Developmental Changes in the Modulation of Synaptic Glycine Receptors by Ethanol

2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 2409-2416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika D. Eggers ◽  
Jennifer A. O'Brien ◽  
Albert J. Berger

During postnatal motoneuron development, the glycine receptor (GlyR) α subunit changes from α2 (fetal) to α1 (adult). To study the effect this change has on ethanol potentiation of GlyR currents in hypoglossal motoneurons (HMs), we placed neurons into two groups: neonate [ postnatal day 1 to 3( P1–3)], primarily expressing α2, and juvenile ( P9–13), primarily expressing α1. We found that glycinergic spontaneous miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in neonate HMs are less sensitive to ethanol than in juveniles. Thirty millimolar ethanol increased the amplitude of juvenile mIPSCs but did not significantly change neonatal mIPSCs. However, 100 mM ethanol increased the amplitudes of both neonate and juvenile mIPSCs. There was a significant difference between age groups in the average ethanol-induced increase in mIPSC amplitude for 10, 30, 50, and 100 mM ethanol. In both age groups ethanol increased the frequency of glycinergic mIPSCs, but there was no difference in the amount of frequency increase between age groups. Ethanol (100 mM) also potentiated evoked IPSCs (eIPSCs) in both neonate and juvenile HMs. As we observed for mIPSCs, 30 mM ethanol increased the amplitude of juvenile eIPSCs, but had no significant effect on eIPSCs in neonate HMs. Ethanol also potentiated currents induced by exogenously applied glycine in both neonate and juvenile HMs. These results suggest that ethanol directly modulates the GlyR. To investigate possible mechanisms for this, we analyzed the time course of mIPSCs and single-channel conductance of the GlyR in the presence and absence of ethanol. We found that ethanol did not significantly change the time course of mIPSCs. We also determined that ethanol did not significantly change the single-channel conductance of synaptic GlyRs, as estimated by nonstationary noise analysis of mIPSCs. We conclude that the adult form of the native GlyR is more sensitive to ethanol than the fetal form. Further, enhancement of GlyR currents involves mechanisms other than an increase in the single-channel conductance or factors that alter the decay kinetics.

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. C1130-C1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jichang Li ◽  
Ana M. Correa

Volatile anesthetics modulate the function of various K+ channels. We previously reported that isoflurane induces an increase in macroscopic currents and a slowing down of current deactivation of Shaker H4 IR K+ channels. To understand the single-channel basis of these effects, we performed nonstationary noise analysis of macroscopic currents and analysis of single channels in patches from Xenopus oocytes expressing Shaker H4 IR. Isoflurane (1.2% and 2.5%) induced concentration-dependent, partially reversible increases in macroscopic currents and in the time course of tail currents. Noise analysis of currents (70 mV) revealed an increase in unitary current (∼17%) and maximum open probability (∼20%). Single-channel conductance was larger (∼20%), and opening events were more stable, in isoflurane. Tail-current slow time constants increased by 41% and 136% in 1.2% and 2.5% isoflurane, respectively. Our results show that, in a manner consistent with stabilization of the open state, isoflurane increased the macroscopic conductance of Shaker H4 IR K+ channels by increasing the single-channel conductance and the open probability.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arvind Kumar ◽  
Sandip Basak ◽  
Shanlin Rao ◽  
Yvonne Gicheru ◽  
Megan L. Mayer ◽  
...  

AbstractGlycinergic synapses play a central role in motor control and pain processing in the central nervous system. Glycine receptors (GlyR) are key players in mediating fast inhibitory neurotransmission at these synapses. While previous high-resolution structural studies have provided insights into the molecular architecture of GlyR, several mechanistic questions pertaining to channel function are still unknown. Here, we present Cryo-EM structures of the full-length GlyR protein reconstituted into lipid nanodiscs that are captured in the unliganded (closed) and glycine-bound (open and desensitized) conformations. A comparison of the three states reveals global conformational changes underlying GlyR channel gating. The functional state assignments were validated by molecular dynamics simulations of the structures incorporated in a lipid bilayer. Observed permeation events are in agreement with the anion selectivity of the channel and the reported single-channel conductance of GlyR. These studies establish the structural basis for gating, selectivity, and single-channel conductance of GlyR in a physiological environment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Moraga-Cid ◽  
Victoria P. San Martín ◽  
Cesar O. Lara ◽  
Braulio Muñoz ◽  
Ana M. Marileo ◽  
...  

