Ligand-gated ion channel

Neurotransmitter-gated ion-channel transmembrane region
Ligand-gated ion channel
Identifiers
Symbol	Neur_chan_memb
Pfam	PF02932
InterPro	IPR006029
PROSITE	PDOC00209
SCOP	1cek
SUPERFAMILY	1cek
TCDB	1.A.9
OPM superfamily	14
OPM protein	2bg9
Available protein structures: Pfam structures PDB RCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj PDBsum structure summary

Illustration depicting Acetylcholine (ACh) ligand gated channel.

Ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) are a group of transmembrane ion channel proteins which open to allow ions such as Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, or Cl⁻ to pass through the membrane in response to the binding of a chemical messenger (i.e. a ligand), such as a neurotransmitter.

These proteins are typically composed of at least two different domains: a transmembrane domain which includes the ion pore, and an extracellular domain which includes the ligand binding location (an allosteric binding site). This modularity has enabled a 'divide and conquer' approach to finding the structure of the proteins (crystallising each domain separately). The function of such receptors located at synapses is to convert the chemical signal of presynaptically released neurotransmitter directly and very quickly into a postsynaptic electrical signal. Many LGICs are additionally modulated by allosteric ligands, by channel blockers, ions, or the membrane potential. LGICs are classified into three superfamilies which lack evolutionary relationship: Cys-loop receptors, Ionotropic glutamate receptors and ATP-gated channels.

LGICs can be contrasted with metabotropic receptors (which use second messenger activated ion channels), voltage-gated ion channels (which open and close depending on membrane potential), and stretch-activated ion channels (which open and close depending on mechanical deformation of the cell membrane).

Cys-loop receptors

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in closed state with predicted membrane boundaries shown, PDB 2BG9

The cys-loop receptors are named after a characteristic loop formed by a disulfide bond between two cysteine residues in the N terminal extracellular domain. They are subdivided with respect to the type of ion that they conduct (anionic or cationic) and further into families defined by the endogenous ligand. They are usually pentameric with each subunit containing 4 transmembrane helices constituting the transmembrane domain, and a beta sheet sandwich type, extracellular, N terminal, ligand binding domain. Some also contain an intracellular domain like shown in the image.

The prototypic ligand-gated ion channel is the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. It consists of a pentamer of protein subunits (typically ααβγδ), with two binding sites for acetylcholine (one at the interface of each alpha subunit). When the acetylcholine binds it alters the receptor's configuration (twists the T2 helices which moves the leucine residues, which block the pore, out of the channel pathway) and causes the constriction in the pore of approximately 3 angstroms to widen to approximately 8 angstroms so that ions can pass through. This pore allows Na⁺ ions to flow down their electrochemical gradient into the cell. With a sufficient number of channels opening at once, the inward flow of positive charges carried by Na⁺ ions depolarizes the postsynaptic membrane sufficiently to initiate an action potential.

While single-cell organisms like bacteria would have little apparent need for the transmission of an action potential, a bacterial homologue to an LGIC has been identified, hypothesized to act nonetheless as a chemoreceptor. This prokaryotic nAChR variant is known as the GLIC receptor, after the species in which it was identified; Gloeobacter Ligand-gated Ion Channel.

Vertebrate Anionic Cys-loop Receptors

Type	Class	IUPHAR-recommended protein name	Gene	Previous names
GABAA	alpha	α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 α6	GABRA1 GABRA2 GABRA3 GABRA4 GABRA5 GABRA6	EJM, ECA4
	beta	β1 β2 β3	GABRB1 GABRB2 GABRB3	ECA5
	gamma	γ1 γ2 γ3	GABRG1 GABRG2 GABRG3	CAE2, ECA2, GEFSP3
	delta	δ	GABRD
	epsilon	ε	GABRE
	pi	π	GABRP
	theta	θ	GABRQ
	rho	ρ1 ρ2 ρ3	GABRR1 GABRR2 GABRR3	GABAC
Glycine (GlyR)	alpha	α1 α2 α3 α4	GLRA1 GLRA2 GLRA3 GLRA4	STHE
	beta	β	GLRB

Vertebrate Cationic Cys-loop Receptors

Type	Class	IUPHAR-recommended protein name	Gene	Previous names
Serotonin (5-HT)	5-HT3	5-HT3A 5-HT3B 5-HT3C 5-HT3D 5-HT3E	HTR3A HTR3B HTR3C HTR3D HTR3E	5-HT3A 5-HT3B 5-HT3C 5-HT3D 5-HT3E
Nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChR)	alpha	α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 α6 α7 α9 α10	CHRNA1 CHRNA2 CHRNA3 CHRNA4 CHRNA5 CHRNA6 CHRNA7 CHRNA9 CHRNA10	ACHRA, ACHRD, CHRNA, CMS2A, FCCMS, SCCMS
	beta	β1 β2 β3 β4	CHRNB1 CHRNB2 CHRNB3 CHRNB4	CMS2A, SCCMS, ACHRB, CHRNB, CMS1D EFNL3, nAChRB2
	gamma	γ	CHRNG	ACHRG
	delta	δ	CHRND	ACHRD, CMS2A, FCCMS, SCCMS
	epsilon	ε	CHRNE	ACHRE, CMS1D, CMS1E, CMS2A, FCCMS, SCCMS
Zinc-activated ion channel (ZAC)		ZAC	ZACN	ZAC1, L2m LGICZ, LGICZ1

