Insights into the structural basis for zinc inhibition of the glycine receptor

Histidines 107 and 109 in the glycine receptor (GlyR) alpha1 subunit have previously been identified as determinants of the inhibitory zinc-binding site. Based on modeling of the GlyR alpha1 subunit extracellular domain by homology to the acetylcholine-binding protein crystal structure, we hypothesized that inhibitory zinc is bound within the vestibule lumen at subunit interfaces, where it is ligated by His107 from one subunit and His109 from an adjacent subunit. This was tested by co-expressing alpha1 subunits containing the H107A mutation with alpha1 subunits containing the H109A mutation. Although sensitivity to zinc inhibition is markedly reduced when either mutation is individually incorporated into all five subunits, the GlyRs formed by the co-expression of H107A mutant subunits with H109A mutant subunits exhibited an inhibitory zinc sensitivity similar to that of the wild type alpha1 homomeric GlyR. This constitutes strong evidence that inhibitory zinc is coordinated at the interface between adjacent alpha1 subunits. No evidence was found for beta subunit involvement in the coordination of inhibitory zinc, indicating that a maximum of two zinc-binding sites per alpha1beta receptor is sufficient for maximal zinc inhibition. Our data also show that two zinc-binding sites are sufficient for significant inhibition of alpha1 homomers. The binding of zinc at the interface between adjacent alpha1 subunits could restrict intersubunit movements, providing a feasible mechanism for the inhibition of channel activation by zinc.