Glycine receptor function mediates most inhibitory neurotransmission in the brainstem and spinal cord and is enhanced by alcohols, volatile anesthetics, inhaled drugs of abuse, and endogenous compounds including zinc. Because zinc exists ubiquitously throughout the brain, investigations of its effects on the enhancement of GlyR function by alcohols and anesthetics are important to understanding the effects of these agents in vivo. In the present study, the effects of zinc plus ethanol, pentanol, or isoflurane were tested on homomeric alpha1 glycine receptors to determine if concurrent applications of physiological concentrations of zinc with each of these modulators changed the magnitude of their effects. Homomeric alpha1 glycine receptors were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique was used to measure glycine-mediated currents in the presence of combinations of zinc with ethanol, pentanol or isoflurane. The combined effects of zinc plus ethanol were greater than the sum of the effects produced by either compound alone. However, this was not seen when zinc was combined with either pentanol or isoflurane. Chelation of zinc by tricine decreased the effects of sub-maximal, but not maximal, concentrations of glycine, and diminished the magnitude of ethanol enhancement observed. These findings suggest a zinc/ethanol interaction at the alpha1 GlyR that results in the enhancement of the effects of ethanol action on GlyR function.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2864772 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.11.001 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
A new Col1a1 conditional knock-in mouse model to study osteogenesis imperfecta.
J Bone Miner Res
November 2024
Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR.
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) constitutes a family of bone fragility disorders characterized by both genetic and clinical heterogeneity. Several different mouse models reproduce the classic features of OI, and the most-commonly studied carry either a spontaneous or genetically induced pathogenic variant in the Col1a1 or Col1a2 gene. When OI is caused by primary alterations of type I collagen, it represents a systemic connective tissue disease that, in addition to the skeleton, also affects several extra-skeletal tissues and organs such as skin, teeth, lung, heart, and others, where the altered type I collagen is also expressed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF[ pv. Zur is involved in pathogenicity in host and hypersensitive responses in nonhosts].
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao
October 2024
College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, Zhejiang, China.
The zinc uptake regulator (Zur) has highly conserved sequences in the plant pathogen , while its functions are diverse in different strains or races. To elucidate the functions of Zur in pv. (), we constructed a -deleted mutant (Δ) by homologous recombination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA millisecond coarse-grained simulation approach to decipher allosteric cannabinoid binding at the glycine receptor α1.
Nat Commun
October 2024
Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex, 67083, France.
Article Synopsis
- * New simulations showed that these cannabinoids bind to different areas on the GlyR, confirming predictions made from past cryo-EM structures and mutagenesis experiments.
- * The study not only identifies specific binding sites but also suggests new experimental approaches to explore how these cannabinoids affect GlyR function.
Extraction and characterization of collagen and gelatin from body wall of sea cucumbers and .
PeerJ
October 2024
Institute of Integrated Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Article Synopsis
- Marine invertebrates, especially sea cucumbers, are rich in high-quality collagen, which is beneficial due to its availability, lower inflammatory response, and good compatibility for various applications.
- Pepsin-solubilized collagen was successfully extracted from two sea cucumber species in the Oman Sea, leading to analyses that confirmed the collagen was type I with specific amino acid compositions.
- The extracted gelatin from sea cucumbers showed excellent thermal stability and properties, indicating potential applications in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.
Structural studies of the human α glycine receptor via site-specific chemical cross-linking coupled with mass spectrometry.
Biophys Rep (N Y)
December 2024
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Chemical cross-linking coupled with mass spectrometry (CX-MS) effectively identifies distance constraints in macromolecular protein complexes, providing insights into structures under near-native conditions.
- This study focused on the human α1 glycine receptor (α1 GlyR), using a site-specific chemical cross-linking strategy at position 41 to examine its configuration in the apo state.
- The results demonstrated significant cross-linking sites both within and between subunits of α1 GlyR, showcasing CX-MS as a valuable method for understanding the structural dynamics of integral membrane protein assemblies.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!