Nicotinic Agonists Regulate α-Bungarotoxin Binding Sites of TE671 Human Medulloblastoma Cells

The TE671 human medulloblastoma cell line expresses a variety of characteristics of human neurons. Among these characteristics is the expression of membrane-bound high-affinity binding sites for alpha-bungarotoxin, which is a potent antagonist of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on these cells. These toxin binding sites represent a class of nicotinic receptor isotypes present in mammalian brain. Treatment of TE671 cells during proliferative growth phase with nicotine or carbamylcholine, but not with muscarine or d-tubocurarine, induced up to a five-fold increase in the density of radiolabeled toxin binding sites in crude membrane fractions. This effect was blocked by co-incubation with the nicotinic antagonists d-tubocurarine and decamethonium, but not by mecamylamine or by muscarinic antagonists. Following a 10-13 h lag phase upon removal of agonist, recovery of the up-regulated sites to control values occurred within an additional 10-20 h. These studies indicate that the expression of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on TE671 cells is subject to regulation by nicotinic agonists. Studies of the murine CNS have consistently indicated nicotine-induced up-regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, thereby supporting the identification of the toxin binding site on these cells as the functional nicotinic receptor. Although a mechanism for this effect is not apparent, nicotine-induced receptor blockade does not appear to be involved.     

Antidepressants noncompetitively inhibit nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are diverse members of the neurotransmitter-gated ion channel superfamily and play critical roles in chemical signaling throughout the nervous system. The present study establishes for the first time the acute functional effects of sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), nefazodone (Serzone), and venlafaxine (Effexor) on two human and one chick nAChR subtype. This study also confirms previous findings of nAChR functional block by fluoxetine (Prozac). Function of human muscle-type nAChR (alpha1/beta gammadelta) in TE671/RD cells, human autonomic nAChR (alpha3/beta4alpha5 +/- beta2) in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, or chick V274T mutant alpha7-nAChR heterologously expressed in native nAChR-null SH-EP1 epithelial cells was measured using 86Rb+ efflux assays. Functional blockade of human muscle-type and autonomic nAChRs is produced by each of the drugs in the low to intermediate micromolar range, and functional blockade of chick V274T-alpha7-nAChR is produced in the intermediate to high micromolar range. Functional blockade is insurmountable by increasing agonist concentrations at each nAChR subtype tested for each of these drugs, suggesting noncompetitive inhibition of nAChR function. These studies open the possibilities that nAChR subtypes in the brain could be targets for therapeutic antidepressants and could play roles in clinical depression.     

Effects of Steroid Exposure on Ligand Binding and Functional Activities of Diverse Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subtypes

Abstract: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are diverse members of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily of neurotransmitter receptors and play critical roles in chemical signaling throughout the nervous system. The present study tests whether nAChR are potential targets for steroids. Acute or short-term (5 min) preexposure to steroids such as progesterone (which acts most potently), estradiol, corticosterone, or dexamethasone inhibits function of human muscle-type (α1β1γδ) or ganglionic (α3β4) nAChR measured using ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux assays in TE671/RD clonal or SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Absolute (high nanomolar to intermediate micromolar range) and rank-order potencies for steroid-mediated functional inhibition are similar across nAChR subtypes but differ for some steroid derivatives. At concentrations that produce blockade of nAChR function, steroids do not affect binding of radioligands such as ¹²⁵I-labeled α-bungarotoxin or [³H]acetylcholine to muscle-type or ganglionic nAChR or to neuronal toxin-binding nAChR that contain α7 subunits (α7-nAChR). Steroid-mediated blockade of nAChR function is insurmountable by increasing agonist concentrations, and cell-impermeant progesterone:bovine serum albumin conjugates have full potency as inhibitors of ganglionic or muscle-type nAChR function. Chronic (48 h) exposure to progesterone or estradiol, but not the other steroids, also produces blockade of nAChR function, without significant effects on numbers of nAChR radioligand-binding sites. Collectively, these results suggest that steroids act noncompetitively at extracellular sites to inhibit nAChR function with unique potencies for different steroid-nAChR subtype combinations. Thus, nAChR could be among the targets mediating physiologically relevant effects of steroid action in the nervous system.     

