Functional and pharmacological properties of GABArho1delta51 receptors

Role of the ρ1 GABA(C) receptor N-terminus in assembly, trafficking and function

The GABAC receptor and closely related GABAA receptor are members of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) superfamily and mediate inhibitory fast synaptic transmission in the nervous system. Each pLGIC subunit comprises an N-terminal extracellular agonist-binding domain followed by a channel domain and a variable intracellular domain. Available structural information shows that the core of the agonist-binding domain is a β sandwich of ten β-strands, which form the agonist-binding pocket at the subunit interface. This β-sandwich is preceded by an N-terminal α-helix in eukaryotic structures but not in prokaryotic structures. The N-terminal α-helix has been shown to be functionally essential in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Sequence analysis of GABAC and GABAA receptors predicts an α-helix in a similar position but preceded by 8 to 46 additional residues, of unknown function, which we term the N-terminal extension. To test the functional role of both the N-terminal extension and the putative N-terminal α-helix in the ρ1 GABAC receptor, we created a series of deletions from the N-terminus. The N-terminal extension was not functionally essential, but its removal did reduce both cell surface expression and cooperativity of agonist-gated channel function. Further deletion of the putative N-terminal α-helix abolished receptor function by preventing cell-surface expression. Our results further demonstrate the essential role of the N-terminal α-helix in the assembly and trafficking of eukaryotic pLGICs. They also provide evidence that the N-terminal extension, although not essential, contributes to receptor assembly, trafficking and conformational changes associated with ligand gating.

Dopamine and serotonin modulate human GABAρ1 receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes

GABAρ1 receptors are highly expressed in bipolar neurons of the retina and to a lesser extent in several areas of the central nervous system (CNS), and dopamine and serotonin are also involved in the modulation of retinal neural transmission. Whether these biogenic amines have a direct effect on ionotropic GABA receptors was not known. Here, we report that GABAρ1 receptors, expressed in X. laevis oocytes, were negatively modulated by dopamine and serotonin and less so by octopamine and tyramine. Interestingly, these molecules did not have effects on GABA(A) receptors. 5-Carboxamido-tryptamine and apomorphine did not exert evident effects on any of the receptors. Schild plot analyses of the inhibitory actions of dopamine and serotonin on currents elicited by GABA showed slopes of 2.7 ± 0.3 and 6.1 ± 1.8, respectively, indicating a noncompetitive mechanism of inhibition. The inhibition of GABAρ1 currents was independent of the membrane potential and was insensitive to picrotoxin, a GABA receptor channel blocker and to the GABAρ-specific antagonist (1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)methyl phosphinic acid (TPMPA). Dopamine and serotonin changed the sensitivity of GABAρ1 receptors to the inhibitory actions of Zn(2+). In contrast, La(3+) potentiated the amplitude of the GABA currents generated during negative modulation by dopamine (EC(50) 146 μM) and serotonin (EC(50) 196 μM). The functional role of the direct modulation of GABAρ receptors by dopamine and serotonin remains to be elucidated; however, it may represent an important modulatory pathway in the retina, where GABAρ receptors are highly expressed and where these biogenic amines are abundant.

Molecular modeling of ligand-receptor interactions in GABA C receptor

A new homology model of the GABA binding site of the GABA(C) receptor was built. Natural agonist GABA and antagonist TPMPA were docked into the receptor and molecular dynamics simulation of the complexes was performed to clarify binding poses of the ligands. It was shown that orientation of the ligand is defined by salt bridges between the ligand and the arginine (Arg104) and glutamate residues (Glu194 and Glu196) of the binding site. Different behavior and binding poses for agonist and antagonist was demonstrated by molecular dynamics simulation along with differential movement of the loop C during agonist and antagonist binding. Binding orientations of the ligands revealed that main binding forces in the GABA binding site should be electrostatic ones.

