A predicted binding site for cholesterol on the GABAA receptor.
Résumé
Modulation of the GABA type A receptor (GABAAR) function by cholesterol and other steroids is documented at the functional level, yet its structural basis is largely unknown. Current data on structurally related modulators suggest that cholesterol binds to subunit interfaces between transmembrane domains of the GABAAR. We construct homology models of a human GABAAR based on the structure of the glutamate-gated chloride channel GluCl of Caenorhabditis elegans. The models show the possibility of previously unreported disulfide bridges linking the M1 and M3 transmembrane helices in the α and γ subunits. We discuss the biological relevance of such disulfide bridges. Using our models, we investigate cholesterol binding to intersubunit cavities of the GABAAR transmembrane domain. We find that very similar binding modes are predicted independently by three approaches: analogy with ivermectin in the GluCl crystal structure, automated docking by AutoDock, and spontaneous rebinding events in unbiased molecular dynamics simulations. Taken together, the models and atomistic simulations suggest a somewhat flexible binding mode, with several possible orientations. Finally, we explore the possibility that cholesterol promotes pore opening through a wedge mechanism.
Mots clés
Amino Acid
Binding Sites
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
chemistry
chemistry/metabolism
Chloride Channels
Cholesterol
GABA-A
Humans
Hydrogen Bonding
Ivermectin
metabolism
Molecular Docking Simulation
Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Porosity
Protein Binding
Protein Conformation
Receptors
Sequence Homology
Substrate Specificity
Domaines
Biophysique
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