Binding Interactions with the Complementary Subunit of Nicotinic Receptors

The agonist-binding site of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) spans an interface between two subunits of the pentameric receptor. The principal component of this binding site is contributed by an α subunit, and it binds the cationic moiety of the nicotinic pharmacophore. The other part of the pharmacophore, a hydrogen bond acceptor, has recently been shown to bind to the complementary non-α subunit via the backbone NH of a conserved Leu. This interaction was predicted by studies of ACh-binding proteins and confirmed by functional studies of the neuronal (CNS) nAChR, α4β2. The ACh-binding protein structures further suggested that the hydrogen bond to the backbone NH is mediated by a water molecule and that a second hydrogen bonding interaction occurs between the water molecule and the backbone CO of a conserved Asn, also on the non-α subunit. Here, we provide new insights into the nature of the interactions between the hydrogen bond acceptor of nicotinic agonists and the complementary subunit backbone. We studied both the nAChR of the neuromuscular junction (muscle-type) and a neuronal subtype, (α4)₂(β4)₃. In the muscle-type receptor, both ACh and nicotine showed a strong interaction with the Leu NH, but the potent nicotine analog epibatidine did not. This interaction was much attenuated in the α4β4 receptor. Surprisingly, we found no evidence for a functionally significant interaction with the backbone carbonyl of the relevant Asn in either receptor with an array of agonists.     

Interactions between tachykinins and diverse,human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are diverse members of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily of neurotransmitter receptors and play critical roles in chemical signaling throughout the nervous system. Reports of effects of substance P (SP) on nAChR function prompted us to investigate interactions between several tachykinins and human nAChR subtypes using clonal cell lines as simple experimental models. Acute exposure to SP inhibits carbamylcholine- or nicotinestimulated function measured using⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux assays of human ganglionic (α3β4) nAChR expressed in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells (IC₅₀∼2.3 μM) or of human muscle-type (α1β1γδ) nAChR expressed in TE671/RD clonal cells (IC₅₀∼21 μM). SP also acutely blocks function of rat ganglionic nAChR expressed in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells (IC₅₀∼2.1 μM). Neurokinin A and eledoisin inhibit function (extrapolated IC₅₀ values between 60 and 160 μM) of human muscle-type or ganglionic nAChR, but neurokinin B does not, and neither human nAChR is as sensitive as PC12 cell α3β4-nAChR to eledoisin or neurokinin A inhibition. At concentrations that produce blockade of nAChR function, SP fails to affect binding of [³H]acetylcholine to human muscle-type or ganglionic nAChR. SP-mediated blockade of rat or human ganglionic nAChR function is insurmountable by increasing agonist concentrations. Collectively, these results indicate that tachykinins act noncompetitively to inhibit human nAChR function with potencies that vary across tachykinins and nAChR subtypes. They also indicate that tachykinin actions at nAChR could further contribute to complex cross-talk between nicotinic cholinergic and tachykinin signals in regulation of nervous system activity.     

Regulation of Nicotinic Receptor Subtypes Following Chronic Nicotinic Agonist Exposure in M10 and SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Abstract: The present study further investigated whether nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes differ in their ability to up-regulate following chronic exposure to nicotinic agonists. Seven nicotinic agonists were studied for their ability to influence the number of chick α4β2 nAChR binding sites stably transfected in fibroblasts (M10 cells) following 3 days of exposure. The result showed a positive correlation between the K _i values for binding inhibition and EC₅₀ values for agonist-induced α4β2 nAChR up-regulation. The effects of epibatidine and nicotine were further investigated in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells (expressing α3, α5, β2, and β4 nAChR subunits). Nicotine exhibited a 14 times lower affinity for the nAChRs in SH-SY5Y cells as compared with M10 cells, whereas epibatidine showed similar affinities for the nAChRs expressed in the two cell lines. The nicotine-induced up-regulation of nAChR binding sites in SH-SY5Y cells was shifted to the right by two orders of magnitude as compared with that in M10 cells. The epibatidine-induced up-regulation of nAChR binding sites in SH-SY5Y cells was one-fourth that in M10 cells. The levels of mRNA of the various nAChR subunits were measured following the nicotinic agonist exposure. In summary, the various nAChR subtypes show different properties in their response to chronic stimulation.     

