Picrotoxin-Like Channel Blockers of GABAA Receptors
COMMENTARY Picrotoxin-like channel blockers of GABAA receptors Richard W. Olsen* Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1735 icrotoxin (PTX) is the prototypic vous system. Instead of an acetylcholine antagonist of GABAA receptors (ACh) target, the cage convulsants are (GABARs), the primary media- noncompetitive GABAR antagonists act- tors of inhibitory neurotransmis- ing at the PTX site: they inhibit GABAR Psion (rapid and tonic) in the nervous currents and synapses in mammalian neu- system. Picrotoxinin (Fig. 1A), the active rons and inhibit [3H]dihydropicrotoxinin ingredient in this plant convulsant, struc- binding to GABAR sites in brain mem- turally does not resemble GABA, a sim- branes (7, 9). A potent example, t-butyl ple, small amino acid, but it is a polycylic bicyclophosphorothionate, is a major re- compound with no nitrogen atom. The search tool used to assay GABARs by compound somehow prevents ion flow radio-ligand binding (10). through the chloride channel activated by This drug target appears to be the site GABA in the GABAR, a member of the of action of the experimental convulsant cys-loop, ligand-gated ion channel super- pentylenetetrazol (1, 4) and numerous family. Unlike the competitive GABAR polychlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, antagonist bicuculline, PTX is clearly a including dieldrin, lindane, and fipronil, noncompetitive antagonist (NCA), acting compounds that have been applied in not at the GABA recognition site but per- huge amounts to the environment with haps within the ion channel. Thus PTX major agricultural economic impact (2). ͞ appears to be an excellent example of al- Some of the other potent toxicants insec- losteric modulation, which is extremely ticides were also radiolabeled and used to important in protein function in general characterize receptor action, allowing and especially for GABAR (1).
[Show full text]