Characterization of a high-affinity binding site for a DNA-binding protein from sea urchin embryo mitochondria.

Based on electrophoretic mobility shift assays, DNase I footprinting and modification interference analyses we have identified a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein in blastula stage mitochondria of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, which interacts with a binding site around the major pause site for DNA replication. This region straddles the boundary of the genes for ATP synthase subunit 6 and cytochrome c oxidase subunit III, and contains also a prominent origin of lagging-strand synthesis. The protein is thermostable, and its natural high-affinity binding site comprises the sequence 5'-AGCCT(N7)AGCAT-3'. Binding studies have demonstrated that two copies of the imperfect repeat, as well as the 7 bp spacing between them, are essential for tight binding. Based on the location of its binding site, we tentatively designate the protein mitochondrial pause-region binding protein (mtPBP) 1.     

The regulatory beta subunit of protein kinase CK2 contributes to the recognition of the substrate consensus sequence. A study with an eIF2 beta-derived peptide

CK2 is a ubiquitous and pleiotropic Ser/Thr-specific protein kinase that phosphorylates more than 300 protein substrates at sites specified by an acidic consensus sequence in which positions n + 3 and n + 1 are particularly important. Recognition of substrates by CK2 is known to rely on basic residues located in the catalytic site of the alpha subunit which make electrostatic contacts with the negative charges in the substrate consensus sequence, thereby assuring optimal binding; the regulatory beta subunit is believed to play a protective and stabilizing role. We describe a biochemical and structural analysis of CK2-mediated phosphorylation of a 22-mer synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal tail of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF2beta. Results demonstrate that this peptide still displays phosphorylation features similar to full-length eIF2beta and the CK2 beta subunit also contributes to recognition of the protein substrate by establishing both polar and hydrophobic interactions with specificity determinants located downstream from the phosphoacceptor site. In particular, the N-terminal domain of the beta subunit appears to be of crucial importance for optimizing high-affinity phosphorylation of the eIF2beta peptide. This domain includes an acidic cluster whose electrostatic contacts with basic residues of the substrate attenuate intrasteric pseudosubstrate inhibition while strengthening substrate-kinase binding.     

A molecular dynamics study of an L-type calcium channel model

In this work, we propose a molecular model of the L-type calcium channel pore from the human cardiac alpha1 subunit. Four glutamic acid residues, the EEEE locus, located at highly conserved P loops (also called SS1-SS2 segments) of the alpha1 subunit, molecularly express the calcium channel selectivity. The proposed alpha-helix structure for the SS1 segment, analyzed through molecular dynamics simulations in aqueous-phase, was validated by the plotting of Ramachandran diagrams for the averaged structures and by the analysis of i and i + 4 helical hydrogen bonding between the amino acid residues. The results of the simulation of the calcium channel model with one and two Ca2+ ions at the binding site are in accordance with mutation studies which suggest that the EEEE locus in the L-type calcium channel must form a single high-affinity binding site. These results suggest that the Ca2+ permeation through the channel would be derived from competition between two ions for the only high-affinity binding site. Furthermore, the experimentally observed blocking of the Na+ flux at micromolar Ca2+ concentrations, probably due to the occupancy of the single high-affinity binding site for one Ca2+, was also reproduced by our model.     

On high- and low-affinity agonist sites in GABAA receptors

GABAA receptors are activated via low-affinity binding sites for the agonists GABA or muscimol. Evidence has been provided that the amino acid residue alpha 1F64 located at the beta2(+)/alpha1(-) subunit interface forms part of this binding site. In radioactive ligand binding studies the agonist [3H]muscimol has been found to interact with the receptor via a high-affinity binding site. This site has been interpreted as a conformational variant of the low-affinity site. Alternatively, the high-affinity binding site has been located to the alpha1(+)/beta2(-) interface and the homologous residue to alpha 1F64, beta 2Y62 has been proposed to constitute an important part of this site. Here we investigated the effect of the point mutation alpha 1F64L and the homologous mutation beta 2Y62L on agonist and antagonist binding and functional properties in alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2 GABAA receptors. While the mutation in the alpha1 subunit had drastic consequences on all studied properties, including desensitization, the mutation in the beta2 subunit had little consequence. Our observations are relevant for the relative location of high- and low-affinity agonist sites in GABAA receptors.     

