title: Separating dual effects of zinc at recombinant N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.
abstract: The effects of Zn2+ on recombinant N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes were examined. Zn2+ inhibited macroscopic currents induced by NMDA at both NR1/NR2B and NR1/NR2A receptors. At NR1/NR2B receptors the Zn2+ concentration-inhibition curve was monophasic, with an apparent affinity for Zn2/ of 1.6 microM, and inhibition by Zn2+ was not voltage-dependent. In contrast, the Zn2+ concentration-inhibition curve at NR1/NR2A receptors was biphasic, with high (Ki = 0.08 microM) and low (Ki = 30 microM) affinity components. The high affinity component produced a maximal inhibition of 45% of macroscopic NMDA currents and was not voltage-dependent. Thus, Zn2+ is more potent in producing voltage-independent block at NR1/NR2A than at NR1/NR2B receptors, but the maximal effect of Zn2+ is smaller at NR1/NR2A than at NR1/NR2B receptors. The low affinity component of Zn2+ inhibition at NR1/NR2A receptors was voltage-dependent and may represent an open-channel blocking effect of Zn2+. Differential effects of Zn2+ at recombinant NMDA receptors containing different NR2 subunits provide a potential marker for distinguishing subtypes of native NMDA receptors and for dissecting the site and mechanism of action of Zn2+ at these receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104-6084, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects*; D014981:Xenopus; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D015032:Zinc