1
|
Abbott JA, Wen H, Liu B, Gupta SS, Iacobucci GJ, Zheng W, Popescu GK. Allosteric inhibition of NMDA receptors by low dose ketamine. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02729-9. [PMID: 39237721 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02729-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Ketamine, a general anesthetic, has rapid and sustained antidepressant effects when administered at lower doses. Anesthetic levels of ketamine reduce excitatory transmission by binding deep into the pore of NMDA receptors where it blocks current influx. In contrast, the molecular targets responsible for antidepressant levels of ketamine remain controversial. We used electrophysiology, structure-based mutagenesis, and molecular and kinetic modeling to investigate the effects of ketamine on NMDA receptors across an extended range of concentrations. We report functional and structural evidence that, at nanomolar concentrations, ketamine interacts with membrane-accessible hydrophobic sites on NMDA receptors, which are distinct from the established pore-blocking site. These interactions stabilize receptors in pre-open states and produce an incomplete, voltage- and pH-dependent reduction in receptor gating. Notably, this allosteric inhibitory mechanism spares brief synaptic-like receptor activations and preferentially reduces currents from receptors activated tonically by ambient levels of neurotransmitters. We propose that the hydrophobic sites we describe here account for clinical effects of ketamine not shared by other NMDA receptor open-channel blockers such as memantine and represent promising targets for developing safe and effective neuroactive therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie A Abbott
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Han Wen
- Department of Physics, College of Biological Sciences, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Beiying Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Sheila S Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Gary J Iacobucci
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Wenjun Zheng
- Department of Physics, College of Biological Sciences, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Gabriela K Popescu
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Iacobucci GJ, Popescu GK. Calcium- and calmodulin-dependent inhibition of NMDA receptor currents. Biophys J 2024; 123:277-293. [PMID: 38140727 PMCID: PMC10870176 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium ions (Ca2+) reduce NMDA receptor currents through several distinct mechanisms. Among these, calmodulin (CaM)-dependent inhibition (CDI) accomplishes rapid, reversible, and incomplete reduction of the NMDA receptor currents in response to elevations in intracellular Ca2+. Quantitative and mechanistic descriptions of CDI of NMDA receptor-mediated signals have been marred by variability originating, in part, from differences in the conditions and metrics used to evaluate this process across laboratories. Recent ratiometric approaches to measure the magnitude and kinetics of NMDA receptor CDI have facilitated rapid insights into this phenomenon. Notably, the kinetics and magnitude of NMDA receptor CDI depend on the degree of saturation of its CaM binding sites, which represent the bona fide calcium sensor for this type of inhibition, the kinetics and magnitude of the Ca2+ signal, which depends on the biophysical properties of the NMDA receptor or of adjacent Ca2+ sources, and on the relative distribution of Ca2+ sources and CaM molecules. Given that all these factors vary widely during development, across cell types, and with physiological and pathological states, it is important to understand how NMDA receptor CDI develops and how it contributes to signaling in the central nervous system. Here, we review briefly these recent advances and highlight remaining questions about the structural and kinetic mechanisms of NMDA receptor CDI. Given that pathologies can arise from several sources, including mutations in the NMDA receptor and in CaM, understanding how CaM responds to intracellular Ca2+ signals to initiate conformational changes in NMDA receptors, and mapping the structural domains responsible will help to envision novel therapeutic strategies to neuropsychiatric diseases, which presently have limited available treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gary J Iacobucci
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, New York
| | - Gabriela K Popescu
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, New York.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhou C, Tajima N. Structural insights into NMDA receptor pharmacology. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:1713-1731. [PMID: 37431773 PMCID: PMC10586783 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) comprise a subfamily of ionotropic glutamate receptors that form heterotetrameric ligand-gated ion channels and play fundamental roles in neuronal processes such as synaptic signaling and plasticity. Given their critical roles in brain function and their therapeutic importance, enormous research efforts have been devoted to elucidating the structure and function of these receptors and developing novel therapeutics. Recent studies have resolved the structures of NMDARs in multiple functional states, and have revealed the detailed gating mechanism, which was found to be distinct from that of other ionotropic glutamate receptors. This review provides a brief overview of the recent progress in understanding the structures of NMDARs and the mechanisms underlying their function, focusing on subtype-specific, ligand-induced conformational dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changping Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A
