Isabel Bermudez

α4β2 Nicotinic Receptors with High and Low Acetylcholine Sensitivity: Pharmacology, Stoichiometry, and Sensitivity to Long-Term Exposure to Nicotine

α4 and β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits expressed heterologously assemble into receptors with high (HS) and low (LS) sensitivity to acetylcholine (ACh); their relative proportions depend on the α4to β2 ratio. In this study, injection of oocytes with 1:10 α4/β2 subunit cDNA ratios favored expression of HS α4β2 nAChRs, as evidenced by monophasic ACh concentration-response curves, whereas injections with 10:1 cDNA ratios favored expression of LS α4β2 receptors. The stoichiometry was inferred from the shifts in the ACh EC50 values caused by Leu to Thr mutations at position 9′ of the second transmembrane domain of α4 and β2. The 1:10 injection ratio produced the (α4)2(β2)3 stoichiometry, whereas 10:1 injections produced the (α4)3(β2)2 stoichiometry. The agonists epibatidine, 3-[2(S)-azetidinylmethoxy]pyridine (A-85380), 5-ethoxy-metanicotine (TC-2559), cytisine, and 3-Br-cytisine and the antagonists dihydro-β-erythroidine and d-tubocurarine were more potent at HS receptors. TC-2559 was more efficacious than ACh at HS receptors but was a partial agonist at LS receptors. Epibatidine was more efficacious than ACh at LS receptors and a partial agonist at HS receptors. Cytisine and 5-halogenated cytisines had moderate efficacy at LS receptors but had almost no efficacy at HS receptors. By exploiting the differential effects of ACh, TC-2559 and 5-I-cytisine we evaluated the effects of long-term exposure to nicotine on HS and LS receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes after cDNA injections or microtransplantation of α4β2 receptors assembled in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. We conclude that nicotine up-regulates HS α4β2 receptors, probably by influencing the assembly of receptors rather than by altering the functional state of LS α4β2 nAChRs.

Pentameric concatenated (α4)2(β2)3 and (α4)3(β2)2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: subunit arrangement determines functional expression

Background and purpose:  α4 and β2 nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor subunits expressed heterologously in Xenopus oocytes assemble into a mixed population of (α4)2(β2)3 and (α4)3(β2)2 receptors. In order to express these receptors separately in heterologous systems, we have engineered pentameric concatenated (α4)2(β2)3 and (α4)3(β2)2 receptors.

Additional Acetylcholine (ACh) Binding Site at α4/α4 Interface of (α4β2)2α4 Nicotinic Receptor Influences Agonist Sensitivity

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α4 and β2 subunits assemble in two alternate stoichiometries to produce (α4β2)2α4 and (α4β2)2β2, which display different agonist sensitivities. Functionally relevant agonist binding sites are thought to be located at α4(+)/β2(−) subunit interfaces, but because these interfaces are present in both receptor isoforms, it is unlikely that they account for differences in agonist sensitivities. In contrast, incorporation of either α4 or β2 as auxiliary subunits produces isoform-specific α4(+)/α4(−) or β2(+)/β2(−) interfaces. Using fully concatenated (α4β2)2α4 nAChRs in conjunction with structural modeling, chimeric receptors, and functional mutagenesis, we have identified an additional site at the α4(+)/α4(−) interface that accounts for isoform-specific agonist sensitivity of the (α4β2)2α4 nAChR. The additional site resides in a region that also contains a potentiating Zn2+ site but is engaged by agonists to contribute to receptor activation. By engineering α4 subunits to provide a free cysteine in loop C at the α4(+)α4(−) interface, we demonstrated that the acetylcholine responses of the mutated receptors are attenuated or enhanced, respectively, following treatment with the sulfhydryl reagent [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate or aminoethyl methanethiosulfonate. The findings suggest that agonist occupation of the site at the α4(+)/(α4(−) interface leads to channel gating through a coupling mechanism involving loop C. Overall, we propose that the additional agonist site at the α4(+)/α4(−) interface, when occupied by agonist, contributes to receptor activation and that this additional contribution underlies the agonist sensitivity signature of (α4β2)2α4 nAChRs.

