scholarly journals Desensitization of Mouse Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Channels

1998 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Auerbach ◽  
Gustav Akk
Keyword(s):  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Rate Constant ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Ion Permeation ◽  
Activation Gate ◽  
The Status ◽  
Single Channel Currents ◽  
Cyclic Models ◽  
Channel Currents

The rate constants of acetylcholine receptor channels (AChR) desensitization and recovery were estimated from the durations and frequencies of clusters of single-channel currents. Diliganded-open AChR desensitize much faster than either unliganded- or diliganded-closed AChR, which indicates that the desensitization rate constant depends on the status of the activation gate rather than the occupancy of the transmitter binding sites. The desensitization rate constant does not change with the nature of the agonist, the membrane potential, the species of permeant cation, channel block by ACh, the subunit composition (ε or γ), or several mutations that are near the transmitter binding sites. The results are discussed in terms of cyclic models of AChR activation, desensitization, and recovery. In particular, a mechanism by which activation and desensitization are mediated by two distinct, but interrelated, gates in the ion permeation pathway is proposed.

scholarly journals Tail End of the S6 Segment

2002 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinghua Ding ◽  
Richard Horn
Keyword(s):  
Potassium Channels ◽  
Energy Barrier ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Noise Analysis ◽  
Selectivity Filter ◽  
Open Probability ◽  
Cytoplasmic Extension ◽  
Activation Gate ◽  
Single Channel Currents ◽  
Channel Currents

The permeation pathway in voltage-gated potassium channels has narrow constrictions at both the extracellular and intracellular ends. These constrictions might limit the flux of cations from one side of the membrane to the other. The extracellular constriction is the selectivity filter, whereas the intracellular bundle crossing is proposed to act as the activation gate that opens in response to a depolarization. This four-helix bundle crossing is composed of S6 transmembrane segments, one contributed by each subunit. Here, we explore the cytoplasmic extension of the S6 transmembrane segment of Shaker potassium channels, just downstream from the bundle crossing. We substituted cysteine for each residue from N482 to T489 and determined the amplitudes of single channel currents and maximum open probability (Po,max) at depolarized voltages using nonstationary noise analysis. One mutant, F484C, significantly reduces Po,max, whereas Y483C, F484C, and most notably Y485C, reduce single channel conductance (γ). Mutations of residue Y485 have no effect on the Rb+/K+ selectivity, suggesting a local effect on γ rather than an allosteric effect on the selectivity filter. Y485 mutations also reduce pore block by tetrabutylammonium, apparently by increasing the energy barrier for blocker movement through the open activation gate. Replacing Rb+ ions for K+ ions reduces the amplitude of single channel currents and makes γ insensitive to mutations of Y485. These results suggest that Rb+ ions increase an extracellular energy barrier, presumably at the selectivity filter, thus making it rate limiting for flux of permeant ions. These results indicate that S6T residues have an influence on the conformation of the open activation gate, reflected in both the stability of the open state and the energy barriers it presents to ions.

Surfing the Conformational Wave of Acetylcholine Receptor Channel Gating

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (S2) ◽  
pp. 24-25
Author(s):  
Gisela Cymes ◽  
Claudio Grosman ◽  
Anthony Auerbach
Keyword(s):  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Rate Constant ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Kinetic Measurements ◽  
Ion Conducting ◽  
Single Channel Currents ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptor Channel ◽  
Receptor Channel

The muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel (AChR) is a cylindrical allosteric membrane protein (∼120 x 60 Å Fig. 1) that adopts alternative quaternary conformations (“open” and “closed”) with different functional properties (ion-conducting and ion-impermeable, respectively). We have characterized, residue-by-residue, the dynamics of the conformational change associated with gating using the framework of linear free energy relationships (LFER). The sequence of molecular events that underlies the closed-to-open gating transition was inferred from kinetic measurements of the receptor at the single molecule level.Specific regions of the AChR were perturbed using site-directed mutagenesis, changes in the membrane potential, or different agonists. Single-channel currents were recorded from cell-attached patches (Fig. 2). For the gain-of-function mutations, choline was used as the agonist because of its low efficacy. The opening rate constant was determined at a saturating concentration of agonist (for choline, 20 mM) in order to isolate gating from binding steps. to avoid bias introduced by fast channel blockade, the closing rate constant was measured at a low concentration (for choline, 200 μM). The diliganded channel opening (β) and closing (α) rate constants were estimated using the QuB suite of kinetic analysis programs. in general, a plot of the log rate constant vs. log equilibrium constant was linear.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of noncompetitive inhibition of acetylcholine-induced single-channel currents.

1989 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 785-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
R L Papke ◽  
R E Oswald
Keyword(s):  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Specific Interaction ◽  
Open Channels ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽  
Single Channel Currents ◽  
Open States ◽  
Functional Mechanisms ◽  
Channel Currents ◽  
Noncompetitive Blockers

The functional mechanisms of noncompetitive blockade of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from the BC3H-1 cell line were examined using single-channel currents recorded from cell-attached patches. Channel open times were distributed as sums of two exponentials and the closed times as sums of at least four exponentials. The single-channel currents of the receptor were analyzed in terms of activation schemes in which the receptor exists in two open states and a number of closed or blocked states. The existence of two distinct open states for the acetylcholine receptor allows for predictions to be made that will distinguish between different mechanisms of blockade. Notably, predictions could be made based on the model for the sequential block of open channels, that would allow us to discriminate such a mechanism, even for ligands that appear to dissociate so slowly that sequential openings of the same channel do not appear as distinct bursts. Four noncompetitive blockers of the acetylcholine receptor were studied: tetracaine, phencyclidine, and the (+) and (-) isomers of N-allylnormetazocine (SKF-10047). All four of these ligands decreased the duration of single-channel currents without increasing the number of fast closures per burst. The data suggest that the ligands block the channel in at least two distinct ways, one of which involves a specific interaction with open channels and the other is most consistent with the blockade of channels that may be either open or closed. In addition, the duration of the open state may be allosterically lengthened by the interaction of certain blockers with another class of sites.

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