Structures of the M2 channel-lining segments from nicotinic acetylcholine and NMDA receptors by NMR spectroscopy

Citation
Sj. Opella et al., Structures of the M2 channel-lining segments from nicotinic acetylcholine and NMDA receptors by NMR spectroscopy, NAT ST BIOL, 6(4), 1999, pp. 374-379
Citations number
38
Categorie Soggetti
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Journal title
NATURE STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
ISSN journal
10728368 → ACNP
Volume
6
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
374 - 379
Database
ISI
SICI code
1072-8368(199904)6:4<374:SOTMCS>2.0.ZU;2-K
Abstract
The structures of functional peptides corresponding to the predicted channe l-lining M2 segments of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and of a glutamate receptor of the NMDA subtype (NMDAR) were determined using solu tion NMR experiments on micelle samples, and solid-state NMR experiments on bilayer samples. Both M2 segments form straight transmembrane alpha-helice s with no kinks. The AChR M2 peptide inserts in the lipid bilayer at an ang le of 12 degrees relative to the bilayer normal, with a rotation about the helix long axis such that the polar residues face the M-terminal side of th e membrane, which is assigned to be intracellular. A model built from these solid-state NMR data, and assuming a symmetric pentameric arrangement of M 2 helices, results in a funnel-like architecture for the channel, with the wide opening on the N-terminal intracellular side.