Receptors and Channels Flashcards
What does transmembrane mean?
Spans the membrane
What is a channel?
A channel is a transmembrane protein that transports molecules from one side of the membrane to the other
What are 3 essential functions of ion channels and an example of where these functions are used?
- Transport ions across membrane
>Stomach and salivary glands - Regulate membrane potentials
>Nerve and muscle cells - Ca2+ influx into the cytoplasm
>Secretion and muscle contraction
What are the 2 factors ion channels are classified into sub groups based on?
- Gating mechanism – voltage or ligand
- Ion selectivity of the pore
How many alpha-helices are transmembrane proteins usually made of in ion channels?
Transmembrane proteins made up of two or more ⍺-helices that cross the lipid bilayer.
How many subunits are ion channels usually made of?
Made up of two – six subunits which usually surround the ‘pore’
What defines the ion selectivity of an ion channel’s pore?
by the physical size of ‘filter’ and the charge of the amino acids lining the pore
What is an alpha-helices?
A right hand-helix conformation
What is a beta sheet?
Beta strands connected laterally by at least two or three backbone hydrogen bonds, forming a sheet.
What are subunits?
Single protein that forms with others to form protein complex
What are transmembrane domains (TM)?
Protein that spans the width of the membrane from the extracellular to intracellular sides usually a helical shape
What is a P-loop or a Pore?
Pocket where ion will bind
What is useful about understanding the structure of different ion channels?
It reveals evolutionary relationships
What is a primordial channel?
The first channel we know to exist, this acts as a basic structure of all ion channels.
What 3 factors control the gate of a simple K+ channel?
- Membrane potential
- Mechanical stress
- Ligands binding to C-terminal
In terms of transmembrane domains, what is conformation of a ion channel when the gate is a) closed b) open?
a) TMs are more tightly packed creating a ‘gate’
b) Upon ions flowing through the pore, the TMs move into an open conformation.
What are the 2 main functions of voltage gated ion channels?
- Na+ and K+ create action potentials in excitable cells
- Ca2+ transported into cytoplasm where 2nd messenger elicits a cellular response
What are 3 differences in structure that a voltage gated ion channel has that a simple one doesn’t?
- Additional helices S1 and S4 form a separate ‘voltage sensing domain’ lateral to the subunits
- Large polypeptides that extend into the cytoplasm
- Plugging mechanism
>Polypeptide strand can block the poor and stop ions entering
What does TRP stand for?
Transient receptor potential channels
How is a Transient receptor potential (TRP) channel similar and different to voltage gated ion channels?
Share common structural features with Voltage gated channels BUT evolved to sense chemicals and physical stimuli instead of membrane potential (e.g. hot and spicy food)
How is a Ligand-gated ion channel similar and different to voltage gated ion channels?
Similar in structure to voltage-gated but controlled by the binding of a ligand
What are 2 example of intracellular binding sites of ligand-gated ion channels?
- Calmodulin bound to C-terminal
- Cyclic nucleotide-binding domain
What is the effect of Ca2+ binding to Calmodulin on a Ligand gated-ion channel?
If Ca2+ binds to calmodulin on the intracellular binding domain it provides negative feedback causing the channel to close.
What are Ligand gated ion channels controlled by?
Either intracellular or extracellular ligands
Why does losing one ligand molecule bound to a ligand-gated ion channel cause a sharp drop in a concentration curve?
As Ligands must be bound to at least 3 out of 4 of the subunits to keep the gate open, if one ligand is lost the channel shuts quickly stopping the flow of ions.
Are a) Simple b) Voltage-gated c) Transient receptor potential channels (TRP) d) Ligand-gated ion channels gated?
a) Simple channel = No gate
b) Voltage gated = Gate controlled by changes in electrical membrane potential
c) TRP = Gated
d) Ligand-gated = Gated, controlled by chemical transmitters either intra or extra cellular
How many subunits do a) Simple b) Voltage-gated c) Transient receptor potential channels (TRP) d) Ligand-gated ion channels have?
a) Simple channel = 2
b) Voltage gated = 4
c) TRP = 4
d) Ligand-gated = 4
How many helices across the lipid bilayer do a) Simple b) Voltage-gated c) Transient receptor potential channels (TRP) d) Ligand-gated ion channels have?
a) Simple channel = 2
b) Voltage gated = 6-24
c) TRP = 6
d) Ligand-gated = 6
Do all ion channels have a P-loop (central pore)
Yes
Do a) Simple b) Voltage-gated c) Transient receptor potential channels (TRP) d) Ligand-gated ion channels have cytoplasmic anchores?
a) Simple channel = No as the channel goes straight through membrane
b) Voltage gated = Yes
c) TRP = Yes
d) Ligand-gated = Yes
Do a) Simple b) Voltage-gated c) Transient receptor potential channels (TRP) d) Ligand-gated ion channels have voltage sensing domains?
