On identifying a second molecular antagonistic mechanism operative at the glycine receptor

We used molecular modeling techniques to examine six reported antagonists of glycine with varying Ki values against strychnine. We found the data suggest two groups operating with different mechanisms. In group 1 (strychnine, brucine, Pitrazepin, and bicuculline methobromide) the antagonist contains two or three sites that can electrostatically bind to the three comparable groups of opposite charge in the recognition site where the natural neurotransmitter binds, thus opening the chloride channel. In addition, when in this position, the antagonist is able to also block the now opened chloride channel with a different portion of its structure. In many cases, this involves an interaction between a carbonyl group on the antagonist and the guanidinium group of arginine which is part of the polypeptide segment of the outer mouth of the chloride channel (Grenningloh et al., Nature 330:25-26, 1987). In group 2 (R5135 and 1,5-diphenyl-3,7-diazaadamantan-9-ol) the antagonist contains charged sites but when one of these molecules attaches to the recognition site, the chloride channel is not opened. In addition, R5135 contains a carbonyl group which attaches to arginine as pointed out in the text, whereas 1,5-diphenyl-3,7-diazaadamantan-9-ol contains a phenyl group that can block the channel.