Temperature-Sensitive Expression of Drosophila Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Abstract: Heterologous expression of cloned Drosophila nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits indicates that these proteins misfold when expressed in mammalian cell lines at 37°C. This misfolding can, however, be overcome either by growing transfected mammalian cells at lower temperatures or by the expression of Drosophila nAChR subunits in a Drosophila cell line. Whereas the Drosophila nAChR β subunit (SBD) cDNA, reported previously, lacked part of the SBD coding sequence, here we report the construction and expression of a full-length SBD cDNA. We have examined whether problems in expressing functional Drosophila nAChRs in either Xenopus oocytes or mammalian cell lines can be attributed to an inability of these expression systems to assemble correctly Drosophila nAChRs. Despite expression in what might be considered a more native cellular environment, we have been unable to detect functional nAChRs in a Drosophila cell line unless Drosophila nAChR subunit cDNAs are coexpressed with vertebrate nAChR subunits. Our results indicate that the folding of Drosophila nAChR subunits is temperature-sensitive and strongly suggest that the inability of these Drosophila nAChR subunits to generate functional channels in the absence of vertebrate subunits is due to a requirement for coassembly with as yet unidentified Drosophila nAChR subunits.     

Novel Photoactivatable Agonist of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor of Potential Use for Exploring the Functional Activated State

Abstract: The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) exhibits at least four different conformational states varying in affinity for agonists such as acetylcholine (ACh). Photoaffinity labeling has been previously used to elucidate the topography of the AChR. However, to date, the photosensitive probes used to explore the cholinergic binding site photolabeled only closed or desensitized states of the receptor. To identify the structural modifications occurring at the ACh binding site on allosteric transition associated with receptor activation, we have investigated novel photoactivatable 4-diazocyclohexa-2,5-dienone derivatives as putative cholinergic agonists. Such compounds are fairly stable in the dark and generate highly reactive carbenic species on irradiation. In binding experiments using AChRs from Torpedo marmorata, these ligands had affinities for the ACh binding site in the micromolar range and did not interact with the noncompetitive blocker site (greater than millimolar affinity). Irreversible photoinactivation of ACh binding sites was obtained with the ligand 1b (up to 42% at 500 µM) in a protectable manner. In patch-clamp studies, 1b was shown to be a functional agonist of peripheral AChR in TE 671 cells, with the interesting property of exhibiting no or very little desensitization even at high concentrations.     

Decahydroquinoline alkaloids: Noncompetitive blockers for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-channels in pheochromocytoma cells andTorpedo electroplax

In pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, (+)-cis-decahydroquinoline 195A (5-methyl-2-propyl-cis-decahydroquinoline) and (+)-perhydro-cis-decahydroquinoline 219A (2,5-dipropyl-cis-decahydroquinoline) inhibit carbamylcholine-elicited sodium flux with IC₅₀ values of 1.0 and 1.5 M, respectively. Both of these decahydroquinolines appear to enhance desensitization, although apparent lack of complete removal of (+)-perhydro-cis-219A by washing complicates interpretation of the effects of that agent. A series of cis- and trans-decahydroquinolines with substituents in the 2- and 5-position also exhibit structure-dependent inhibition of carbamylcholine-elicited sodium flux in PC12 cells and all of the decahydroquinolines inhibit binding of the noncompetitive blocking agent [³H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin to muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-channels in membranes fromTorpedo electroplax. The K_i values in electroplax membranes range from 1.4 to 7.9 M, making these alkaloids comparable in potencies to the histrionicotoxins. Potencies are increased 2- to 3-fold in the presence of an agonist, carbamylcholine. The profile of activities are similar in PC12 cells and electroplax membranes. The cis- and trans-decahydroquinolines represent another class of noncompetitive blockers for acetylcholine receptor-channels with similar activity for both muscle-type and ganglionic type nicotinic receptors.     