ADP binding to TF1 and its subunits induces ultraviolet spectral changes

Adenine nucleotide binding sites on the coupling factor ATPase of thermophilic bacterium PS3 (TF1) were investigated by UV spectroscopy and by equilibrium dialysis. When ADP was mixed with TF1 in the presence and in the absence of Mg2+, an UV absorbance change was induced (t1/2 approximately 1 min) with a peak at about 278 nm and a trough at about 250 nm. Similar spectral changes were induced by ADP with the isolated beta subunits in the presence and in the absence of Mg2+, and with the isolated alpha subunits in the presence of Mg2+ although the magnitudes of the changes were different. From equilibrium dialysis measurement we identified two classes of nucleotide binding sites in TF1 in the presence of Mg2+, three high-affinity sites (Kd = 61 nM) and three low-affinity sites (Kd = 87 microM). In the absence of Mg2+, TF1 has one high-affinity site (Kd less than 10 nM) and five low-affinity sites (Kd = 100 microM). Moreover, we found a single Mg2+-dependent ADP binding site on the isolated alpha subunit and a single Mg2+-independent ADP binding site on the isolated beta subunit. From the above observations, we concluded that the three Mg2+-dependent high-affinity sites for ADP are located on the alpha subunit in TF1 and that the single high-affinity site is located on one of the beta subunits in TF1 in the absence of Mg2+.     

Substrate binds in the S1 site of the F253A mutant of LeuT, a neurotransmitter sodium symporter homologue

LeuT serves as the model protein for understanding the relationships between structure, mechanism and pharmacology in neurotransmitter sodium symporters (NSSs). At the present time, however, there is a vigorous debate over whether there is a single high-affinity substrate site (S1) located at the original, crystallographically determined substrate site or whether there are two high-affinity substrates sites, one at the primary or S1 site and the other at a second site (S2) located at the base of the extracellular vestibule. In an effort to address the controversy over the number of high-affinity substrate sites in LeuT, one group studied the F253A mutant of LeuT and asserted that in this mutant substrate binds exclusively to the S2 site and that 1 mM clomipramine entirely ablates substrate binding to the S2 site. Here we study the binding of substrate to the F253A mutant of LeuT using ligand binding and X-ray crystallographic methods. Both experimental methods unambiguously show that substrate binds to the S1 site of the F253A mutant and that binding is retained in the presence of 1 mM clomipramine. These studies, in combination with previous work, are consistent with a mechanism for LeuT that involves a single high-affinity substrate binding site.     

Adenine nucleotide binding sites in normal and mutant adenosine triphosphatases of Escherichia coli

Three types of assays were used to characterize adenine nucleotide binding sites on the Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-activated ATPase of normal Escherichia coli and its unc A 401 and unc D 412 mutants. ADP was bound mainly at a single site in normal and mutant ATPase. In the absence of divalent cations ATP was bound at a single high-affinity and three low-affinity sites in normal and unc D ATPases. The 2′,3′-dialdehyde (oADP) obtained by periodate oxidation of ADP reacted with both low- and high-affinity sites whereas oATP was bound primarily at a low-affinity site. Two types of adenine nucleotide binding sites, a high-affinity site reacting with ATP and ADP and a low-affinity site for ATP, were detected by the effects of these nucleotides on the fluorescence of the aurovertin D-ATPase complex. This high-affinity site(s) was present in normal and mutant ATPases. However, the fluorescence response at both high- and low-affinity sites was modified in the unc D ATPase as a consequence of the abnormal β subunit in this enzyme. Normal fluorescence responses were not induced by the binding of oADP or oATP to the ATPases. ATP was bound at a single site on isolated α subunits of the enzyme. Since this site was not detected in the unc A ATPase, it is unlikely to be the high-affinity site detected in the intact enzyme or the binding site for the endogenous tightly bound adenine nucleotides found in the purified ATPase. It is more probable that the site detected on the isolated α subunit from the normal enzyme is that which binds oADP since this site was absent in the unc A ATPase. Pretreatment of the normal ATPase with either N, N′-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide (DCCD) or with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NbfCl), reagents which inhibit ATPase activity by reacting with a β subunit, affected binding of oADP to α subunit(s) but had less effect with oATP. Inhibition of oADP binding could be due to conformational changes induced in the α subunit by the reaction of DCCD and NbfCl with a β subunit, or to steric reasons. If the latter hypothesis is correct, the active site of the ATPase would be at the interface between α and β subunits of the enzyme.     