| | - Nami Tajima
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rodrigues YE, Tigaret CM, Marie H, O'Donnell C, Veltz R. A stochastic model of hippocampal synaptic plasticity with geometrical readout of enzyme dynamics. eLife 2023; 12:e80152. [PMID: 37589251 PMCID: PMC10435238 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Discovering the rules of synaptic plasticity is an important step for understanding brain learning. Existing plasticity models are either (1) top-down and interpretable, but not flexible enough to account for experimental data, or (2) bottom-up and biologically realistic, but too intricate to interpret and hard to fit to data. To avoid the shortcomings of these approaches, we present a new plasticity rule based on a geometrical readout mechanism that flexibly maps synaptic enzyme dynamics to predict plasticity outcomes. We apply this readout to a multi-timescale model of hippocampal synaptic plasticity induction that includes electrical dynamics, calcium, CaMKII and calcineurin, and accurate representation of intrinsic noise sources. Using a single set of model parameters, we demonstrate the robustness of this plasticity rule by reproducing nine published ex vivo experiments covering various spike-timing and frequency-dependent plasticity induction protocols, animal ages, and experimental conditions. Our model also predicts that in vivo-like spike timing irregularity strongly shapes plasticity outcome. This geometrical readout modelling approach can be readily applied to other excitatory or inhibitory synapses to discover their synaptic plasticity rules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Elias Rodrigues
- Université Côte d’AzurNiceFrance
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), CNRSValbonneFrance
- Inria Center of University Côte d’Azur (Inria)Sophia AntipolisFrance
| | - Cezar M Tigaret
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Innovation Institute, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences,School of Medicine, Cardiff UniversityCardiffUnited Kingdom
| | - Hélène Marie
- Université Côte d’AzurNiceFrance
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), CNRSValbonneFrance
| | - Cian O'Donnell
- School of Computing, Engineering, and Intelligent Systems, Magee Campus, Ulster UniversityLondonderryUnited Kingdom
- School of Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Engineering Mathematics, University of BristolBristolUnited Kingdom
| | - Romain Veltz
- Inria Center of University Côte d’Azur (Inria)Sophia AntipolisFrance
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tousley AR, Yeh PWL, Yeh HH. Precocious emergence of cognitive and synaptic dysfunction in 3xTg-AD mice exposed prenatally to ethanol. Alcohol 2023; 107:56-72. [PMID: 36038084 PMCID: PMC10183974 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide. Early life risk factors for AD, including prenatal exposures, remain underexplored. Exposure of the fetus to alcohol (ethanol) is not uncommon during pregnancy, and may result in physical, behavioral, and cognitive changes that are first detected during childhood but result in lifelong challenges. Whether or not prenatal ethanol exposure may contribute to Alzheimer's disease risk is not yet known. Here we exposed a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (3xTg-AD), bearing three dementia-associated transgenes, presenilin1 (PS1M146V), human amyloid precursor protein (APPSwe), and human tau (TauP301S), to ethanol on gestational days 13.5-16.5 using an established binge-type maternal ethanol exposure paradigm. We sought to investigate whether prenatal ethanol exposure resulted in a precocious onset or increased severity of AD progression, or both. We found that a brief binge-type gestational exposure to ethanol during a period of peak neuronal migration to the developing cortex resulted in an earlier onset of spatial memory deficits and behavioral inflexibility in the progeny, as assessed by performance on the modified Barnes maze task. The observed cognitive changes coincided with alterations to both GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic transmission in layer V/VI neurons, diminished GABAergic interneurons, and increased β-amyloid accumulation in the medial prefrontal cortex. These findings provide the first preclinical evidence for prenatal ethanol exposure as a potential factor for modifying the onset of AD-like behavioral dysfunction and set the groundwork for more comprehensive investigations into the underpinnings of AD-like cognitive changes in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adelaide R Tousley
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States; MD-PhD Program, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth; Integrative Neuroscience at Dartmouth Graduate Program, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Pamela W L Yeh
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Hermes H Yeh