a) Simple channel = No
b) Voltage gated = Yes, S1 and S4 helices form separate voltage sensing domain lateral to subunits
c) TRP = No
d) Ligand-gated = No
Do a) Simple b) Voltage-gated c) Transient receptor potential channels (TRP) d) Ligand-gated ion channels have plugging mechanisms?
a) Simple channel = No
b) Voltage gated = Yes
c) TRP = Yes
d) Ligand-gated = No
What is an example function of a) Simple b) Voltage-gated c) Transient receptor potential channels (TRP) d) Ligand-gated ion channels?
a) Simple channel = Secretion/ absorption of fluids
b) Voltage gated = Excitable cells e.g. neurons, cardiac muscle
c) TRP = Hot and spicy taste
d) Ligand-gated = Olfaction (cAMP) and Muscle (Calmodulin)
How are extracellular Ligand-gated ion channels classified by?
Put into family defined by structure of the protein making up one of their subunits
What is the composition of a receptor in the Nicotinic receptor superfamily?
> Pentameric as has 5 subunits
> 4 transmembrane domain regions in 1 subunit with pore (P-loop) in the middle.
> Extra cellular domain recognises neurotrasmitters.
Which subunit dictates the ion flow in a) Nicotinic receptor super family b) Glutamate receptor family c) ATP P2X family?
a) TM2 is the TM which dictates which ion flows through the channel
b) The half TM dictates which ion flows through the channel
c) TM2 is the TM which dictates which ion flows through the channel
What are 3 examples of receptors in the Nicotinic receptor superfamily (pentameric)?
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, serotonin receptors, GABAA receptors
What is the composition of a receptor in the Glutamate receptor family?
> Tetrameric as 4 subunits
> 4 transmembrane domains per subunit,TM3 is a half subunit embedded in the membrane (alpha, beta and gamma)
> Has extra cellular ligand binding site (for Glutamate)
What is the composition of a receptor in the ATP P2X receptor family?
> Trimeric as has 3 subunits
> 2 transmembrane domains per subunit
> Extra cellular binding site for ATP
What are 3 examples of receptors in the Glutamate receptor family?
AMPARs, NMDARs, KARs (Kainate receptors)
What is an example of a receptor in the ATP P2X receptor family?
P2X1-7
How can mutations in the transmembrane domain which dictates ion flow for an ion channel change its function?
A single amino acid change in these domains it will dictate which ion flows through the channel due to changing the charge of the protein
What is another name for a pentameric receptor?
Cys-loop type receptor
What is an example of a Cys-loop type receptor (pentameric) in muscle cells?
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)
What is the composition of Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)?
> Pentameric, so is composed of 5 subunits
> Each subunit has 4 transmembrane domains (M1,M2,M3,M4) with external facing N domain and intracellular loop between M3 and M4
> M2 TM lines the poor and the charge makes it selective for specific ions
What is unique about Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)?
Subunits can move to make more space for different ions to flow through the channel.
How do receptors in the same receptor family vary in different tissue?
Have different subunits so have different charges/ ion flow.
What is an advantage of the variety of subunit compositions within a receptor family and an example of this?
> Can target 1 subunit combination without effecting the other receptors.
> E.g. nAChR ⍺4 subunit is involved in reward pathways and nicotine addiction
What subunits can make up nAChRs in neurons?
α2 - 10 & β2 - 4 subunits can make different subunit compositions each with a different affinity depending on composition and location
What 2 subunits are abundantly expressed in neuronal nAChRs in the cortex and hippocampus, what agonists have a high affinity for them?
> Α4β2 subunits are abundantly expressed in the cortex and hippocampus and have high affinity to agonists nicotine and varenicline
How is addiction to smoking linked to A4B2 nAChRs in the hippocampus and cortex?
> Chronic exposure leads to receptor upregulation of A4B2 nAChRs causing addiction as more nicotine will be required to trigger a response.
What two polymorphisms in genes can make it easier to give up smoking?
Polymorphisms in subunit genes CHRNA4 (code for α4) and CHRNA6 (code for α6) make it easier to give up smoking.
What does ADNFLE stand for?
Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy
How is Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy caused?
> Mutations in M2 region of alpha4 neuronal nicotinic subunit causes use-dependent potentiation and delay in rising phase caused by a slow unblocking of closed receptors.
How does the delay in rising phase in mutated nicotinic receptors cause Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy seizures?
Lag in rising phase (depolarisation) causes slow unblocking of closed mutant receptors, so when an input suddenly increases, a lot of acetylcholine is suddenly released overstimulated the CNS causing seizures.
What is the main neurotransmitter in the brain?
Glutamate (excitatory)