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Publication Abstract from PubMed

The canonical conformational states occupied by most ligand-gated ion channels, and many cell-surface receptors, are the resting, activated, and desensitized states. While the resting and activated states of multiple receptors are well characterized, elaboration of the structural properties of the desensitized state, a state that is by definition inactive, has proven difficult. Here we use electrical, chemical, and crystallographic experiments on the AMPA-sensitive GluR2 receptor, defining the conformational rearrangements of the agonist binding cores that occur upon desensitization of this ligand-gated ion channel. These studies demonstrate that desensitization involves the rupture of an extensive interface between domain 1 of 2-fold related glutamate-binding core subunits, compensating for the ca. 21 degrees of domain closure induced by glutamate binding. The rupture of the domain 1 interface allows the ion channel to close and thereby provides a simple explanation to the long-standing question of how agonist binding is decoupled from ion channel gating upon receptor desensitization.

Measurement of conformational changes accompanying desensitization in an ionotropic glutamate receptor.,Armstrong N, Jasti J, Beich-Frandsen M, Gouaux E Cell. 2006 Oct 6;127(1):85-97. PMID:17018279^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.