Layer-specific potentiation of evoked IPSCs in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells by lanthanum

Lanthanum (La3+) potentiates or depresses GABAA receptors (GABAAR) in a subunit-dependent manner. Such differential modulators may help to discriminate between-layer-specific inhibitory synaptic inputs to individual neurons, which use different molecular GABAAR isoforms. Here, we show that inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in CA1 pyramidal cells are potentiated by La3+ (100 microM) when they are evoked by stimulation in stratum oriens. In contrast, stimulation in stratum radiatum yields IPSCs which are not sensitive towards La3+. These data point towards an input-specific molecular and functional diversity of inhibitory synapses at CA1 pyramidal cells.

A single amino acid change within the ion-channel domain of the gamma-aminobutyric acid rho1 receptor accelerates desensitization and increases taurine agonism

BACKGROUND

GABAC receptors are part of the ligand-gated ion channel family of receptors that share some functional and structural features: e.g., they have four putative transmembrane domains (TM1-TM4) and the TM2-segment is presumed to form the ion-channel. GABAC receptors open chloride channels and do not desensitize even after long exposures to GABA. These receptors are highly expressed in vertebrate retina, where they may play a unique role due to their unusual biophysical and pharmacologic characteristics.

METHODS

To determine whether the TM2 domain plays a role in the process of desensitization of GABAC receptors, we used site-directed mutagenesis to produce several permutations within the leucine (L9') residue of the TM2 domain of the human GABArho1 subunit. Recombinant receptors were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and their functional and pharmacologic properties were studied by using a two-microelectrode, voltage-clamp.

RESULTS

Several amino acid changes led to receptors that did not generate GABA-currents, whereas an Asp for Leu mutation in the well-conserved L9' position of the rho1 subunit (L301D-rho1) generated a fast-desensitizing, bicuculline-resistant receptor that was antagonized by TPMPA, a specific GABAC receptor antagonist. Moreover, in contrast with wild-type rho1 receptors, which are practically not gated by taurine, L301D-rho1 mutant receptors generated substantial taurine-currents.

CONCLUSIONS

Substitution of L9' residue in the TM2 region of GABArho1 receptor for an amino acid residue with an acidic lateral chain greatly accelerates its desensitization rate and increases taurine-agonism. This mutant will be useful to study mechanisms involved in gating and desensitization of GABAC receptors in particular, and of neurotransmitter receptors in general.

Expression of functional receptors by the human gamma-aminobutyric acid A gamma 2 subunit

gamma-Aminobutyric acid A (GABA(A)) receptors are heteromeric membrane proteins formed mainly by various combinations of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits; and it is commonly thought that the gamma 2 subunit alone does not form functional receptors. In contrast, we found that cDNA encoding the gamma 2L subunit of the human GABA(A) receptor, injected alone into Xenopus oocytes, expressed functional GABA receptors whose properties were investigated by using the two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. GABA elicited desensitizing membrane currents that recovered after a few minutes' wash. Repetitive applications of GABA induced a "run-up" of GABA currents that nearly doubled the amplitude of the first response. The GABA currents inverted direction at about -30 mV, indicating that they are carried mainly by Cl(-) ions. The homomeric gamma 2L receptors were also activated by beta-alanine > taurine > glycine, and, like some types of heteromeric GABA(A) receptors, the gamma 2L receptors were blocked by bicuculline and were potentiated by pentobarbital and flunitrazepam. These results indicate that the human gamma 2L subunit is capable of forming fully functional GABA receptors by itself in Xenopus oocytes and suggest that the roles proposed for the various subunits that make up the heteromeric GABA(A) receptors in situ require further clarification.