Inhibition of Msh6 ATPase activity by mispaired DNA induces a Msh2(ATP)-Msh6(ATP) state capable of hydrolysis-independent movement along DNA

The Msh2-Msh6 heterodimer plays a key role in the repair of mispaired bases in DNA. Critical to its role in mismatch repair is the ATPase activity that resides within each subunit. Here we show that both subunits can simultaneously bind ATP and identify the Msh6 subunit as containing the high-affinity ATP binding site and Msh2 as containing a high-affinity ADP binding site. Stable binding of ATP to Msh6 causes decreased affinity of Msh2 for ADP, and binding to mispaired DNA stabilized the binding of ATP to Msh6. Our results support a model in which mispair binding encourages a dual-occupancy state with ATP bound to Msh6 and Msh2; this state supports hydrolysis-independent sliding along DNA.     

Inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase function by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) reacted with beef heart cytochrome c oxidase in inhibit the proton-pumping function of this enzyme and to a lesser extent to inhibit electron transfer. The modification of cytochrome c oxidase in detergent dispersion or in vesicular membranes was in subunits II-IV. Labelling followed by fragmentation studies showed that there is one major site of modification in subunit III. DCCD was also incorporated into several sites in subunit II and at least one site of subunit IV. The major site in subunit III has a specificity for DCCD at least one order of magnitude greater than that of other sites (in subunits II and IV). Its modification could account for all of the observed effects of the reagent, at least for low concentrations of DCCD. Labelling of subunit II by DCCD was blocked by prior covalent attachment of arylazidocytochrome c, a cytochrome c derivative which binds to the high-affinity binding site for the substrate. The major site of DCCD binding in subunit III was sequenced. The label was found in glutamic acid 90 which is in a sequence of eight amino acids remarkably similar to the DCCD-binding site within the proteolipid protein of the mitochondrial ATP synthetase.     

Platelet glycoprotein Ib: a zinc-dependent binding protein for the heavy chain of high-molecular-weight kininogen.

Domains 3 and 5 of high-molecular-weight kininogen (HK) have been shown to bind to platelets in a zinc-dependent reaction. However, the platelet-binding proteins responsible for this interaction have not been identified. We have focused on the platelet-binding site for the heavy chain (domain 3), which we approached using a domain 3-derived peptide ligand and isolated binding proteins by affinity chromatography. The domain 3-derived peptide, thrombin, HK, factor XII, as well as antibody to glycocalicin (the N-terminal portion of the alpha chain of GPIb) recognized a protein at 74 kD. We also isolated the thrombin receptor (PAR 1) at 45 kD, however, none of the above-mentioned ligands bound to this protein. Isolation of platelet membrane proteins using a monoclonal anti-glycocalicin antibody column revealed the same HK binding protein at 74 kD, which was reactive with anti-GPIb and represents a GPIb fragment. By photoaffinity labeling, HK interacted with membrane GPIb, which was then isolated in native form (135 kD) along with gC1qR, a ligand for the HK light chain. Finally, (125)I-HK binding to platelets was significantly inhibited by the anti-GPIb antibody. These results suggest that the GPIb alpha chain, a known thrombin binding protein, is also one of the zinc-dependent platelet membrane binding sites for HK domain 3.     

Critical residues influence the affinity and selectivity of alpha-conotoxin MI for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

