Mechanism of action of the insecticides, lindane and fipronil, on glycine receptor chloride channels.
OBJECTIVE
Docking studies predict that the insecticides, lindane and fipronil, block GABA(A) receptors by binding to 6' pore-lining residues. However, this has never been tested at any Cys-loop receptor. The neurotoxic effects of these insecticides are also thought to be mediated by GABA(A) receptors, although a recent morphological study suggested glycine receptors mediated fipronil toxicity in zebrafish. Here we investigated whether human α1, α1β, α2 and α3 glycine receptors were sufficiently sensitive to block by either compound as to represent possible neurotoxicity targets. We also investigated the mechanisms by which lindane and fipronil inhibit α1 glycine receptors.


METHODS
Glycine receptors were recombinantly expressed in HEK293 cells and insecticide effects were studied using patch-clamp electrophysiology.


RESULTS
Both compounds completely inhibited all tested glycine receptor subtypes with IC(50) values ranging from 0.2-2 µM, similar to their potencies at vertebrate GABA(A) receptors. Consistent with molecular docking predictions, both lindane and fipronil interacted with 6' threonine residues via hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. In contrast with predictions, we found no evidence for lindane interacting at the 2' level. We present evidence for fipronil binding in a non-blocking mode in the anaesthetic binding pocket, and for lindane as an excellent pharmacological tool for identifying the presence of β subunits in αβ heteromeric glycine receptors.


CONCLUSIONS
This study implicates glycine receptors as novel vertebrate toxicity targets for fipronil and lindane. Furthermore, lindane interacted with pore-lining 6' threonine residues, whereas fipronil may have both pore and non-pore binding sites.
Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Robiul
R
Islam
Joseph W
JW
Lynch
D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009154:Mutation; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018009:Receptors, Glycine / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018118:Chloride Channels; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007306:Insecticides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; C082360:fipronil