Functional expression in frog oocytes of human rho 1 receptors produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was engineered to express the rho 1 subunit of the human gamma-aminobutyric acid rho 1 (GABA rho 1) receptor. RNA that was isolated from several transformed yeast strains produced fully functional GABA receptors in Xenopus oocytes. The GABA currents elicited in the oocytes were fast, nondesensitizing chloride currents; and the order of agonist potency was GABA > beta-alanine > glycine. Moreover, the receptors were resistant to bicuculline, strongly antagonized by (1,2,5,6 tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid, and modulated by zinc and lanthanum. Thus, the GABA receptors expressed by the yeast mRNA retained all of the principal characteristics of receptors expressed by cRNA or native retina mRNAs. Western blot assays showed immunoreactivity in yeast plasma membrane preparations, and a rho 1-GFP fusion gene showed mostly intracellular distribution with a faint fluorescence toward the plasma membrane. In situ immunodetection of rho 1 in yeast demonstrated that some receptors reach the plasma membrane. Furthermore, microtransplantation of yeast plasma membranes to frog oocytes resulted in the incorporation of a small number of functional yeast rho 1 receptors into the oocyte plasma membrane. These results show that yeast may be useful to produce complete functional ionotropic receptors suitable for structural analysis.

Structure and function of GABA(C) receptors: a comparison of native versus recombinant receptors

In less than a decade our knowledge of the GABA(C) receptor, a new type of Cl(-)-permeable ionotropic GABA receptor, has greatly increased based on studies of both native and recombinant receptors. Careful comparison of properties of native and recombinant receptors has provided compelling evidence that GABA receptor rho-subunits are the major molecular components of GABA(C) receptors. Three distinct rho-subunits from various species have been cloned and the pattern of their expression in the retina, as well as in various brain regions, has been established. The pharmacological profile of GABA(C) receptors has been refined and more specific drugs have been developed. Molecular determinants that underlie functional properties of the receptors have been assigned to specific amino acid residues in rho-subunits. This information has helped determine the subunit composition of native receptors, as well as the molecular basis underlying subtle variations among GABA(C) receptors in different species. Finally, GABA(C) receptors play a unique functional role in retinal signal processing via three mechanisms: (1) slow activation; (2) segregation from other inhibitory receptors; and (3) contribution to multi-neuronal pathways.

Expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid rho 1 and rho 1 Delta 450 as gene fusions with the green fluorescent protein

The functional characteristics and cellular localization of the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) rho 1 receptor and its nonfunctional isoform rho 1 Delta 450 were investigated by expressing them as gene fusions with the enhanced version of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Oocytes injected with rho 1-GFP had receptors that gated chloride channels when activated by GABA. The functional characteristics of these receptors were the same as for those of wild-type rho 1 receptors. Fluorescence, because of the chimeric receptors expressed, was over the whole oocyte but was more intense near the cell surface and more abundant in the animal hemisphere. Similar to the wild type, rho 1 Delta 450-GFP did not lead to the expression of functional GABA receptors, and injected oocytes failed to generate currents even after exposure to high concentrations of GABA. Nonetheless, the fluorescence displayed by oocytes expressing rho 1 Delta 450-GFP was distributed similarly to that of rho 1-GFP. Mammalian cells transfected with the rho 1-GFP or rho 1 Delta 450-GFP constructs showed mostly intracellularly distributed fluorescence in confocal microscope images. A sparse localization of fluorescence was observed in the plasma membrane regardless of the cell line used. We conclude that rho 1 Delta 450 is expressed and transported close to, and perhaps incorporated into, the plasma membrane. Thus, rho 1- and rho 1 Delta 450-GFP fusions provide a powerful tool to visualize the traffic of GABA type C receptors.

Expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid rho 1 and rho 1 Delta 450 as gene fusions with the green fluorescent protein

The functional characteristics and cellular localization of the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) rho 1 receptor and its nonfunctional isoform rho 1 Delta 450 were investigated by expressing them as gene fusions with the enhanced version of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Oocytes injected with rho 1-GFP had receptors that gated chloride channels when activated by GABA. The functional characteristics of these receptors were the same as for those of wild-type rho 1 receptors. Fluorescence, because of the chimeric receptors expressed, was over the whole oocyte but was more intense near the cell surface and more abundant in the animal hemisphere. Similar to the wild type, rho 1 Delta 450-GFP did not lead to the expression of functional GABA receptors, and injected oocytes failed to generate currents even after exposure to high concentrations of GABA. Nonetheless, the fluorescence displayed by oocytes expressing rho 1 Delta 450-GFP was distributed similarly to that of rho 1-GFP. Mammalian cells transfected with the rho 1-GFP or rho 1 Delta 450-GFP constructs showed mostly intracellularly distributed fluorescence in confocal microscope images. A sparse localization of fluorescence was observed in the plasma membrane regardless of the cell line used. We conclude that rho 1 Delta 450 is expressed and transported close to, and perhaps incorporated into, the plasma membrane. Thus, rho 1- and rho 1 Delta 450-GFP fusions provide a powerful tool to visualize the traffic of GABA type C receptors.

GABAρ1/GABA A α1 receptor chimeras to study receptor desensitization

γ-Aminobutyrate type C (GABA C ) receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that are expressed preponderantly in the vertebrate retina and are characterized, among other things, by a very low rate of desensitization and resistance to the specific GABA A antagonist bicuculline. To examine which structural elements determine the nondesensitizing character of the human homomeric ρ1 receptor, we used a combination of gene chimeras and electrophysiology of receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Two chimeric genes were constructed, made up of portions of the ρ1-subunit and of the α1-subunit of the GABA A receptor. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, one chimeric gene (ρ1/α1) formed functional homooligomeric receptors that were fully resistant to bicuculline and were blocked by the specific GABA C antagonist (1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid and by zinc. Moreover, these chimeric receptors had a fast-desensitizing component, even faster than that of heterooligomeric GABA A receptors, in striking contrast to the almost nil desensitization of wild-type ρ1 (wt ρ1) receptors. To see whether the fast-desensitizing characteristic of the chimera was determined by the amino acids forming the ion channels, we replaced the second transmembrane segment (TM2) of ρ1 by that of the α1-subunit of GABA A . Although the α1-subunit forms fast-desensitizing receptors when coexpressed with other GABA A subunits, the sole transfer of the α1TM2 segment to ρ1 was not sufficient to form desensitizing receptors. All this suggests that the slow-desensitizing trait of ρ1 receptors is determined by a combination of several interacting domains along the molecule.

GABArho 1/GABAAalpha 1 receptor chimeras to study receptor desensitization

gamma-Aminobutyrate type C (GABA(C)) receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that are expressed preponderantly in the vertebrate retina and are characterized, among other things, by a very low rate of desensitization and resistance to the specific GABA(A) antagonist bicuculline. To examine which structural elements determine the nondesensitizing character of the human homomeric rho1 receptor, we used a combination of gene chimeras and electrophysiology of receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Two chimeric genes were constructed, made up of portions of the rho1-subunit and of the alpha1-subunit of the GABA(A) receptor. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, one chimeric gene (rho1/alpha1) formed functional homooligomeric receptors that were fully resistant to bicuculline and were blocked by the specific GABA(C) antagonist (1,2,5, 6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid and by zinc. Moreover, these chimeric receptors had a fast-desensitizing component, even faster than that of heterooligomeric GABA(A) receptors, in striking contrast to the almost nil desensitization of wild-type rho1 (wt rho1) receptors. To see whether the fast-desensitizing characteristic of the chimera was determined by the amino acids forming the ion channels, we replaced the second transmembrane segment (TM2) of rho1 by that of the alpha1-subunit of GABA(A). Although the alpha1-subunit forms fast-desensitizing receptors when coexpressed with other GABA(A) subunits, the sole transfer of the alpha1TM2 segment to rho1 was not sufficient to form desensitizing receptors. All this suggests that the slow-desensitizing trait of rho1 receptors is determined by a combination of several interacting domains along the molecule.