title: Identification of domains influencing assembly and ion channel properties in alpha 7 nicotinic receptor and 5-HT3 receptor subunit chimaeras.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptors (5-HT(3)Rs) are members of the superfamily of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels. Both contain five subunits which assemble to form either homomeric or heteromeric subunit complexes. With the aim of identifying the influence of subunit domains upon receptor assembly and function, a series of chimaeras have been constructed containing regions of the neuronal nAChR alpha 7 subunit and the 5-HT(3) receptor (3A) subunit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of subunit chimaeras containing alpha 7 and 5-HT(3A) subunit domains have been constructed and expressed in cultured mammalian cells. Properties of the expressed receptors have been examined by means of radioligand binding, agonist-induced changes in intracellular calcium and patch-clamp electrophysiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subunit domains which influence properties such as rectification, desensitization and conductance have been identified. In addition, the influence of subunit domains upon subunit folding, receptor assembly and cell-surface expression has been identified. Co-expression studies with the nAChR-associated protein RIC-3 revealed that, in contrast to the potentiating effect of RIC-3 on alpha 7 nAChRs, RIC-3 caused reduced levels of cell-surface expression of some alpha 7/5-HT(3A) chimaeras.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence has been obtained which demonstrates that subunit transmembrane domains are critical for efficient subunit folding and assembly. In addition, functional characterization of subunit chimaeras revealed that both extracellular and cytoplasmic domains exert a dramatic and significant influence upon single-channel conductance. These data support a role for regions other than hydrophobic transmembrane domains in determining ion channel properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kracun
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gibb
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Millar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; C579165:Chrna7 protein, rat; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007473:Ion Channels; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D002118:Calcium