking, the dimeric/monomeric 100:50 kDa band ratio was significantly increased in I229C/288C but not A288C/Y410C mutants or wild-type, providing support for TM1-3 inter-subunit and TM3-4 intra-subunit crosslinking. A GlyR homology model based on the GluCl template provides further evidence for a multi-site model for alcohol/anesthetic interaction with human GLRA1.

Functional and Biochemical Characterization of Alvinella pompejana Cys-Loop Receptor Homologues.

Cys-loop receptors are membrane spanning ligand-gated ion channels involved in fast excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. Three-dimensional structures of these ion channels, determined by X-ray crystallography or electron microscopy, have revealed valuable information regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying ligand recognition, channel gating and ion conductance. To extend and validate the current insights, we here present promising candidates for further structural studies. We report the biochemical and functional characterization of Cys-loop receptor homologues identified in the proteome of Alvinella pompejana, an extremophilic, polychaete annelid found in hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Seven homologues were selected, named Alpo1-7. Five of them, Alpo2-6, were unidentified prior to this study. Two-electrode voltage clamp experiments revealed that wild type Alpo5 and Alpo6, both sharing remarkably high sequence identity with human glycine receptor α subunits, are anion-selective channels that can be activated by glycine, GABA and taurine. Furthermore, upon expression in insect cells fluorescence size-exclusion chromatography experiments indicated that four homologues, Alpo1, Alpo4, Alpo6 and Alpo7, can be extracted out of the membrane by a wide variety of detergents while maintaining their oligomeric state. Finally, large-scale purification efforts of Alpo1, Alpo4 and Alpo6 resulted in milligram amounts of biochemically stable and monodisperse protein. Overall, our results establish the evolutionary conservation of glycine receptors in annelids and pave the way for future structural studies.

Crystal Structure of Human Glycine Receptor-α3 Bound to Antagonist Strychnine

Neurotransmitter-gated ion channels of the Cys-loop receptor family are essential mediators of fast neurotransmission throughout the nervous system and are implicated in many neurological disorders. Available x-ray structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic Cys-loop receptors provide tremendous insights into the binding of agonists, the subsequent opening of the ion channel, and the mechanism of channel activation1-8. Yet the mechanism of inactivation by antagonists remains unknown. Here we present a 3.0 Å x-ray structure of the human glycine receptor α3 homopentamer in complex with a high affinity, high specificity antagonist strychnine. Our structure allows us to explore in great detail the molecular recognition of antagonists. Comparisons with previous structures reveal a mechanism of inactivating Cys-loop receptors by antagonist binding. • This work has been published in Nature Sep 28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature14972. [Epub ahead of print] (2015)

Disturbances of Ligand Potency and Enhanced Degradation of the Human Glycine Receptor at Affected Positions G160 and T162 Originally Identified in Patients Suffering from Hyperekplexia.

Ligand-binding of Cys-loop receptors is determined by N-terminal extracellular loop structures from the plus as well as from the minus side of two adjacent subunits in the pentameric receptor complex. An aromatic residue in loop B of the glycine receptor (GlyR) undergoes direct interaction with the incoming ligand via a cation-π interaction. Recently, we showed that mutated residues in loop B identified from human patients suffering from hyperekplexia disturb ligand-binding. Here, we exchanged the affected human residues by amino acids found in related members of the Cys-loop receptor family to determine the effects of side chain volume for ion channel properties. GlyR variants were characterized in vitro following transfection into cell lines in order to analyze protein expression, trafficking, degradation and ion channel function. GlyR α1 G160 mutations significantly decrease glycine potency arguing for a positional effect on neighboring aromatic residues and consequently glycine-binding within the ligand-binding pocket. Disturbed glycinergic inhibition due to T162 α1 mutations is an additive effect of affected biogenesis and structural changes within the ligand-binding site. Protein trafficking from the ER toward the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment, the secretory Golgi pathways and finally the cell surface is largely diminished, but still sufficient to deliver ion channels that are functional at least at high glycine concentrations. The majority of T162 mutant protein accumulates in the ER and is delivered to ER-associated proteasomal degradation. Hence, G160 is an important determinant during glycine binding. In contrast, T162 affects primarily receptor biogenesis whereas exchanges in functionality are secondary effects thereof.

Length of the TM3-4 loop of the glycine receptor modulates receptor desensitization

Recent studies on the molecular determinants important for glycine receptor biogenesis and function mechanisms indicate an important role of basic residues within the intracellular loop between transmembrane domains (TM) 3 and 4. We investigate the role of loop length and loop exchange in combination with the presence or absence of basic stretches 318RRKRR and 385KKIDK of the human glycine receptor α1 using expression in transfected cell lines. Exchanges of the large intracellular loop between members of the Cys-loop receptor family have been shown to keep functionality of the host receptor. Here, constructs were generated with deletion of the intracellular loop of the glycine receptor α1, insertion of the loop from the prokaryotic Cys-loop receptor of Gloeobacter violaceus both with and without leaving the basic stretches at the N-terminal and C-terminal part of the intracellular domain. All receptor constructs were expressed at the cell surface with the significantly lowest expression of the construct with a deletion of the glycine receptor α1 TM3-4 loop, except the two basic stretches adjoined. Functionality of the inhibitory glycine receptor chimeras was demonstrated with whole cell recordings from transfected cells. Chimeras lacking the basic stretches result in non-functionality. An analysis of receptor desensitization demonstrated that close proximity of both basic stretches resulted in large fractions of desensitizing currents. We conclude that the TM3-4 loop length is critical for glycine receptor α1 desensitization and a direct neighborhood of both basic stretches changes receptor properties from non-desensitizing to desensitizing.