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Masoli S, Rizza MF, Tognolina M, Prestori F, D’Angelo E. Computational models of neurotransmission at cerebellar synapses unveil the impact on network computation. Front Comput Neurosci 2022; 16:1006989. [PMID: 36387305 PMCID: PMC9649760 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2022.1006989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuroscientific field benefits from the conjoint evolution of experimental and computational techniques, allowing for the reconstruction and simulation of complex models of neurons and synapses. Chemical synapses are characterized by presynaptic vesicle cycling, neurotransmitter diffusion, and postsynaptic receptor activation, which eventually lead to postsynaptic currents and subsequent membrane potential changes. These mechanisms have been accurately modeled for different synapses and receptor types (AMPA, NMDA, and GABA) of the cerebellar cortical network, allowing simulation of their impact on computation. Of special relevance is short-term synaptic plasticity, which generates spatiotemporal filtering in local microcircuits and controls burst transmission and information flow through the network. Here, we present how data-driven computational models recapitulate the properties of neurotransmission at cerebellar synapses. The simulation of microcircuit models is starting to reveal how diverse synaptic mechanisms shape the spatiotemporal profiles of circuit activity and computation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Masoli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Prestori
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Brain Connectivity Center, Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Postnikova TY, Griflyuk AV, Amakhin DV, Kovalenko AA, Soboleva EB, Zubareva OE, Zaitsev AV. Early Life Febrile Seizures Impair Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity in Young Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8218. [PMID: 34360983 PMCID: PMC8347828 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Febrile seizures (FSs) in early life are significant risk factors of neurological disorders and cognitive impairment in later life. However, existing data about the impact of FSs on the developing brain are conflicting. We aimed to investigate morphological and functional changes in the hippocampus of young rats exposed to hyperthermia-induced seizures at postnatal day 10. We found that FSs led to a slight morphological disturbance. The cell numbers decreased by 10% in the CA1 and hilus but did not reduce in the CA3 or dentate gyrus areas. In contrast, functional impairments were robust. Long-term potentiation (LTP) in CA3-CA1 synapses was strongly reduced, which we attribute to the insufficient activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Using whole-cell recordings, we found higher desensitization of NMDAR currents in the FS group. Since the desensitization of NMDARs depends on subunit composition, we analyzed NMDAR current decays and gene expression of subunits, which revealed no differences between control and FS rats. We suggest that an increased desensitization is due to insufficient activation of the glycine site of NMDARs, as the application of D-serine, the glycine site agonist, allows the restoration of LTP to a control value. Our results reveal a new molecular mechanism of FS impact on the developing brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Aleksey V. Zaitsev
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry of RAS, 44, Toreza Prospekt, 194223 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (T.Y.P.); (A.V.G.); (D.V.A.); (A.A.K.); (E.B.S.); (O.E.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Iacobucci GJ, Wen H, Helou M, Liu B, Zheng W, Popescu GK. Cross-subunit interactions that stabilize open states mediate gating in NMDA receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2007511118. [PMID: 33384330 PMCID: PMC7812756 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2007511118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
NMDA receptors are excitatory channels with critical functions in the physiology of central synapses. Their activation reaction proceeds as a series of kinetically distinguishable, reversible steps, whose structural bases are currently under investigation. Very likely, the earliest steps include glutamate binding to glycine-bound receptors and subsequent constriction of the ligand-binding domain. Later, three short linkers transduce this movement to open the gate by mechanical pulling on transmembrane helices. Here, we used molecular and kinetic simulations and double-mutant cycle analyses to show that a direct chemical interaction between GluN1-I642 (on M3 helix) and GluN2A-L550 (on L1-M1 linker) stabilizes receptors after they have opened and thus represents one of the structural changes that occur late in the activation reaction. This native interaction extends the current decay, and its absence causes deficits in charge transfer by GluN1-I642L, a pathogenic human variant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gary J Iacobucci
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203
| | - Han Wen
- Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14260
| | - Matthew Helou
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203
| | - Beiying Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203
| | - Wenjun Zheng
- Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14260
| | - Gabriela K Popescu
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203;
