Chris J. McBain

Glutamate Receptor Ion Channels: Structure, Regulation, and Function

The mammalian ionotropic glutamate receptor family encodes 18 gene products that coassemble to form ligand-gated ion channels containing an agonist recognition site, a transmembrane ion permeation pathway, and gating elements that couple agonist-induced conformational changes to the opening or closing of the permeation pore. Glutamate receptors mediate fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system and are localized on neuronal and non-neuronal cells. These receptors regulate a broad spectrum of processes in the brain, spinal cord, retina, and peripheral nervous system. Glutamate receptors are postulated to play important roles in numerous neurological diseases and have attracted intense scrutiny. The description of glutamate receptor structure, including its transmembrane elements, reveals a complex assembly of multiple semiautonomous extracellular domains linked to a pore-forming element with striking resemblance to an inverted potassium channel. In this review we discuss International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology glutamate receptor nomenclature, structure, assembly, accessory subunits, interacting proteins, gene expression and translation, post-translational modifications, agonist and antagonist pharmacology, allosteric modulation, mechanisms of gating and permeation, roles in normal physiological function, as well as the potential therapeutic use of pharmacological agents acting at glutamate receptors.

Kv3 channels: voltage-gated K+ channels designed for high-frequency repetitive firing

Analysis of the Kv3 subfamily of K(+) channel subunits has lead to the discovery of a new class of neuronal voltage-gated K(+) channels characterized by positively shifted voltage dependencies and very fast deactivation rates. These properties are adaptations that allow these channels to produce currents that can specifically enable fast repolarization of action potentials without compromising spike initiation or height. The short spike duration and the rapid deactivation of the Kv3 currents after spike repolarization maximize the quick recovery of resting conditions after an action potential. Several neurons in the mammalian CNS have incorporated into their repertoire of voltage-dependent conductances a relatively large number of Kv3 channels to enable repetitive firing at high frequencies - an ability that crucially depends on the special properties of Kv3 channels and their impact on excitability.

The role of the GluR2 subunit in AMPA receptor function and synaptic plasticity.

The AMPA receptor (AMPAR) GluR2 subunit dictates the critical biophysical properties of the receptor, strongly influences receptor assembly and trafficking, and plays pivotal roles in a number of forms of long-term synaptic plasticity. Most neuronal AMPARs contain this critical subunit; however, in certain restricted neuronal populations and under certain physiological or pathological conditions, AMPARs that lack this subunit are expressed. There is a current surge of interest in such GluR2-lacking Ca2+-permeable AMPARs in how they affect the regulation of synaptic transmission. Here, we bring together recent data highlighting the novel and important roles of GluR2 in synaptic function and plasticity.

Graded reduction of Pafah1b1 (Lis1) activity results in neuronal migration defects and early embryonic lethality

Heterozygous mutation or deletion of the ß subunit of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAFAH1B1, also known as LIS1) in humans is associated with type I lissencephaly, a severe developmental brain disorder thought to result from abnormal neuronal migration. To further understand the function of PAFAH1B1, we produced three different mutant alleles in mouse Pafah1b1. Homozygous null mice die early in embryogenesis soon after implantation. Mice with one inactive allele display cortical, hippocampal and olfactory bulb disorganization resulting from delayed neuronal migration by a cell-autonomous neuronal pathway. Mice with further reduction of Pafah1b1 activity display more severe brain disorganization as well as cerebellar defects. Our results demonstrate an essential, dosage-sensitive neuronal-specific role for Pafah1b1 in neuronal migration throughout the brain, and an essential role in early embryonic development. The phenotypes observed are distinct from those of other mouse mutants with neuronal migration defects, suggesting that Pafah1b1 participates in a novel pathway for neuronal migration.

Excitatory amino acid receptors in epilepsy

Excitatory amino acid transmitters participate in normal synaptic transmission throughout the CNS (see Headley and Grillner, May TiPS), so it comes as no surprise that such excitatory pathways are involved in the initiation of seizures and their propagation. Most attention has been directed to synapses using NMDA receptors, although more recent evidence indicates potential roles for the AMPA receptors as well. In this article--the first of two to focus on the neurological dangers inherent in excitatory amino acid pathways--Raymond Dingledine, Chris McBain and James McNamara consider their involvement in epilepsy; next months article will cover brain damage following ischemia and hypoxia.

