title: Hydroxylated residues influence desensitization behaviour of recombinant alpha3 glycine receptor channels.
abstract: The human glycine receptor subunit alpha3 exists in two splice variants (alpha3K/L), with alpha3L bearing an additional segment of 15 amino acids within the cytoplasmic TM3-4 loop. Homomeric alpha3K glycine receptors show faster desensitization than alpha3L receptors. Ion channel properties were compared of alpha3L, alpha3K, and of the triple mutant alpha3LDeltaOH = alpha3L(T358A/Y367F/S370A), where hydroxyl functions of the spliced insert had been removed by site-directed mutagenesis. Upon recombinant expression in HEK 293 cells, patch-clamp recording experiments revealed that removal of hydroxyl functions primarily affected receptor desensitization. The fraction of non-desensitizing current was 68 +/- 13% for alpha3L, 21 +/- 13% for alpha3K, and 48 +/- 16% for alpha3LDeltaOH. Desensitization time constants at saturating glycine concentration were 8.4 +/- 2.8 s, 1.9 +/- 2.3 s, and 2.8 +/- 0.4 s, for alpha3L, alpha3K, and the triple mutant alpha3LDeltaOH, respectively. In contrast, single-channel and whole-cell properties were similar for all three constructs. Thus, ion channel activation, desensitization, and conductance properties are independently controlled by distinct structural elements. Hydroxyl functions within the M3-4 loop of the glycine receptor alpha3 subunit are crucial, but not exclusive, determinants of receptor desensitization.
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005998:Glycine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D006900:Hydroxylation; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D021122:Protein Subunits; D018009:Receptors, Glycine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; C113965:glycine receptor alpha3 subunit; D005998:Glycine