2004 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trude Haug ◽  
Daniel Sigg ◽  
Sergio Ciani ◽  
Ligia Toro ◽  
Enrico Stefani ◽  
...  

The pore region of the majority of K+ channels contains the highly conserved GYGD sequence, known as the K+ channel signature sequence, where the GYG is critical for K+ selectivity (Heginbotham, L., T. Abramson, and R. MacKinnon. 1992. Science. 258:1152–1155). Exchanging the aspartate residue with asparagine in this sequence abolishes ionic conductance of the Shaker K+ channel (D447N) (Hurst, R.S., L. Toro, and E. Stefani. 1996. FEBS Lett. 388:59–65). In contrast, we found that the corresponding mutation (D292N) in the pore forming α subunit (hSlo) of the voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ channel (BKCa, MaxiK) did not prevent conduction but reduced single channel conductance. We have investigated the role of outer pore negative charges in ion conduction (this paper) and channel gating (Haug, T., R. Olcese, T. Ligia, and E. Stefani. 2004. J. Gen Physiol. 124:185–197). In symmetrical 120 mM [K+], the D292N mutation reduced the outward single channel conductance by ∼40% and nearly abolished inward K+ flow (outward rectification). This rectification was partially relieved by increasing the external K+ concentration to 700 mM. Small inward currents were resolved by introducing an additional mutation (R207Q) that greatly increases the open probability of the channel. A four-state multi-ion pore model that incorporates the effects of surface charge was used to simulate the essential properties of channel conduction. The conduction properties of the mutant channel (D292N) could be predicted by a simple ∼8.5-fold reduction of the surface charge density without altering any other parameter. These results indicate that the aspartate residue in the BKCa pore plays a key role in conduction and suggest that the pore structure is not affected by the mutation. We speculate that the negative charge strongly accumulates K+ in the outer vestibule close to the selectivity filter, thus increasing the rate of ion entry into the pore.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 330-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-Wei Huang ◽  
Kao-Min Lin ◽  
Te-Yu Hung ◽  
Yao-Chung Chuang ◽  
Sheng-Nan Wu

Background/Aims: Rotenone (Rot) is known to suppress the activity of complex I in the mitochondrial chain reaction; however, whether this compound has effects on ion currents in neurons remains largely unexplored. Methods: With the aid of patch-clamp technology and simulation modeling, the effects of Rot on membrane ion currents present in mHippoE-14 cells were investigated. Results: Addition of Rot produced an inhibitory action on the peak amplitude of INa with an IC50 value of 39.3 µM; however, neither activation nor inactivation kinetics of INa was changed during cell exposure to this compound. Addition of Rot produced little or no modifications in the steady-state inactivation curve of INa. Rot increased the amplitude of Ca2+-activated Cl- current in response to membrane depolarization with an EC50 value of 35.4 µM; further addition of niflumic acid reversed Rot-mediated stimulation of this current. Moreover, when these cells were exposed to 10 µM Rot, a specific population of ATP-sensitive K+ channels with a single-channel conductance of 18.1 pS was measured, despite its inability to alter single-channel conductance. Under current clamp condition, the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials in mHippoE-14 cells was significantly raised in the presence of Rot (10 µM) with no changes in their amplitude and time course of rise and decay. In simulated model of hippocampal neurons incorporated with chemical autaptic connection, increased autaptic strength to mimic the action of Rot was noted to change the bursting pattern with emergence of subthreshold potentials. Conclusions: The Rot effects presented herein might exert a significant action on functional activities of hippocampal neurons occurring in vivo.