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chou TH, Tajima N, Romero-Hernandez A, Furukawa H. Structural Basis of Functional Transitions in Mammalian NMDA Receptors. Cell 2020; 182:357-371.e13. [PMID: 32610085 PMCID: PMC8278726 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.05.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Excitatory neurotransmission meditated by glutamate receptors including N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) is pivotal to brain development and function. NMDARs are heterotetramers composed of GluN1 and GluN2 subunits, which bind glycine and glutamate, respectively, to activate their ion channels. Despite importance in brain physiology, the precise mechanisms by which activation and inhibition occur via subunit-specific binding of agonists and antagonists remain largely unknown. Here, we show the detailed patterns of conformational changes and inter-subunit and -domain reorientation leading to agonist-gating and subunit-dependent competitive inhibition by providing multiple structures in distinct ligand states at 4 Å or better. The structures reveal that activation and competitive inhibition by both GluN1 and GluN2 antagonists occur by controlling the tension of the linker between the ligand-binding domain and the transmembrane ion channel of the GluN2 subunit. Our results provide detailed mechanistic insights into NMDAR pharmacology, activation, and inhibition, which are fundamental to the brain physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Han Chou
- WM Keck Structural Biology Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Nami Tajima
- WM Keck Structural Biology Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Annabel Romero-Hernandez
- WM Keck Structural Biology Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Hiro Furukawa
- WM Keck Structural Biology Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Perszyk RE, Myers SJ, Yuan H, Gibb AJ, Furukawa H, Sobolevsky AI, Traynelis SF. Hodgkin-Huxley-Katz Prize Lecture: Genetic and pharmacological control of glutamate receptor channel through a highly conserved gating motif. J Physiol 2020; 598:3071-3083. [PMID: 32468591 DOI: 10.1113/jp278086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate receptors are essential ligand-gated ion channels in the central nervous system that mediate excitatory synaptic transmission in response to the release of glutamate from presynaptic terminals. The structural and biophysical basis underlying the function of these receptors has been studied for decades by a wide range of approaches. However recent structural, pharmacological and genetic studies have provided new insight into the regions of this protein that are critical determinants of receptor function. Lack of variation in specific areas of the protein amino acid sequences in the human population has defined three regions in each receptor subunit that are under selective pressure, which has focused research efforts and driven new hypotheses. In addition, these three closely positioned elements reside near a cavity that is shown by multiple studies to be a likely site of action for allosteric modulators, one of which is currently in use as an FDA-approved anticonvulsant. These structural elements are capable of controlling gating of the pore, and appear to permit some modulators bound within the cavity to also alter permeation properties. This creates a new precedent whereby features of the channel pore can be modulated by exogenous drugs that bind outside the pore. The convergence of structural, genetic, biophysical and pharmacological approaches is a powerful means to gain insight into the complex biological processes defined by neurotransmitter receptor function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Riley E Perszyk
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Scott J Myers
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.,Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Hongjie Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.,Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Alasdair J Gibb
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hiro Furukawa
- WM Keck Structural Biology Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY, 11724, USA
| | - Alexander I Sobolevsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Stephen F Traynelis
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.,Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lutzu S, Castillo PE. Modulation of NMDA Receptors by G-protein-coupled receptors: Role in Synaptic Transmission, Plasticity and Beyond. Neuroscience 2020; 456:27-42. [PMID: 32105741 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
NMDA receptors (NMDARs) play a critical role in excitatory synaptic transmission, plasticity and in several forms of learning and memory. In addition, NMDAR dysfunction is believed to underlie a number of neuropsychiatric conditions. Growing evidence has demonstrated that NMDARs are tightly regulated by several G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Ligands that bind to GPCRs, such as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, activate intracellular pathways that modulate NMDAR expression, subcellular localization and/or functional properties in a short- or a long-term manner across many synapses throughout the central nervous system. In this review article we summarize current knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying NMDAR modulation by GPCRs, and we discuss the implications of this modulation spanning from synaptic transmission and plasticity to circuit function and brain disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Lutzu