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluR)

The AMPA receptor bound to a glutamate antagonist showing the amino terminal, ligand binding, and transmembrane domain, PDB 3KG2

The ionotropic glutamate receptors bind the neurotransmitter glutamate. They form tetramers with each subunit consisting of an extracellular amino terminal domain (ATD, which is involved tetramer assembly), an extracellular ligand binding domain (LBD, which binds glutamate), and a transmembrane domain (TMD, which forms the ion channel). The transmembrane domain of each subunit contains three transmembrane helices as well as a half membrane helix with a reentrant loop. The structure of the protein starts with the ATD at the N terminus followed by the first half of the LBD which is interrupted by helix 1,2 and 3 of the TMD before continuing with the final half of the LBD and then finishing with helix 4 of the TMD at the C terminus. This means there are three links between the TMD and the extracellular domains. Each subunit of the tetramer has a binding site for glutamate formed by the two LBD sections forming a clamshell like shape. Only two of these sites in the tetramer need to be occupied to open the ion channel. The pore is mainly formed by the half helix 2 in a way which resembles an inverted potassium channel.

Type	Class	IUPHAR-recommended protein name	Gene	Previous names
AMPA	GluA	GluA1 GluA2 GluA3 GluA4	GRIA1 GRIA2 GRIA3 GRIA4	GLUA1, GluR1, GluRA, GluR-A, GluR-K1, HBGR1 GLUA2, GluR2, GluRB, GluR-B, GluR-K2, HBGR2 GLUA3, GluR3, GluRC, GluR-C, GluR-K3 GLUA4, GluR4, GluRD, GluR-D
Kainate	GluK	GluK1 GluK2 GluK3 GluK4 GluK5	GRIK1 GRIK2 GRIK3 GRIK4 GRIK5	GLUK5, GluR5, GluR-5, EAA3 GLUK6, GluR6, GluR-6, EAA4 GLUK7, GluR7, GluR-7, EAA5 GLUK1, KA1, KA-1, EAA1 GLUK2, KA2, KA-2, EAA2
NMDA	GluN	GluN1 NRL1A NRL1B	GRIN1 GRINL1A GRINL1B	GLUN1, NMDA-R1, NR1, GluRξ1
		GluN2A GluN2B GluN2C GluN2D	GRIN2A GRIN2B GRIN2C GRIN2D	GLUN2A, NMDA-R2A, NR2A, GluRε1 GLUN2B, NMDA-R2B, NR2B, hNR3, GluRε2 GLUN2C, NMDA-R2C, NR2C, GluRε3 GLUN2D, NMDA-R2D, NR2D, GluRε4
		GluN3A GluN3B	GRIN3A GRIN3B	GLUN3A, NMDA-R3A, NMDAR-L, chi-1 GLU3B, NMDA-R3B
‘Orphan’	(GluD)	GluD1 GluD2	GRID1 GRID2	GluRδ1 GluRδ2

ATP-gated channels

Figure 1. Schematic representation showing the membrane topology of a typical P2X receptor subunit. First and second transmembrane domains are labeled TM1 and TM2.

Main article: P2X receptor

ATP-gated channels open in response to binding the nucleotide ATP. They form trimers with two transmembrane helices per subunit and both the C and N termini on the intracellular side.

Type	Class	IUPHAR-recommended protein name	Gene	Previous names
P2X	N/A	P2X1 P2X2 P2X3 P2X4 P2X5 P2X6 P2X7	P2RX1 P2RX2 P2RX3 P2RX4 P2RX5 P2RX6 P2RX7	P2X1 P2X2 P2X3 P2X4 P2X5 P2X6 P2X7

PIP₂-gated channels

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂) binds to and directly agonizes Inward rectifying potassium channels(K_ir). PIP₂ is a plasma membrane lipid and its definitive role in gating ion channels was only recently demonstrated by X-ray crystallography.

Clinical relevance

Ligand-gated ion channels are likely to be the major site at which anaesthetic agents and ethanol have their effects, although unequivocal evidence of this is yet to be established. In particular, the GABA and NMDA receptors are affected by anaesthetic agents at concentrations similar to those used in clinical anaesthesia.

See also

• Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel
• Receptor (biochemistry)
• Acid-sensing ion channel

• Ryanodine receptor
• Inositol trisphosphate receptor
• Calcium-activated potassium channel

External links

• Ligand-Gated Ion Channel database at European Bioinformatics Institute. Verified availability April 11, 2007.