1992 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 479-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Tinker ◽  
A J Williams

The conduction properties of the alkaline earth divalent cations were determined in the purified sheep cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptor channel after reconstitution into planar phospholipid bilayers. Under bi-ionic conditions there was little difference in permeability among Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Mg2+. However, there was a significant difference between the divalent cations and K+, with the divalent cations between 5.8- and 6.7-fold more permeant. Single-channel conductances were determined under symmetrical ionic conditions with 210 mM Ba2+ and Sr2+ and from the single-channel current-voltage relationship under bi-ionic conditions with 210 mM divalent cations and 210 mM K+. Single-channel conductance ranged from 202 pS for Ba2+ to 89 pS for Mg2+ and fell in the sequence Ba2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Mg2+. Near-maximal single-channel conductance is observed at concentrations as low as 2 mM Ba2+. Single-channel conductance and current measurements in mixtures of Ba(2+)-Mg2+ and Ba(2+)-Ca2+ reveal no anomalous behavior as the mole fraction of the ions is varied. The Ca(2+)-K+ reversal potential determined under bi-ionic conditions was independent of the absolute value of the ion concentrations. The data are compatible with the ryanodine receptor channel acting as a high conductance channel displaying moderate discrimination between divalent and monovalent cations. The channel behaves as though ion translocation occurs in single file with at most one ion able to occupy the conduction pathway at a time.


2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanyan Geng ◽  
Xiaoyu Wang ◽  
Karl L. Magleby

Large-conductance, voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels display near linear current–voltage (I-V) plots for voltages between −100 and +100 mV, with an increasing sublinearity for more positive potentials. As is the case for many types of channels, BK channels are blocked at positive potentials by intracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+. This fast block progressively reduces single-channel conductance with increasing voltage, giving rise to a negative slope in the I-V plots beyond about +120 mV, depending on the concentration of the blockers. In contrast to these observations of pronounced differences in the magnitudes and shapes of I-V plots in the absence and presence of intracellular blockers, Schroeder and Hansen (2007. J. Gen. Physiol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1085/jgp.200709802) have reported identical I-V plots in the absence and presence of blockers for BK channels, with both plots having reduced conductance and negative slopes, as expected for blockers. Schroeder and Hansen included both Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the intracellular solution rather than a single blocker, and they also studied BK channels expressed from α plus β1 subunits, whereas most previous studies used only α subunits. Although it seems unlikely that these experimental differences would account for the differences in findings between previous studies and those of Schroeder and Hansen, we repeated the experiments using BK channels comprised of α plus β1 subunits with joint application of 2.5 mM Ca2+ plus 2.5 mM Mg2+, as Schroeder and Hansen did. In contrast to the findings of Schroeder and Hansen of identical I-V plots, we found marked differences in the single-channel I-V plots in the absence and presence of blockers. Consistent with previous studies, we found near linear I-V plots in the absence of blockers and greatly reduced currents and negative slopes in the presence of blockers. Hence, studies of conductance mechanisms for BK channels should exclude intracellular Ca2+/Mg2+, as they can reduce conductance and induce negative slopes.


2009 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 669a
Author(s):  
Eric J. Cavanaugh ◽  
Dina Simkin ◽  
Donghee Kim

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (3) ◽  
pp. F489-F496 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Sansom ◽  
T. Mougouris ◽  
S. Ono ◽  
T. D. DuBose

The inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) in vivo has the capacity to either secrete or reabsorb K+. However, a selective K+ conductance has not been described previously in the IMCD. In the present study, the patch-clamp method was used to determine the presence and properties of K(+)-selective channels in the apical membrane of the inner medullary collecting duct cell line, mIMCD-3. Two types of K(+)-selective channels were observed in both cell-attached and excised patches. The most predominant K+ channel, a smaller conductance K+ channel (SK), was present in cell-attached patches with 140 mM KCl (high bath K+) but not with 135 mM NaCl plus 5 mM KCl (low bath K+) in the bathing solution. The single-channel conductance of SK was 36 pS with inward currents and 29 pS with outward currents in symmetrical 140 mM KCl. SK was insensitive to both voltage and Ca2+. However, SK was inhibited significantly by millimolar concentrations of ATP in excised patches. A second K(+)-selective channel [a larger K+ channel (BK)] displayed a single-channel conductance equal to 132 pS with inward currents and 90 pS with outward currents in symmetrical 140 mM KCl solutions. BK was intermittently activated in excised inside-out patches by Mg(2+)-ATP in concentrations from 1 to 5 mM. With complete removal of Mg2+, BK was insensitive to ATP. BK was also insensitive to potential and Ca2+ and was observed in cell-attached patches with 140 mM KCl in the bath solution. Both channels were blocked reversibly by 1 mM Ba2+ from the intracellular surface but not by external Ba2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


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