Recognition of chiral conformations of the achiral neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid.
gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a flexible achiral neurotransmitter, acts at different subclasses of receptors and participates in transport processes. Conformationally restricted GABA analogues exert selective biological effects. Besides fulfilling conformational recognition by different binding sites of receptors, and proteins involved in inactivation mechanisms, the flexible neurotransmitter may also endure the variation of conformation connected with receptor function. In addition to different conformations distinguished by torsion angles of the GABA backbone, distinct molecular torsions are suggested for the GABAA receptor subclass and for the transport process.
Central Research Institute for Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. msimonyi@cric.chemres.hu
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D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000737:chemistry*; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000737:chemistry*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*
D008024:Ligands; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid