Effects of nucleotide analogs at the P2X3 receptor and its mutants identify the agonist binding pouch

Inter-subunit disulfide locking of the human P2X3 receptor elucidates ectodomain movements associated with channel gating

P2X3 receptors (P2X3R) are trimeric ATP-gated cation channels involved in sensory neurotransmission and inflammatory pain. We used homology modeling and molecular dynamic simulations of the hP2X3R to identify inter-subunit interactions of residues that are instrumental to elucidate conformational changes associated with gating of the hPX3R. We identified an ionic interaction between E112 and R198 of the head domain and dorsal fin domain, respectively, and E57 and T263 of the lower body domains of adjacent subunits and detected a marked rearrangement of these domains during gating of the hP3X3R. Double-mutant cycle analysis of the inter-subunit residue pairs E112/R198 and E57/T263 revealed significant interaction-free energies. Disulfide locking of the hP2X3R E112C/R198C or the E57C/T263C double cysteine mutants markedly reduced the ATP-induced current responses. The decreased current amplitude following inter-subunit disulfide cross-linking indicates that disulfide locking of the head and dorsal fin domains or at the level of the lower body domains of the hP2X3R prevents the gating-induced conformational rearrangement of the subunits with respect to each other. The distinct reorganization of the subunit interfaces during gating of the hP2X3R is generally consistent with the gating mechanism of other P2XRs. Charge-reversal mutagenesis and methanethiosulfonate (MTS)-modification of substituted cysteines demonstrated that E112 and R198 interact electrostatically. Both disulfide locking and salt bridge breaking of the E112/R198 interaction reduced the hP2X3R function. We conclude that the inter-subunit salt bridge between E112 and R198 of the head and dorsal fin domains, respectively, serves to control the mobility of these domains during agonist-activation of the hP2X3R.

P2X7 Receptor as a Therapeutic Target

P2X7 receptor is an ATP-gated cation channel that upon agonist interaction leads to cellular influx of Na(+) and Ca(2+) and efflux of K(+). P2X7 is expressed by a wide variety of cells and its activation mediates a large number of biological processes like inflammation, neuromodulation, cell death or cell proliferation and it has been associated to related pathological conditions including infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, neurological, and musculoskeletal disorders and, in the last years, to cancer. This chapter describes structural features of P2X7, chemical properties of its agonist, antagonist, and allosteric modulators and summarizes recent advances on P2X7 receptor as therapeutic target in the aforementioned diseases. We also give an overview on recent literature suggesting that P2X7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms could be exploited as diagnostic biomarkers for the development of tailored therapies.

Flexible subunit stoichiometry of functional human P2X2/3 heteromeric receptors

The aim of the present work was to clarify whether heterotrimeric P2X2/3 receptors have a fixed subunit stoichiometry consisting of one P2X2 and two P2X3 subunits as previously suggested, or a flexible stoichiometry containing also the inverse subunit composition. For this purpose we transfected HEK293 cells with P2X2 and P2X3 encoding cDNA at the ratios of 1:2 and 4:1, and analysed the biophysical and pharmacological properties of the generated receptors by means of the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The concentration-response curves for the selective agonist α,β-meATP did not differ from each other under the two transfection ratios. However, co-expression of an inactive P2X2 mutant and the wild type P2X3 subunit and vice versa resulted in characteristic distortions of the α,β-meATP concentration-response relationships, depending on which subunit was expressed in excess, suggesting that HEK293 cells express mixtures of (P2X2)1/(P2X3)2 and (P2X2)2/(P2X3)1 receptors. Whereas the allosteric modulators H+ and Zn2+ failed to discriminate between the two possible heterotrimeric receptor variants, the α,β-meATP-induced responses were blocked more potently by the competitive antagonist A317491, when the P2X2 subunit was expressed in deficit of the P2X3 subunit. Furthermore, blue-native PAGE analysis of P2X2 and P2X3 subunits co-expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and HEK293 cells revealed that plasma membrane-bound P2X2/3 receptors appeared in two clearly distinct heterotrimeric complexes: a (P2X2-GFP)2/(P2X3)1 complex and a (P2X2-GFP)1/(P2X3)2 complex. These data strongly indicate that the stoichiometry of the heteromeric P2X2/3 receptor is not fixed, but determined in a permutational manner by the relative availability of P2X2 and P2X3 subunits.

Conformational flexibility of the agonist binding jaw of the human P2X3 receptor is a prerequisite for channel opening

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It is assumed that ATP induces closure of the binding jaw of ligand-gated P2X receptors, which eventually results in the opening of the membrane channel and the flux of cations. Immobilization by cysteine mutagenesis of the binding jaw inhibited ATP-induced current responses, but did not allow discrimination between disturbances of binding, gating, subunit assembly or trafficking to the plasma membrane.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

A molecular model of the pain-relevant human (h)P2X3 receptor was used to identify amino acid pairs, which were located at the lips of the binding jaw and did not participate in agonist binding but strongly approached each other even in the absence of ATP.

KEY RESULTS

A series of cysteine double mutant hP2X3 receptors, expressed in HEK293 cells or Xenopus laevis oocytes, exhibited depressed current responses to α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-meATP) due to the formation of spontaneous inter-subunit disulfide bonds. Reducing these bonds with dithiothreitol reversed the blockade of the α,β-meATP transmembrane current. Amino-reactive fluorescence labelling of the His-tagged hP2X3 receptor and its mutants expressed in HEK293 or X. laevis oocytes demonstrated the formation of inter-subunit cross links in cysteine double mutants and, in addition, confirmed their correct trimeric assembly and cell surface expression.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

In conclusion, spontaneous tightening of the binding jaw of the hP2X3 receptor by inter-subunit cross-linking of cysteine residues substituted at positions not directly involved in agonist binding inhibited agonist-evoked currents without interfering with binding, subunit assembly or trafficking.

Agonist antagonist interactions at the rapidly desensitizing P2X3 receptor

P2X3 receptors (P2XRs), as members of the purine receptor family, are deeply involved in chronic pain sensation and therefore, specific, competitive antagonists are of great interest for perspective pain management. Heretofore, Schild plot analysis has been commonly used for studying the interaction of competitive antagonists and the corresponding receptor. Unfortunately, the steady-state between antagonist and agonist, as a precondition for this kind of analysis, cannot be reached at fast desensitizing receptors like P2X3R making Schild plot analysis inappropriate. The aim of this study was to establish a new method to analyze the interaction of antagonists with their binding sites at the rapidly desensitizing human P2X3R. The patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the structurally divergent, preferential antagonists A317491, TNP-ATP and PPADS. The P2X1,3-selective α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-meATP) was used as an agonist to induce current responses at the wild-type (wt) P2X3R and several agonist binding site mutants. Afterwards a Markov model combining sequential transitions of the receptor from the closed to the open and desensitized mode in the presence or absence of associated antagonist molecules was developed according to the measured data. The P2X3R-induced currents could be fitted correctly with the help of this Markov model allowing identification of amino acids within the binding site which are important for antagonist binding. In conclusion, Markov models are suitable to simulate agonist antagonist interactions at fast desensitizing receptors such as the P2X3R. Among the antagonists investigated, TNP-ATP and A317491 acted in a competitive manner, while PPADS was identified as a (pseudo)irreversible blocker.