Social Interaction and Sensorimotor Gating Abnormalities in Mice Lacking Dvl1

Mice completely deficient for Dvl1, one of three mouse homologs of the Drosophila segment polarity gene Dishevelled, were created by gene targeting. Dvl1-deficient mice are viable, fertile, and structurally normal. Surprisingly, these mice exhibited reduced social interaction, including differences in whisker trimming, deficits in nest-building, less huddling contact during home cage sleeping, and subordinate responses in a social dominance test. Sensorimotor gating was abnormal, as measured by deficits in prepulse inhibition of acoustic and tactile startle. Thus, Dvl1 mutants may provide a model for aspects of several human psychiatric disorders. These results are consistent with an interpretation that common genetic mechanisms underlie abnormal social behavior and sensorimotor gating deficits and implicate Dvl1 in processes underlying complex behaviors.

The hyperpolarization‐activated current (Ih) and its contribution to pacemaker activity in rat CA1 hippocampal stratum oriens‐alveus interneurones.

1. The hyperpolarization‐activated current (Ih) and its role in pacemaking activity in rat hippocampal stratum oriens‐alveus interneurones was studied using whole‐cell and perforated patch‐clamp configurations. 2. Voltage‐clamp recordings revealed Ih as a slowly activating, inward current, activated by hyperpolarizing steps (holding potential, Vh = ‐40 mV), with a reversal potential close to ‐30 mV. Its activation curve ranged from approximately ‐50 to ‐120 mV with a mid‐activation point of ‐84.1 mV. 3. Ih was blocked by external application of Cs+ (2‐5 mM) and ZD7288 (100 microM), but not by Ba2+ (1 mM). 4. Ih was potentiated by both noradrenaline and isoprenaline by a mechanism consistent with a shift in the Ih activation curve. 5. Under current‐clamp conditions (Vh = ‐60 mV), ZD7288 induced a membrane hyperpolarization concomitant with an increase in the membrane input resistance and abolished the voltage sag generated by hyperpolarizing current injection. 6. Analysis of the current‐discharge relationship revealed that block of Ih differentially increased the firing frequency of spikes occurring early in the train compared with those occurring late in the discharge. 7. When applied to spontaneously firing cells, ZD7288 reduced the firing frequency by selectively altering the time course of the interspike interval, while minimally affecting other action potential characteristics. Similarly, isoprenaline increased the spontaneous firing frequency by an effect exclusively on the after‐hyperpolarization and interspike interval. 8. These results provide evidence for the involvement of Ih in the excitability and generation of spontaneous firing in hippocampal stratum oriens‐alveus interneurones.

Transient incorporation of native GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors during hippocampal long-term potentiation

Postnatal glutamatergic principal neuron synapses are typically presumed to express only calcium-impermeable (CI), GluR2-containing AMPARs under physiological conditions. Here, however, we demonstrate that long-term potentiation (LTP) in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons causes rapid incorporation of GluR2-lacking calcium-permeable (CP)-AMPARs: CP-AMPARs are present transiently, being replaced by GluR2-containing AMPARs ∼25 min after LTP induction. Thus, CP-AMPARs are physiologically expressed at CA1 pyramidal cell synapses during LTP, and may be required for LTP consolidation.

Afferent-specific innervation of two distinct AMPA receptor subtypes on single hippocampal interneurons

Using the polyamine toxin philanthotoxin, which selectively blocks calcium-permeable AMPA receptors, we show that synaptic transmission onto single hippocampal interneurons occurs by afferent-specific activation of philanthotoxin-sensitive and -insensitive AMPA receptors. Calcium-permeable AMPA receptors are found exclusively at synapses from mossy fibers. In contrast, synaptic responses evoked by stimulation of CA3 pyramidal neurons are mediated by calcium-impermeable AMPA receptors. Both pathways converge onto single interneurons and can be discriminated with Group II mGluR agonists. Thus, single interneurons target AMPA receptors of different subunit composition to specific postsynaptic sites, providing a mechanism to increase the synapse-specific computational properties of hippocampal interneurons.

Muscarinic Induction of Hippocampal Gamma Oscillations Requires Coupling of the M1 Receptor to Two Mixed Cation Currents

Oscillatory network activity at gamma frequencies is assumed to be of major importance in cortical information processing. Whereas the synaptic mechanisms of gamma oscillations have been studied in detail, the ionic currents involved at the cellular level remain to be elucidated. Here we show that in vitro gamma oscillations induced by muscarine require activation of M1 receptors on hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons and are absent in M1 receptor-deficient mice. M1 receptor activation depolarizes pyramidal neurons by increasing the mixed Na(+)/K(+) current I(h) and the Ca(2+)-dependent nonspecific cation current I(cat), but not by modulation of I(M). Our data provide important insight into the molecular basis of gamma oscillations by unequivocally establishing a novel role for muscarinic modulation of I(h) and I(cat) in rhythmic network activity.