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Pablo E Castillo
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Černý J, Božíková P, Balík A, Marques SM, Vyklický L. NMDA Receptor Opening and Closing-Transitions of a Molecular Machine Revealed by Molecular Dynamics. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9100546. [PMID: 31569344 PMCID: PMC6843686 DOI: 10.3390/biom9100546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the first complete description of the molecular mechanisms behind the transition of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor from the state where the transmembrane domain (TMD) and the ion channel are in the open configuration to the relaxed unliganded state where the channel is closed. Using an aggregate of nearly 1 µs of unbiased all-atom implicit membrane and solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations we identified distinct structural states of the NMDA receptor and revealed functionally important residues (GluN1/Glu522, GluN1/Arg695, and GluN2B/Asp786). The role of the "clamshell" motion of the ligand binding domain (LBD) lobes in the structural transition is supplemented by the observed structural similarity at the level of protein domains during the structural transition, combined with the overall large rearrangement necessary for the opening and closing of the receptor. The activated and open states of the receptor are structurally similar to the liganded crystal structure, while in the unliganded receptor the extracellular domains perform rearrangements leading to a clockwise rotation of up to 45 degrees around the longitudinal axis of the receptor, which closes the ion channel. The ligand-induced rotation of extracellular domains transferred by LBD-TMD linkers to the membrane-anchored ion channel is responsible for the opening and closing of the transmembrane ion channel, revealing the properties of NMDA receptor as a finely tuned molecular machine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Černý
- Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Průmyslová 595, 252 50 Vestec, Prague West, Czech Republic.
| | - Paulína Božíková
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Průmyslová 595, 252 50 Vestec, Prague West, Czech Republic.
| | - Aleš Balík
- Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Sérgio M Marques
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A13, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
- International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekařská 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ladislav Vyklický
- Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Dissecting diverse functions of NMDA receptors by structural biology. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 54:34-42. [PMID: 30703613 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2018.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are glutamate-gated ion channels, which are critically involved in brain development, learning and memory, cognition, as well as a number of neurological diseases and disorders. Structural biology of NMDARs has been challenging due to technical difficulties associated with assembling a number of different membrane protein subunits. Here, we review historical X-ray crystallographic studies on isolated extracellular domains, which are still the most effective mean to delineate compound binding modes, as well as the most recent studies using electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM). A number of NMDAR structures accumulated over the past 15 years provide insights into the hetero-tetrameric assembly pattern, pharmacological specificities elicited by subtypes and alternative splicing, and potential patterns of conformational dynamics; however, many more important unanswered questions remain.
Collapse
|
14
|
MacLean DM, Durham RJ, Jayaraman V. Mapping the Conformational Landscape of Glutamate Receptors Using Single Molecule FRET. Trends Neurosci 2018; 42:128-139. [PMID: 30385052 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The ionotropic glutamate receptors mediate excitatory neurotransmission in the mammalian central nervous system. These receptors provide a range of temporally diverse signals which stem from subunit composition and also from the inherent ability of each member to occupy multiple functional states, the distribution of which can be altered by small molecule modulators and binding partners. Hence it becomes essential to characterize the conformational landscape of the receptors under this variety of different conditions. This has recently become possible due to single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements, along with the rich foundation of existing structures allowing for direct correlations between conformational and functional diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David M MacLean
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Ryan J Durham
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Biochemistry and Cell Biology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vasanthi Jayaraman
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Berntsen HF, Bjørklund CG, Strandabø R, Haug TM, Moldes-Anaya A, Fuentes-Lazaro J, Verhaegen S, Paulsen RE, Tasker RA, Ropstad E. PFOS-induced excitotoxicity is dependent on Ca2+ influx via NMDA receptors in rat cerebellar granule neurons. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2018; 357:19-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|