title: Zinc-mediated inhibition of GABA(A) receptors: discrete binding sites underlie subtype specificity.
abstract: Zinc ions are concentrated in the central nervous system and regulate GABA(A) receptors, which are pivotal mediators of inhibitory synaptic neurotransmission. Zinc ions inhibit GABA(A) receptor function by an allosteric mechanism that is critically dependent on the receptor subunit composition: alphabeta subunit combinations show the highest sensitivity, and alphabetagamma isoforms are the least sensitive. Here we propose a mechanistic and structural basis for this inhibition and its dependence on the receptor subunit composition. We used molecular modeling to identify three discrete sites that mediate Zn2+ inhibition. One is located within the ion channel, and the other two are on the external amino (N)-terminal face of the receptor at the interfaces between alpha and beta subunits. We found that the characteristically low Zn2+ sensitivity of GABA(A) receptors containing the gamma2 subunit results from disruption to two of the three sites after receptor subunit co-assembly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Alastair M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hosie
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Trevor G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Smart
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D015032:Zinc