title: Interactions between ifenprodil and the NR2B subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor.
abstract: Ifenprodil is an atypical noncompetitive modulator of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NR) which demonstrates a 140-fold preference for NR2B over NR2A subunits, although the molecular basis for this subunit specificity is unknown. We have made chimeric receptors by fusing the murine forms of NR2A (epsilon 1) and NR2B (epsilon 2) to localize the high affinity determinants of ifenprodil inhibition on the 2B subunit. Binding experiments with 125I-MK-801 implicated the region between amino acids 198 and 356 of NR2B for high affinity ifenprodil interaction. Site-directed mutants at Arg-337 showed that this residue is absolutely required for high affinity ifenprodil inhibition. Polyamines also modulate the NMDA receptor with a preference for NR2B subunits, and the pharmacology of these agents overlaps with ifenprodil. Although the determinants of the polyamine enhancement of iodo-MK-801 binding also localize to the NH2 terminus of NR2B, the point mutants at Arg-337 form receptors that are polyamine-stimulated at wild type levels. In addition, polyamine stimulation depends on the expression of NR1 splice variants, whereas high affinity ifenprodil inhibition is independent of NR1 isoform expression. These studies provide evidence that ifenprodil and polyamines interact at discrete sites on the NR2B subunit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Pritchett
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000378:metabolism; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010880:Piperidines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013095:Spermidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010880:Piperidines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D001120:Arginine; C010739:ifenprodil; D013095:Spermidine