The mammalian skeletal muscle acetylcholine receptor contains two nonequivalent acetylcholine binding sites, one each at the alpha/delta and alpha/gamma subunit interfaces. Alpha-Conotoxin MI, a 14-amino acid competitive antagonist, binds at both interfaces but has approximately 10(4) higher affinity for the alpha/delta site. We performed an "alanine walk" to identify the residues in alpha-MI that contribute to this selective interaction with the alpha/delta site. Electrophysiological measurements with Xenopus oocytes expressing normal receptors or receptors lacking either the gamma or delta subunit were made to assay toxin-receptor interaction. Alanine substitutions in most amino acid positions had only modest effects on toxin potency at either binding site. However, substitutions in two positions, proline-6 and tyrosine-12, dramatically reduced toxin potency at the high-affinity alpha/delta site while having comparatively little effect on low-affinity alpha/gamma binding. When tyrosine-12 was replaced by alanine, the toxin's selectivity for the high-affinity site (relative to that for the low-affinity site) was reduced from 45,000- to 30-fold. A series of additional amino acid substitutions in this position showed that increasing side chain size/hydrophobicity increases toxin potency at the alpha/delta site without affecting alpha/gamma binding. In contrast, when tyrosine-12 is diiodinated, toxin binding is nearly irreversible at the alpha/delta site but also increases by approximately 500-fold at the alpha/gamma site. The effects of position 12 substitutions are accounted for almost entirely by changes in the rate of toxin dissociation from the high-affinity alpha/delta binding site.     

Characterization of a novel T lymphocyte protein which binds to a site related to steroid/thyroid hormone receptor response elements in the negative regulatory sequence of the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat.

We have previously identified a T lymphocyte protein which binds to a site within the LTR of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and exerts an inhibitory effect on virus gene expression. The palindromic site (site B) recognized by this protein is related to the palindromic binding sites of members of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor family. Here we characterize the T cell protein binding to this site as a 100 kD protein which is most abundant in T cells and which binds to site B as a 200 kD complex. This protein is distinct from other members of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor family including the COUP protein which has a closely related DNA binding specificity.     

Mechanism of activation of the protein kinase I from rabbit skeletal muscle. The high-affinity ATP site of the holoenzyme.

The high-affinity binding site for ATP of the holoenzyme of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (type I) from rabbit skeletal muscle has been investigated. Binding affinity of a series of ATP derivatives substituted at different sites in the molecule was determined by competition with tritiated ATP. The results were compared with data available from cAMP derivatives with the same substituents, in order to analyse the electronic and steric features of these two sites on the protein kinase. The comparison revealed significant differences of the effect of substituents towards the two sites. In particular the N6-derivatives of ATP and substituents affecting the gamma-phosphate indicate that the high-affinity ATP site of the protein kinase has similar properties as those found for phosphotransferase sites. The present results are consistent with the supposition that the high-affinity site for ATP on the holoenzyme is congruent with the phosphotransferase site of the catalytic subunit. Upon combination of catalytic and regulatory subunits this site would be transformed into a high-affinity site for ATP with simultaneous blocking of the phosphotransferase activity.     

Role of MgATP in the activation and reassociation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase I: consequences of replacing the essential arginine in cAMP binding site A.

The type I form of cAMP-dependent protein kinase binds MgATP with a high affinity, and binding of MgATP decreases the affinity of the holoenzyme for cAMP [Hofmann et al. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 7795]. Holoenzyme was formed here with a mutant form of the bovine recombinant type I regulatory subunit where the essential arginine in site A, Arg-209, was replaced with Lys. Although this mutation does not significantly change the high-affinity binding of MgATP to the holoenzyme, it does abolish high-affinity binding of cAMP to site A. In the absence of MgATP, binding of cAMP to site B is sufficient to promote dissociation of the holoenzyme complex and activation of the catalytic subunit [Bubis et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 9668]. In the presence of MgATP however, holoenzyme formed with this mutant regulatory subunit is very resistant to cAMP. The Kd(cAMP) was greater than 1 microM, and the Ka(cAMP) increased 60-fold from 130 nM to 6.5 microM in the presence of MgATP. Thus, MgATP serves as a lock that selectively stabilizes the holoenzyme and inhibits activation. Both site A and site B are shielded from cAMP in the presence of MgATP. These results suggest that Arg-209 may play a role in stabilizing the MgATP.holoenzyme complex in addition to its role in binding the exocyclic oxygens of cAMP when cAMP is bound to the regulatory subunit. The catalytic subunit also reassociates rapidly with this mutant regulatory subunit, and in contrast to the wild-type regulatory subunit, holoenzyme formation does not require MgATP.     