Ensemble-based virtual screening for cannabinoid-like potentiators of the human glycine receptor α1 for the treatment of pain.

The human glycine receptors (hGlyRs) are chloride-selective ion channels that mediate inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain stem and spinal cord. They are also targets for compounds of potential use in analgesic therapies. Here, we develop a strategy to discover analgesic drugs via structure-based virtual screening based on the recently published NMR structure of the hGlyR-α1 transmembrane domain (PDB ID: 2M6I ) and the critical role of residue S296 in hGlyR-α1 potentiation by Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). We screened 1549 FDA-approved drugs in the DrugBank database on an ensemble of 180 hGlyR-α1 structures generated from molecular dynamics simulations of the NMR structure of the hGlyR-α1 transmembrane domain in different lipid environments. Thirteen hit compounds from the screening were selected for functional validation in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing hGlyR-α1. Only one compound showed no potentiation effects; seven potentiated hGlyR-α1 at a level greater than THC at 1 μM. Our virtual screening protocol is generally applicable to drug targets with lipid-facing binding sites.

Positive Modulators of Glycine Receptors with Analgesic Potential Identified by Virtual Screening

Human glycine receptors (hGlyRs) are important targets for neuroactive drugs, including for analgesic therapies. A previous study has identified the crucial role of residue S296 in hGlyR-α1 potentiation by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and in cannabinoid-induced analgesia. The recently determined NMR structure of the hGlyR-α1 transmembrane domain (TMD) provides a basis for structure-based virtual screening to discover new analgesic drugs. Using a large ensemble of hGlyR-α1 structures generated from molecular dynamics simulations based on the NMR structure, we screened 1549 FDA approved compounds from the DrugBank database targeted to a cannabinoid binding site near residue S296. Drugs were ranked based on their predicted binding affinities across the ensemble of hGlyR-α1 TMD structures. Four leading compounds were selected for experimental validation in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing hGlyR-α1. At a low concentration (1 μM), all four leading compounds potentiate hGlyR-α1 currents more than two times, which was greater than that of THC. The hit rate is remarkable. The study provides strong evidence that these leading compounds will be at least as effective as THC for analgesia by acting on hGlyR-α1, but without psychoactive effects. The protocol developed here can easily be applied to the discovery of novel analgesic compounds of even higher efficacy on hGlyRs. Research supported by grants from the NIH and XSEDE.

The Kinetic Properties of the Human Glycine Receptor in Response to Different Agonists

Glycine receptors are ligand-gated chloride channels that mediate much of the fast synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord and brainstem. They can exist as homomers (formed by five α1 subunits), or as heteromers (formed by 3 α1 subunits and 2 β subunits). One of our current lines of work is to understand the effect on glycine receptors of a range of agonist molecules with structures systematically changed from that of glycine. In this study, we selected two agonists, β-alanine and D-alanine, for detailed single channel analysis. By fitting kinetic schemes to cell-attached data we were able to get insight into the binding and gating of the glycine receptor in response to the different agonists. We also used concentration jump experiments in the outside-out configuration to validate the fitted data. Molecular dynamics simulations also allowed us to see how the agonists docked into the binding site.While binding and gating rate constants remained relatively similar between all agonists, the ability of the agonists to stabilise the pre-open flipped confirmation varied in a manner similar to that reported by Lape et al. (Nature, 2008. 454 722-729). The less effective agonist D-alanine proved also to have a lower binding affinity than the other two agonists. Molecular docking studies were able to confirm that both D-alanine and β-alanine bind in a similar fashion to glycine. However, β-alanine shows a lot more mobility in the binding site, and this perhaps accounts for the large amount of heterogeneity in single channel recordings with this agonist.

Aromatic Residues in the Transmembrane Helices Play an Essential Role in the Homopentameric Assembly of the Glucl α

Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) represent a major class of fast neurotransmitter receptors. In addition to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), glycine receptors, GABAA receptors and 5HT3 receptors of vertebrates, pLGIC homologs have been identified in invertebrates and even in bacteria. Several crystal structures of pLGIC homologs have been solved at high resolution. By combining alanine scanning mutagenesis and homology modeling based on the X-ray structure of ELIC and the electron microscopy structure of the muscle-type nAChR, we could previously show that a network of aromatic residues within the transmembrane domains TM1, TM3 and TM4 is important for the proper assembly of human glycine receptor protomers into a functional homopentamer (Haeger et al. (2010), Nat Struct Mol Biol 17: 90-98). Here, we examined whether the TM helices of pLGIC homologs with solved crystal structure are also involved in homopentameric assembly. We chose the glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) α, a pLGIC from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is most similar to the α1 glycine receptor and whose crystal structure was solved at 3.3 Å resolution (Hibbs and Gouaux (2011), Nature 474: 54-60). We performed an alanine scanning mutagenesis of all four TMs of GluCl α, purified the expressed GluCl mutants from Xenopus laevis oocytes by non-denaturing Ni2+-NTA chromatography, and analyzed them by blue native PAGE and SDS-PAGE. We found that aromatic residues in TM1, TM3 and TM4 are important for the correct homopentameric assembly of GluCl α protomers. These findings indicate that the role of aromatic residues in the assembly of chloride-conducting pLGICs is conserved across species.