Interactions between Zinc and Allosteric Modulators of the Glycine Receptor.

Zinc Interactions with Allosteric Modulators at the Glycine Receptor APPROVED BY SUPERVISING COMMITTEE:

Identification of novel specific allosteric modulators of the glycine receptor using phage display.

The glycine receptor (GlyR) is a member of the Cys-loop superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels and the major mediator of inhibitory neurotransmission in the spinal cord and brainstem. Many allosteric modulators affect the functioning of members of this superfamily, with some such as benzodiazepines showing great specificity and others such as zinc, alcohols, and volatile anesthetics acting on...

The Structural Mechanism of Allosteric Modulation of the NMDA Receptor: A Balance of Tensions

Rita Evelyn Sirrieh, B.S. Advisory Professor: Vasanthi Jayaraman, Ph.D. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are one of the three main types of ionotropic glutamate receptors in the central nervous system. NMDA receptors mediate the rapid excitatory neurotransmission that underlies learning and memory formation. Conversely, NMDA receptors are implicated in a variety of neurological disorders. ...

Molecular Insight into the Mutual Interactions of Two Transmembrane Domains of Human Glycine Receptor (TM23-GlyR), with the Lipid Bilayers

Appearing as a computational microscope, MD simulation can ‘zoom in’ to atomic resolution to assess detailed interactions of a membrane protein with its surrounding lipids, which play important roles in the stability and function of such proteins. This study has employed the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, to determine the effect of added DMPC or DMTAP molecules on the structure of D...

Positive allosteric modulators differentially affect full versus partial agonist activation of the glycine receptor.

Taurine acts as a partial agonist at the glycine receptor (GlyR) in some brain regions such as the hippocampus, striatum, and nucleus accumbens. Ethanol, volatile anesthetics, and inhaled drugs of abuse are all known positive allosteric modulators of GlyRs, but their effects on taurine-activated GlyRs remain poorly understood, especially their effects on the high concentrations of taurine likel...