Kinetic studies of calcium and magnesium binding to troponin C

The kinetic mechanism of calcium binding was investigated for the high-affinity calcium-magnesium sites of troponin C (TN-C), for the C-terminal fragment containing only the high-affinity sites (TR2) and for the TN-C:TN-I (where TN-I represents the inhibitory subunit of troponin) complex. Rate constants were measured by the change in fluorescence of the proteins labeled with 4-(N-iodoacetoxyethyl-N-methyl-7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole at Cys 98. Rate constants for calcium dissociation were also measured using the fluorescent calcium chelating agent quin 2. Calcium binding to TR2 at 4 degrees C is a two-step process at each binding site. (formula; see text) A first order transition (k1 = 700 s-1) follows the formation of a weakly bound collision complex (K0 = 2.5 X 10(3) M-1). The two sits of the labeled protein are distinguishable because of a 2-4-fold difference in rate constants of calcium dissociation. The kinetic evidence is consistent with additive changes in structure induced by calcium binding to two identical or nearly identical high-affinity sites. The mechanism for TN-C:TN-I is similar to TR2. TN-C gave complex kinetic behavior for calcium binding but calcium dissociation occurred with the same rate constants found for TR2. Calcium binding to the high-affinity sites of TnC can be interpreted by the same mechanism as for TR2 but an additional reaction possibly arriving from calcium binding to the low-affinity sites leads to a high-fluorescence intermediate state which is detected by the fluorophore. The interactions between the two classes of sites are interpreted by a model in which calcium binding at the high-affinity sites reverses the fluorescence change induced by calcium binding at the low-affinity sites. Magnesium binding to the calcium-magnesium sites of TR2 and TN-C occurs by the same two-step binding mechanism with a smaller value for K0 and a 5-fold larger rate constant of dissociation.     

Characterization of calcium binding to brush-border membranes from rat duodenum.

The Ca2+-binding properties of isolated brush-border membranes at physiological ionic strength and pH were examined by rapid Millipore filtration. A comprehensive analysis of the binding data suggested the presence of two types of Ca2+-binding sites. The high-affinity sites, Ka = (6.3 +/- 3.3) X 10(5) M-1 (mean +/- S.E.M.), bound 0.8 +/- 0.1 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein and the low-affinity sites, Ka = (2.8 +/- 0.3) X 10(2) M-1, bound 33 +/- 3.5 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein. The high-affinity site exhibited a selectivity for Ca2+, since high concentrations of competing bivalent cations were required to inhibit Ca2+ binding. The relative effectiveness of the competing cations (1 and 10 mM) for the high-affinity site was Mn2+ approximately equal to Sr2+ greater than Ba2+ greater than Mg2+. Data from the pH studies, treatment of the membranes with carbodi-imide and extraction of phospholipids with aqueous acetone and NH3 provided evidence that the low-affinity sites were primarily phospholipids and the high-affinity sites were either phosphoprotein or protein with associated phospholipid. Two possible roles for the high-affinity binding sites are suggested. Either high-affinity Ca2+ binding is involved with specific enzyme activities or Ca2+ transport across the luminal membrane occurs via a Ca2+ channel which contains a high-affinity Ca2+-specific binding site that may regulate the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and gating of the channel.     

Localization of the high-affinity ATP site in adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase type I. Photoaffinity labelling studies with 8-azidoadenosine 5'-triphosphate.

8-Azido-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (n8(3)ATP) appeared to be a suitable photoaffinity label for the protein kinase dependent on adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP). It competes with ATP for the high-affinity ATP site in the undissociated form of the kinase and in the phosphotransferase reaction catalyzed by the catalytic subunit. Furthermore, it is accepted as a substrate in the phosphotransfer reaction. n8(3)ATP incorporated into the holoenzyme is covalently bound irradiation. Protection experiments with ATP indicated that this covalent attachment occurs in the high-affinity ATP site of the enzyme. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate shows that n8(3)ATP is bound to the catalytic subunit. After irradiation the enzyme was dissociated by cAMP. Proportional to the incorporated [gamma-32P]n8(3)ATP, a loss in phosphotransferase activity was found. These results support our model that both ATP sites coincide with respect to their adenine binding part. Thus binding of the regulatory subunit to the catalytic subunit would then transform the low-affinity catalytically active ATP site into a high-affinity inactive site.     

