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Title: Mechanism of NMDA receptor channel block by MK-801 and memantine

Journal Article · · Nature (London)
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [1]
  1. Oregon Health & Science Univ., Portland, OR (United States)
  2. D. E. Shaw Research, New York, NY (United States)
  3. Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN (United States)
  4. Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)

The NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) receptor transduces the binding of glutamate and glycine, coupling it to the opening of a calcium-permeable ion channel. Owing to the lack of high-resolution structural studies of the NMDA receptor, the mechanism by which ion-channel blockers occlude ion permeation is not well understood. Here we show that removal of the amino-terminal domains from the GluN1–GluN2B NMDA receptor yields a functional receptor and crystals with good diffraction properties, allowing us to map the binding site of the NMDA receptor blocker, MK-801. Here, this crystal structure, together with long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations, shows how MK-801 and memantine (a drug approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease) bind within the vestibule of the ion channel, promote closure of the ion channel gate and lodge between the M3-helix-bundle crossing and the M2-pore loops, physically blocking ion permeation.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Inst. of Health
Grant/Contract Number:
R01 NS038631
OSTI ID:
1435812
Journal Information:
Nature (London), Vol. 556, Issue 7702; ISSN 0028-0836
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 122 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Allosteric modulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ ATPase by thapsigargin via decoupling of functional motions journal January 2019
Lipid transporter TMEM24/C2CD2L is a Ca 2+ -regulated component of ER–plasma membrane contacts in mammalian neurons journal February 2019
Structure, function, and allosteric modulation of NMDA receptors journal July 2018
Mechanisms of NMDA receptor inhibition by diarylamidine compounds journal November 2019
Functional assessment of triheteromeric NMDA receptors containing a human variant associated with epilepsy journal January 2019
Architecture of the heteromeric GluA1/2 AMPA receptor in complex with the auxiliary subunit TARP γ8 journal March 2019
First in human evaluation of [18F]PK-209, a PET ligand for the ion channel binding site of NMDA receptors journal July 2018
NMDA Receptor Antagonists: Repositioning of Memantine as a Multitargeting Agent for Alzheimer's Therapy journal November 2019
The Role of NMDA Receptors in Alzheimer’s Disease journal February 2019
NMDA Receptor Opening and Closing—Transitions of a Molecular Machine Revealed by Molecular Dynamics journal September 2019
Computational Modeling of Claudin Structure and Function journal January 2020
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Current progress, challenges and future prospects of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in Alzheimer's disease journal January 2018
Heterogeneous clinical and functional features of GRIN2D-related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy journal August 2019
Dual action of amitriptyline on NMDA receptors: enhancement of Ca-dependent desensitization and trapping channel block journal December 2019