GLUTAMATE-GATED CHANNELS IN CENTRAL & PERIPHERAL NEURONS

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of my work is to provide a better understanding of synaptic transmission by studying the operation of NMDA, AMPA and kainate receptors, which form ion channels gated by the neurotransmitter glutamate. Another major goal is to uncover properties of these receptors that may allow for clinical intervention to prevent excitotoxic cell death or to provide analgesia. The experiments in this proposal arise from several interesting discoveries that we made during the current period of support. Specific Aim 1 follows up on our observation that interactions between the pore loop and adjacent transmembrane helices govern kainate receptor susceptibility to inhibition by cis-unsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Experiments in this aim will use mutant cycle analysis to determine which residues in the channel interact with each other to control permeation, gating and modulation. Specific Aim 2 builds on our discovery that exposure to DHA appears to change the conformation of kainate receptor transmembrane helices in the open state. Reactivity of substituted cysteines, metal ion binding, and disulfide bond formation will be used to determine structural changes introduced by fatty acids. Specific Aim 3 follows up on our discovery of small molecule antagonists that prevent DHA from potentiating NMDA receptors but have little or no effect on DHA inhibition of kainate receptors. Chimeric subunits that combine domains from NMDA and kainate receptors will be used to investigate whether distinct structural interactions underlie the potentiation and inhibition of channel activity and t analyze the structural requirements for generation of functional channels. Collectively, these experiments will provide new information about the structural basis for ionotropic glutamate receptor operation and new information about how ion channels are affected by interactions with components of the lipid bilayer. A number of pathologic conditions, including brain trauma, epilepsy, and ischemia, elicit massive release of cis-unsaturated fatty acids. These compounds directly regulate many different membrane proteins including a number of ion channel subtypes. This project analyzes the molecular basis of glutamate receptor modulation by DHA, which is present at high levels in the nervous system and is known to be essential for normal brain function.