Plasticity of Agonist Binding Sites in Hetero-Oligomers of the Unitary Glutamate Receptor Subunit XenU1

Abstract: Two subunits from Xenopus , XenNR1G and the "short" subunit XenU1, have previously been coexpressed to form a unitary (NMDA/non-NMDA type) glutamate receptor. We now show that an antibody to XenNR1G or an antibody to XenU1 precipitates the binding sites of both XenNR1G and XenU1, with the recombinant subunits or with solubilised Xenopus brain membranes, i.e., the combination occurs in vivo. The expressed XenU1 subunits are in the cell membrane and oriented correctly. XenU1 binds not only kainate with high affinity ( K _D 1.2 n M at 25°C), but also the glycine site antagonist 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid (DCKA). DCKA, GTP, or GTPγS displaces competitively all of the bound [³H]kainate, but glycine has no effect. The results suggest that a common binding site for kainate, DCKA, and GTP can exist on XenU1. In the XenNR1G/XenU1 complex, the kainate affinity is lowered eightfold, whereas the DCKA affinity is considerably increased ( K _D 147 n M ). Only 18% of the binding to the complex has the properties of the NMDA receptor glycine site, the rest being due to switching of the high-affinity kainate site of XenU1 (low-affinity DCKA) to a high-affinity DCKA (low-affinity kainate) conformation. Surprisingly, a mammalian NR2 subunit can also combine with XenU1, and this introduces similar reciprocal changes in the binding of kainate and DCKA. The combined evidence suggests a common basic mode of agonist site formation in different subunit types of the ionotropic glutamate receptors.     

Actin filament binding by a monomeric IQGAP1 fragment with a single calponin homology domain

IQGAP1 is a homodimeric protein that reversibly associates with F-actin, calmodulin, activated Cdc42 and Rac1, CLIP-170, beta-catenin, and E-cadherin. Its F-actin binding site includes a calponin homology domain (CHD) located near the N-terminal of each subunit. Prior studies have implied that medium- to high-affinity F-actin binding (5-50 microM K(d)) requires multiple CHDs located either on an individual polypeptide or on distinct subunits of a multimeric protein. For IQGAP1, a series of six tandem IQGAP coiled-coil repeats (IRs) located past the C-terminal of the CHD of each subunit support protein dimerization and, by extension, the IRs or an undefined subset of them were thought to be essential for F-actin binding mediated by its CHDs. Here we describe efforts to determine the minimal region of IQGAP1 capable of binding F-actin. Several truncation mutants of IQGAP1, which contain progressive deletions of the IRs and CHD, were assayed for F-actin binding in vitro. Fragments that contain both the CHD and at least one IR could bind F-actin and, as expected, removal of all six IRs and the CHD abolished binding. Unexpectedly, a fragment called IQGAP1(2-210), which contains the CHD, but lacks IRs, could bind actin filaments. IQGAP1(2-210) was found to be monomeric, to bind F-actin with a K(d) of approximately 47 microM, to saturate F-actin at a molar ratio of one IQGAP1(2-210) per actin monomer, and to co-localize with cortical actin filaments when expressed by transfection in cultured cells. These collective results identify the first known example of high-affinity actin filament binding mediated by a single CHD.     

Identification of amino acid residues of GABA(A) receptor subunits contributing to the formation and affinity of the tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding site

A chimeric GABA(A) receptor subunit was constructed that contained the beta3 sequence from the N-terminus to the first two amino acids of the second transmembrane (TM2) domain. The remaining part of this chimera had the sequence of the alpha1 subunit. On co-expression with alpha1 subunits, this chimera was able to form heterooligomeric channels that were open in the absence of GABA. Picrotoxin and tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) were able to block these channels with low potency. These channels exhibited high-affinity [3H]muscimol but no high-affinity [35S]TBPS binding sites. Introduction of V251, A252, and L253 of the beta3 subunit into the chimera resulted in the formation of closed channels that could be opened by GABA. The introduction of A252 and L253 of the beta3 subunit into this chimera was sufficient to reconstitute the specific high-affinity [35S]TBPS binding site in receptors composed of the chimera and alpha1 subunits. Replacement of other amino acids of the TM2 region of the chimera with corresponding amino acids of the beta3 subunit modulated the affinity of this [35S]TBPS binding site. Results obtained provide important information on the structure-function relationship of GABA(A) receptors.