Glycine and GABA receptors: molecular mechanisms controlling chloride ion flux

We have been able to show that the three clearly identified atoms common to the inhibitory neurotransmitters glycine and GABA, that we previously hypothesized to serve as attachment points at the glycinergic and gabanergic receptor, can indeed interact through both electrostatic and hydrogen bonding to several amino acids, which have been identified in molecular biological investigations as both present and critical in the physiological functioning of key polypeptides common to these inhibitory receptors. In addition, amino acids also involved in stabilizing the interaction between the antagonists strychnine and R5135 at the glycinergic and gabanergic receptors, respectively, have been shown to fit our complex model. We identify in detail molecular mechanisms to explain how glycine and GABA initiate chloride ion movement from extraneuronal fluid in the synaptic cleft to intraneuronal volume. In addition, we also identify the molecular mechanisms involved in the blocking of chloride ion movement by strychnine at the glycinergic receptor and by R5135 at the gabanergic receptor. We also present two computer-generated color prints, one for the glycine receptor and one for the GABA receptor, which show the quantum mechanically geometry optimized complex formed between receptor side chains, i.e., the part of the amino acids in the polypeptide that interacts with the zwitterionic inhibitory neurotransmitters. These computer-generated color figures also show a) the important electrostatic and hydrogen bonding in these interactions, b) a van der Waals model of this complex to illustrate that no steric repulsions exist, and c) the molecular electrostatic potential energy map showing the electrostatic potentials of neurotransmitter bound to the receptor model. Finally, we show with computer calculations that the pseudo-rings, formed between the positive quanidinium group in arginine and one of the oxygen atoms in the carboxyl group in both glycine or GABA, result in a positive planar region which appears to be involved in a charge-transfer complex with aromatic benzene groups in amino acids such as phenylalanine and tryosine.