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The Journal of Neuroscience, December 15, 1999, 19(24):10611-10626
Probing of NMDA Channels with Fast Blockers
Alexander I.
Sobolevsky,
Sergey G.
Koshelev, and
Boris I.
Khodorov
Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 125315 Moscow,
Russia
Using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques, we studied the
interaction of open NMDA channels with tetraalkylammonium compounds: tetraethylammonium (TEA), tetrapropylammonium (TPA), tetrabutylammonium (TBA), and tetrapentylammonium (TPentA). Analysis of the blocking kinetics, concentration, and agonist dependencies using a set of
kinetic models allowed us to create the criteria distinguishing the
effects of these blockers on the channel closure, desensitization, and
agonist dissociation. Thus, it was found that TPentA prohibited, TBA
partly prevented, and TPA and TEA did not prevent either the channel
closure or the agonist dissociation. TPentA and TBA prohibited, TPA
slightly prevented, and TEA did not affect the channel desensitization. These data along with the voltage dependence of the stationary current
inhibition led us to hypothesize that: (1) there are activation and
desensitization gates in the NMDA channel; (2) these gates are distinct
structures located in the external channel vestibule, the
desensitization gate being located deeper than the activation gate. The
size of the blocker plays a key role in its interaction with the NMDA
channel gating machinery: small blockers (TEA and TPA) bind in the
depth of the channel pore and permit the closure of both gates, whereas
larger blockers (TBA) allow the closure of the activation gate but
prohibit the closure of the desensitization gate; finally, the largest
blockers (TPentA) prohibit the closure of both activation and
desensitization gates. The mean diameter of the NMDA channel pore in
the region of the activation gate localization was estimated to be
~11 Å.
Key words:
NMDA; gating machinery; tetraalkylammonium compounds; blockade; desensitization; kinetics; patch-clamp; whole-cell; hippocampal neurons
Copyright © 1999 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/99/192410611-16$05.00/0
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