A novel GABA(A) receptor pharmacology: drugs interacting with the alpha(+)beta(-) interface

作者：Sieghart Werner^*; Ramerstorfer Joachim; Sarto Jackson Isabella; Varagic Zdravko; Ernst Margot

来源：British Journal of Pharmacology, 2012, 166(2): 476-485.

DOI：10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01779.x

• GABAA receptors
• structure
• pharmacology
• receptor subtypes
• allosteric binding sites
• benzodiazepines
• barbiturates
• steroids
• anesthetics
• CGS 9895

GABAA receptors are ligand-gated chloride channels composed of five subunits that can belong to different subunit classes. The existence of 19 different subunits gives rise to a multiplicity of GABAA receptor subtypes with distinct subunit composition; regional, cellular and subcellular distribution; and pharmacology. Most of these receptors are composed of two a, two beta and one ?2 subunits. GABAA receptors are the site of action of a variety of pharmacologically and clinically important drugs, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, neuroactive steroids, anaesthetics and convulsants. Whereas GABA acts at the two extracellular beta+a- interfaces of GABAA receptors, the allosteric modulatory benzodiazepines interact with the extracellular a+?2- interface. In contrast, barbiturates, neuroactive steroids and anaesthetics seem to interact with solvent accessible pockets in the transmembrane domain. Several benzodiazepine site ligands have been identified that selectively interact with GABAA receptor subtypes containing a2 beta 2, a3 beta 2 or a5 beta 2 subunits. This indicates that the different a subunit types present in these receptors convey sufficient structural differences to the benzodiazepine binding site to allow specific interaction with certain benzodiazepine site ligands. Recently, a novel drug binding site was identified at the a+beta- interface. This binding site is homologous to the benzodiazepine binding site at the a+?2- interface and is thus also strongly influenced by the type of a subunit present in the receptor. Drugs interacting with this binding site cannot directly activate but only allosterically modulate GABAA receptors. The possible importance of such drugs addressing a spectrum of receptor subtypes completely different from that of benzodiazepines is discussed.

• 出版日期2012-5