title: 5-HT3 receptors.
abstract: The 5-HT(3) receptor is a member of the Cys-loop family of ligand-gated ion channels. These receptors are located in both the peripheral and central nervous systems, where functional receptors are constructed from five subunits. These subunits may be the same (homopentameric 5-HT(3A) receptors) or different (heteropentameric receptors, usually comprising of 5-HT(3A) and 5-HT(3B) receptor subunits), with the latter having a number of distinct properties. The 5-HT(3) receptor binding site is comprised of six loops from two adjacent subunits, and critical ligand binding amino acids in these loops have been largely identified. There are a range of selective agonists and antagonists for these receptors and the pharmacophore is reasonably well understood. There are also a wide range of compounds that can modulate receptor activity. Studies have suggested many diverse potential disease targets that might be amenable to alleviation by 5-HT(3) receptor selective compounds but to date only two applications have been fully realised in the clinic: the treatment of emesis and irritable-bowel syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: S C R
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lummis
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D011487:Protein Conformation; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D058827:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Agonists; D058831:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
chemical_list: D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D058827:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Agonists; D058831:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists