Programme Contents

Defining GABA_A receptor pharmacology and physiologies through the disruption of receptor protein interactions

GABA_A receptors are the dominant inhibitory neurotransmitter-gated ion channel in the central nervous system. We have identified a novel way in which these neuronal ion channels alter their electrical response. Interactions between neighbouring, clustered GABA_A receptors profoundly alter single-channel properties (conductance and kinetics), leading to a significant enhancement of channel activity (‘cross-talk’) (Everitt et al., 2009). Interactions were identified using competitor peptides that mimic defined intracellular protein binding sites. Peptides were applied directly onto inside-out membrane patches pulled from newborn rat hippocampal neurons and single-channel currents were recorded. Combining the use of competitor peptides and single-channel recordings provided a visual insight into the dynamic nature of protein interactions that affect the activity of single GABA_A ion channels. Specifically, when applied to inside-out patches, a peptide mimicking the MA helix of the γ2 subunit (γ381-403) of the GABA_A receptor abrogated the potentiating effect of the drug diazepam on endogenous receptors by substantially reducing their conductance.

In addition to benzodiazepines, barbiturates, general anaesthetics and neurosteroids have all been shown to facilitate neuronal receptor cross-talk, that is, the drugs potentiate GABA-activated currents increasing both channel open probability and conductance. Such drugs however, are predicted to act on different GABA_A receptor subtypes. We hypothesized therefore, that modulation of ion permeation was a general mechanism through which all GABA_A receptor subtypes signal. Using a competitor peptide specific to δ-containing GABA_A receptors we tested our hypothesis. GABA currents were potentiated by the general anesthetic etomidate and competitor peptides were applied to neuronal patches. Addition of the δ MA peptide but not a scrambled version or the γ MA peptide abrogated the potentiating effects of etomidate. These data support our hypothesis and are aiding our understanding of the complex interplay between drugs and ion channels and also amongst the different GABA_A receptors subtypes themselves.

Everitt AB, Seymour VA, Curmi J, Laver DR, Gage PW, Tierney ML. (2009) Protein interactions involving the γ2 large cytoplasmic loop of GABA_A receptors modulate conductance. FASEB Journal 23: 4361-4369.