Nicotinic receptor-elicited sodium flux in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells: Effects of agonists,antagonists, and noncompetitive blockers

Nicotinic agonists stimulate²²Na flux in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. The stimulatory effect of carbamylcholine is maximal at 1 mM, while the stimulatory effect of nicotine and anatoxin maximize at the same level at 100 M and 10 M, respectively. The tertiary amines arecolone and isoarecolone have no effect on flux at 100 M, while the methiodides at 100 M stimulate flux to an extent similar to 1 mM carbamylcholine. Dihydro and alcohol analogues of isoarecolone methiodide have markedly smaller effects on flux. A preincubation for 2 to 20 min with carbamylcholine (2 mM), nicotine (300 M), anatoxin (30 M) or isoarecolone methiodide (100 M) causes marked desensitization to a subsequent carbamylcholine-elicited stimulation of flux. d-Tubocurarine, mecamylamine, hexamethonium, and chlorisondamine inhibit carbamylcholine-elicited flux with IC₅₀ values of 1.0, 0.8, 43, and 0.020 M, respectively. Atropine has no effect at 1 M, but reduces the response to carbamylcholine by 50% at 8.6 M, presumably as a noncompetitive blocker. Other noncompetitive blockers of nicotinic acetylcholine-receptors, such as histrionicotoxins, gephyrotoxin, pumiliotoxin C, phencyclidine, bupivacaine and piperocaine, inhibit carbamylcholine-elicited stimulation of²²Na flux with IC₅₀ values from 0.3 to 1.8 M. In contrast to d-tubocurarine, which inhibits carbamylcholine-elicited desensitization, and mecamylamine, which has no apparent effect on desensitization, chlorisondamine and certain noncompetitive blockers appear to enhance desensitization. The effects of agonists, antagonists and noncompetitive blockers at the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-channel of PC12 cells are compared to their effects on binding of [¹²⁵I]-bungarotoxin to agonist-recognition sites and of [³H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin to noncompetitive blocker sites of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-channel of electric ray (Torpedo) electroplax membranes. There are marked differences in relative potencies for the two types of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-channel.     

Activation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Augments Calcium Channel-mediated Exocytosis in Rat Pheochromocytoma (PC12) Cells

The functional effect of activating Ca²⁺-permeable neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on vesicle secretion was studied in PC12 cells. Single cells were patch-clamped in the whole-cell configuration and stimulated with either brief pulses of nicotine to activate the Ca²⁺-permeable nAChRs or with voltage steps to activate voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels. Membrane capacitance was used as a measure of vesicle secretion. Activation of nAChRs by nicotine application to cells voltage clamped at −80 mV evoked secretion. This secretion was completely abolished by nicotinic antagonists. When the cells were voltage clamped at +20 mV in the presence of Cd²⁺ to block voltage-activated Ca²⁺ channels, nicotine elicited a small amount of secretion. Most interestingly, when the nAChRs were activated coincidentally with voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels, secretion was augmented approximately twofold over the secretion elicited with voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels alone. Our data suggest that Ca²⁺ influx via nAChRs affects Ca²⁺-dependent cellular functions, including vesicle secretion. In addition to the secretion evoked by nAChR activation at hyperpolarized potentials, we demonstrate that even at depolarized potentials, nAChRs provide an important Ca²⁺ entry pathway underlying Ca²⁺-dependent cellular processes such as exocytosis.     

Functional expression of the α7 and α4-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the neonatal rat carotid body

The carotid bodies (CBs) are chemosensory organs that respond to hypoxemia with transmitter neurosecretion, leading to a respiratory reflex response. It has been proposed that acetylcholine is a key regulator of transmitter release through activation of presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In the present work, we studied the identity of such nAChRs and their contribution to catecholamine release from CBs. Neonatal rat CBs were placed in a recording chamber for electrochemical recordings or disassociated for voltage-clamp studies on isolated cells. Fast nicotine superfusion increases catecholamine release from intact CBs. This response was diminished reversibly by the non-selective nAChR blocker hexamethonium, by the selective α7 blocker α-bungarotoxin and by the α4-containing nAChR blocker erysodine. In isolated CB cells the nAChR agonists nicotine, acetylcholine and cytisine all evoke inward currents with similar potencies. The nicotine-evoked current was fully blocked by mecamylamine and partially inhibited by α-bungarotoxin or erysodine. However, the combination of both α-bungarotoxin an erysodine failed to suppress this response. Immunodetection studies confirm the presence of α7 and α4 subunits in isolated dopaminergic CB cells. Our results show that activation of α7 and/or α4-containing nAChR subtypes have the ability to regulate catecholamine release from intact CB due to activation of fast inward currents expressed in chemoreceptor cells. Therefore, our results suggest that both nAChR subtypes contribute to the cholinergic nicotinic regulation of catecholamine signaling in the carotid body system.     