Sazetidine-A Is a Potent and Selective Agonist at Native and Recombinant α4β2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Sazetidine-A has been recently proposed to be a “silent desensitizer” of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), implying that it desensitizes α4β2 nAChRs without first activating them. This unusual pharmacological property of sazetidine-A makes it, potentially, an excellent research tool to distinguish between the role of activation and desensitization of α4β2 nAChRs in mediating the central nervous system effects of nicotine itself, as well as those of new nicotinic drugs. We were surprised to find that sazetidine-A potently and efficaciously stimulated nAChR-mediated dopamine release from rat striatal slices, which is mediated by α4β2* and α6β2* subtypes of nAChR. The agonist effects on native striatal nAChRs prompted us to re-examine the effects of sazetidine-A on recombinant α4β2 nAChRs in more detail. We expressed the two alternative stoichiometries of α4β2 nAChR in Xenopus laevis oocytes and investigated the agonist properties of sazetidine-A on both α4(2)β2(3) and α4(3)β2(2) nAChRs. We found that sazetidine-A potently activated both stoichiometries of α4β2 nAChR: it was a full agonist on α4(2)β2(3) nAChRs, whereas it had an efficacy of only 6% on α4(3)β2(2) nAChRs. In contrast to what has been published before, we therefore conclude that sazetidine-A is an agonist of native and recombinant α4β2 nAChRs but shows differential efficacy on α4β2 nAChRs subtypes.

An additional ACh binding site at the α4/α4 interface of the (α4β2)2α4 nicotinic receptor influences agonist sensitivity

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α4 and β2 subunits assemble in two alternate stoichiometries to produce (α4β2)2α4 and (α4β2)2β2, which display different agonist sensitivities. Functionally relevant agonist binding sites are thought to be located at α4(+)/β2(−) subunit interfaces, but because these interfaces are present in both receptor isoforms, it is unlikely that they account for differences in agonist sensitivities. In contrast, incorporation of either α4 or β2 as auxiliary subunits produces isoform-specific α4(+)/α4(−) or β2(+)/β2(−) interfaces. Using fully concatenated (α4β2)2α4 nAChRs in conjunction with structural modeling, chimeric receptors, and functional mutagenesis, we have identified an additional site at the α4(+)/α4(−) interface that accounts for isoform-specific agonist sensitivity of the (α4β2)2α4 nAChR. The additional site resides in a region that also contains a potentiating Zn2+ site but is engaged by agonists to contribute to receptor activation. By engineering α4 subunits to provide a free cysteine in loop C at the α4(+)α4(−) interface, we demonstrated that the acetylcholine responses of the mutated receptors are attenuated or enhanced, respectively, following treatment with the sulfhydryl reagent [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate or aminoethyl methanethiosulfonate. The findings suggest that agonist occupation of the site at the α4(+)/(α4(−) interface leads to channel gating through a coupling mechanism involving loop C. Overall, we propose that the additional agonist site at the α4(+)/α4(−) interface, when occupied by agonist, contributes to receptor activation and that this additional contribution underlies the agonist sensitivity signature of (α4β2)2α4 nAChRs.

From ligand design to therapeutic efficacy: the challenge for nicotinic receptor research

S-Nicotine, the principal psychoactive constituent of Nicotiana tabacum, underpins addiction to tobacco smoking. Although tobacco consumption is a leading cause of death worldwide, nicotine itself is also proposed to have potential therapeutic benefits for a diverse range of conditions. Nicotine interacts with its cognate receptors in the central nervous system to exert a predominantly modulatory influence, making neuronal nicotinic receptors attractive therapeutic targets. Here, we focus on three natural products as lead compounds for drug discovery programs, nicotine, epibatidine and cytisine, and consider the aims and limitations that shape these drug discovery endeavors.

Non-agonist-binding subunit interfaces confer distinct functional signatures to the alternate stoichiometries of the alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor: an alpha4-alpha4 interface is required for Zn2+ potentiation.

The α4β2 subtype is the most abundant nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in the brain and possesses the high-affinity binding site for nicotine. The α4 and β2 nAChR subunits assemble into two alternate stoichiometries, (α4)2(β2)3 and (α4)3(β2)2, which differ in their functional properties and sensitivity to chronic exposure to nicotine. Here, we investigated the sensitivity of both receptor stoichiometries to modulation by Zn2+. We show that Zn2+ exerts an inhibitory modulatory effect on (α4)2(β2)3 receptors, whereas it potentiates or inhibits, depending on its concentration, the function of (α4)3(β2)2 receptors. Furthermore, Zn2+ inhibition on (α4)2(β2)3 nAChRs is voltage-dependent, whereas it is not on (α4)3(β2)2 receptors. We used molecular modeling in conjunction with alanine substitution and functional studies to identify two distinct sets of residues that determine these effects and may coordinate Zn2+. Zn2+ inhibition is mediated by a site located on the β2(+)/α4(−) subunit interfaces on both receptor stoichiometries. α4H195 and β2D218 are key determinants of this site. Zn2+ potentiation on (α4)3(β2)2 nAChRs is exerted by a site that resides on the α4(+)/α4(−) of this receptor stoichiometry. α4H195 on the (−) side of the ACh-binding α4 subunit and α4E224 on the (+) side of the non-ACh-binding α4 subunit critically contribute to this site. We also identified residues within the β2 subunit that confer voltage dependency to Zn2+ inhibition on (α4)2(β2)3, but not on (α4)3(β2)2 nAChRs.

SERINE PROTEASE INHIBITION BY INSECT PEPTIDES CONTAINING A CYSTEINE KNOT AND A TRIPLE-STRANDED BETA -SHEET

Three insect peptides showing high sequence similarity and belonging to the same structural family incorporating a cysteine knot and a short three-stranded antiparallel β-sheet were studied. Their inhibitory effect on two serine proteases (bovine α-chymotrypsin and human leukocyte elastase) is reported. One of them, PMP-C, is a strong α-chymotrypsin inhibitor (Ki = 0.2 nM) and interacts with leukocyte elastase with a Ki of 0.12 μM. The other two peptides, PMP-D2 and HI, interact only weakly with α-chymotrypsin and do not inhibit leukocyte elastase. Synthetic variants of these peptides were prepared by solid-phase synthesis, and their action toward serine proteases was evaluated. This enabled us to locate the P1 residues within the reactive sites (Leu-30 for PMP-C and Arg-29 for PMP-D2 and HI), and, interestingly, variants of PMP-D2 and HI were converted into powerful inhibitors of both α-chymotrypsin and leukocyte elastase, the most potent elastase inhibitor obtained in this study having a Ki of 3 nM.

Halogenated cytisine derivatives as agonists at human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes

Cytisine (cy) is a potent and competitive partial agonist at alpha4 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors while at homomeric alpha7-nACh receptors it behaves as a full agonist with a relatively lower potency. In the present study, we assessed the effects of bromination or iodination of the pyridone ring of cy and N-methylcytisine (N-Me-cy) on the effects of these compounds on recombinant human (h) alpha7, halpha4beta2 and halpha4beta4 nACh receptors expressed in clonal cell lines and Xenopus oocytes. Halogenation at C(3) of cy or N-Me-cy usually brings about a marked increase in both affinity and efficacy at halpha7, halpha4beta2 and halpha4beta4 nACh, the extent of which depends on whether the halogen is bromine or iodine, and upon receptor subtype. The effects of halogenation at C(5) are strongly influenced by the specific halogen substituent so that bromination causes a decrease in both affinity and efficacy while iodination decreases affinity but its effects on efficacy range from a decrease (halpha7, halpha4beta4 nACh receptors) to a marked increase (halpha4beta2 nACh receptors). Based on these findings, which differ from those showing that neither the affinity nor efficacy of nicotine, 3-(2-azetidinylmethoxy)-pyridine or epibatidine are greatly affected by halogenation, dehalogenation or halogen exchange at equivalent positions, we suggest that cy, N-Me-cy and their halo-isosteres bind to neuronal nACh receptors in a different orientation allowing the halogen atom to interact with a hydrophobic halogen-accepting region within the predominantly hydrophobic agonist-binding pocket of the receptors.

Inhibition of human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by open channel blockers of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors

Human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and the effects of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor open channel blockers memantine and cerestat on this receptor were examined using two‐electrode voltage‐clamp recordings and 125I‐α‐bungarotoxin (125I‐α‐bgtx) binding. Memantine and cerestat produced complete inhibition of ACh‐induced inward currents with affinities similar to that reported for native NMDA receptors. Cerestat, IC50 1.7 (−1; +2) μM, was more potent than memantine, IC50 5 (−3;+8) μM, and the effects of both drugs were fully and rapidly reversible. Inhibition of α7 receptor function was voltage‐independent, and it occurred at concentrations far lower than those needed to inhibit (never completely) binding of 125I‐α‐bgtx to α7 receptors, suggesting that the effects of memantine or cerestat are noncompetitive. These results provide evidence that human α7 receptors are inhibited by memantine and cerestat and suggest that caution should be applied when using these compounds to study systems in which NMDA and nACh receptors co‐exist.