title: The pore region of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors differentially influences stimulation and block by spermine.
abstract: The transmembrane and pore-forming regions of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors containing the NR1 and NR2B subunits were studied by measuring the effects of various NR1 and NR2B mutants on stimulation and block by spermine. Block by spermine was predominantly affected by mutations in the M3 segment of NR1 and especially in the M1 and M3 segments of NR2B. These regions are in the outer vestibule of the channel pore and may contribute to a spermine binding site. Mutations in different regions-predominantly the M3 segment and M2 loop of NR1 and the M3 segment of NR2B-influenced spermine stimulation, a surprising finding because spermine stimulation is thought to involve a spermine binding site in the distal, extracellular regulatory domain. However, some of these mutations also influence sensitivity to ifenprodil and protons, and changes in spermine sensitivity may be secondary to changes in proton sensitivity. The results are consistent with the proposal that the relative positions of the M1 and M3 transmembrane segments and M2 loops are staggered or asymmetric in NR1 and NR2 subunits, and with the idea that stimulation and block by spermine involve separate binding sites and distinct mechanisms, although some residues in the receptor subunits can affect both stimulation and block.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takigawa
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toida
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
authors.forename: Kazuei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Igarashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051379:Mice; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D013096:Spermine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: C409466:NR1 NMDA receptor; C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D010880:Piperidines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013096:Spermine; C010739:ifenprodil