Phosphatidylcholine Biosynthesis in the Neuroblastoma-Glioma Hybrid Cell Line NG 108-15: Stimulation by Phorbol Esters

Studies were conducted on curaremimetic neurotoxin binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor present on membrane fractions derived from the human medulloblastoma clonal line, TE671. High-affinity binding sites (KD = 2 nM for 1-h incubation at 20 degrees C) and low-affinity binding sites (KD = 40 nM) for 125I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin are present in equal quantities (60 fmol/mg membrane protein). The kinetically determined dissociation constant for high-affinity binding of toxin is 0.56 nM (k1 = 6.3 X 10(-3) min-1 nM-1; k-1 = 3.5 X 10(-3) min-1) at 20 degrees C. Nicotine, d-tubocurarine, and acetylcholine are among the most effective inhibitors of high-affinity toxin binding. The quantity of toxin binding sites and their affinity for cholinergic agonists is sensitive to reduction, alkylation, and/or oxidation of membrane sulfhydryl residues. High-affinity toxin binding sites that have been subjected to reaction with the sulfhydryl reagent dithiothreitol are irreversibly blocked by the nicotinic receptor affinity reagent bromoacetylcholine. High-affinity toxin binding is inhibited in the presence of either of two polyclonal antisera or a monoclonal antibody raised against nicotinic acetylcholine receptors from fish electric tissue. Taken together, these results indicate that curaremimetic neurotoxin binding sites on membrane fractions of the TE671 cell line share some properties with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of peripheral origin and with toxin binding sites on other neuronal tissues.     

Polyarginine Peptides As a New Class of Ligands of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Arginine-containing peptides R3, R8, and R16 were obtained by solid-phase peptide synthesis, and their binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of muscle and neuronal (α7) types was studied by competitive radioligand assay with the use of ¹²⁵I-α-bungarotoxin. The resulting peptides exhibited a significantly greater binding activity with respect to the muscle-type nAChRs than to the α7 receptor. Thus, we have discovered a new class of nAChR ligands. The affinity of the synthesized oligoarginines for nAChR depended on the number of amino acid residues in the chain. The highest affinity was exhibited by the R16 peptide, which contained 16 arginine residues.     

A nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mutation (Y151S) causes reduced agonist potency to a range of neonicotinoid insecticides

Neonicotinoid insecticides are potent selective agonists of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Since their introduction in 1991, resistance to neonicotinoids has been slow to develop, but it is now established in some insect field populations such as the planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, a major rice pest in many parts of Asia. We have reported recently the identification of a target-site mutation (Y151S) within two nAChR subunits (Nlalpha1 and Nlalpha3) from a laboratory-selected field population of N. lugens. In the present study, we have examined the influence of this mutation upon the functional properties of recombinant nAChRs expressed in Xenopus oocytes (as hybrid nAChRs, co-expressed with a rat beta2 subunit). The agonist potency of several nicotinic agonists has been examined, including all of the neonicotinoid insecticides that are currently licensed for either crop protection or animal health applications (acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam). The Y151S mutation was found to have no significant effect on the maximal current (I(max)) observed with the endogenous agonist, acetylcholine. In contrast, a significant reduction in I(max) was observed for all neonicotinoids (the I(max) for mutant nAChRs ranged from 13 to 81% of that observed on wild-type receptors). In addition, nAChRs containing the Y151S mutation caused a significant rightward shift in agonist dose-response curves for all neonicotinoids, but of varying magnitude (shifts in EC(50) values ranged from 1.3 to 3.6-fold). The relationship between neonicotinoid structure and their potency on nAChRs containing the Y151S target-site mutation is discussed.     

