title: Solution structure of alpha-conotoxin PIA, a novel antagonist of alpha6 subunit containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
abstract: alpha-Conotoxin PIA is a novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist isolated from Conus purpurascens that targets nAChR subtypes containing alpha6 and alpha3 subunits. alpha-conotoxin PIA displays 75-fold higher affinity for rat alpha6/alpha3beta2beta3 nAChRs than for rat alpha3beta2 nAChRs. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of alpha-conotoxin PIA by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The alpha-conotoxin PIA has an "omega-shaped" overall topology as other alpha4/7 subfamily conotoxins. Yet, unlike other neuronally targeted alpha4/7-conotoxins, its N-terminal tail Arg1-Asp2-Pro3 protrudes out of its main molecular body because Asp2-Pro3-Cys4-Cys5 forms a stable type I beta-turn. In addition, a kink introduced by Pro15 in the second loop of this toxin provides a distinct steric and electrostatic environment from those in alpha-conotoxins MII and GIC. By comparing the structure of alpha-conotoxin PIA with other functionally related alpha-conotoxins we suggest structural features in alpha-conotoxin PIA that may be associated with its unique receptor recognition profile.
authors.affiliation: Protein Analysis and Design Laboratory, Division of Drug Discovery, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong P. O. Box 115, Daejon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Si-Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Do-Hyoung
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Baldomero M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Olivera
authors.forename: J Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: Kyou-Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D020916:Conotoxins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008978:Mollusk Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists / Q000737:chemistry*; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D020916:Conotoxins; D008978:Mollusk Venoms; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; C098872:alpha-conotoxin MII; C478041:alpha-conotoxin PIA, Conus purpurascens; C104518:nicotinic receptor alpha6