Differential Effect of Nicotinic Agonists on the [3H]Norepinephrine Release from Rat Hippocampal Slices

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms involved in the effect of nicotinic agonists on the [³H]norepinephrine ([³H]NE) release from rat hippocampal slices. The stimulatory effect of nicotine, cytisine, epibatidine and anatoxin-A was completely blocked by the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (10 M). In contrast, the effect of dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP) was only partially inhibited by mecamylamine but was completely blocked by the NE uptake inhibitor desipramine (DMI, 10 M). Finally, the effect of lobeline was not affected by mecamylamine and was only partially blocked by DMI. Our data indicate that the majority of nicotinic agonists increase the release of [³H]NE exclusively via stimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). DMPP, in addition to the stimulation of nAChRs, also evokes a carrier-mediated release. Lobeline has no stimulatory effect on nAChRs, induces a carrier-mediated release and has a further action of unidentified mechanism. Our results suggest that special caution is required for the interpretation of data, when DMPP or lobeline are used as nicotinic agonists.     

Nicotinic Receptor Inhibition by Tetraponera Ant Alkaloids

1. Tetraponerines are a group of alkaloids occurring in the venoms of ants belonging to the genus Tetraponera. Eight compounds had been isolated and their structures elucidated, but their mechanisms of action had not yet been reported. We have studied the actions of several of these tetraponerines on vertebrate neuromuscular, ganglionic, and brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) using a variety of techniques including muscle contracture, cultured cell functional assays, neuronal patch clamping, and radioligand binding methods. 2. Potency for inhibition of the frog muscle carbachol-elicited contracture increased as the carbon 9 side chain alkyl group was increased in length to 10-12 carbons, then decreased when the chain was 18-carbons long. Potency differences between T-7 and T-8, which differ only in the stereochemistry of the carbon pentyl side chain were rather small. Quaternization of either N atom in a T-8 analog bearing a 10-carbon length alkyl substituent did not greatly affect potency for inhibition of the muscle response; thus the ionized form is an active form of this tetraponerine. 3. T-7 inhibited the nicotine-stimulated efflux of 86Rb from cultured PC12 cells, which primarily express alpha3-beta4 ganglionic type nicotinic receptors. T-8 blockade of BTX-sensitive and insensitive neuronal nAChRs, as studied by patchclamp recordings from cultured rat brain neurons, was also consistent with a noncompetitive type of inhibition. 4. T-7 displaced binding of the nAChR ion channel binding ligand thienylcyclophenidyl (TCP), an analog of PCP, to Torpedo neuromuscular type receptors. The affinity of the TCP binding site for T-7 did not depend upon the desensitization state of the receptor. 5. We conclude that the tetraponerines act at a site on nAChRs different from the ACh binding site which is probably located within the ion channel.     

Functional co-expression of two insect nicotinic receptor subunits (Nlα3 and Nlα8) reveals the effects of a resistance-associated mutation (Nlα3Y151S) on neonicotinoid insecticides

Neonicotinoid insecticides, such as imidacloprid, are selective agonists of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and are used extensively to control a variety of insect pest species. Previously, we have identified a nAChR point mutation (Y151S) associated with insecticide resistance in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens . Although this mutation has been identified in two different N. lugens nAChR subunits (Nlα1 and Nlα3) because of difficulties in heterologous expression of Nlα3; its influence on agonist potency has been examined only in Nlα1-containing nAChRs. Here we describe the cloning of a novel nAChR subunit from N. lugens (Nlα8), together with evidence for its co-assembly with Nlα3 in native and recombinant nAChRs. This has, for the first time, enabled the functional effects of the Nlα3^Y151S mutation to be examined. The Nlα3^Y151S mutation has little effect on agonist potency of acetylcholine but has a dramatic effect on neonicotinoid insecticides (reducing I _max values and increasing EC₅₀ values). The apparent affinity of neonicotinoids was higher and the effect of the Y151S mutation on neonicotinoid agonist potency was more profound in Nlα3-containing, rather than Nlα1-containing nAChR. We conclude that Nlα3- and Nlα1-containing nAChRs may be representative of two distinct insect nAChR populations.