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P2 purinergic receptor channel receptors (P2XRs) are a family of ligand-gated cation channels composed of two transmembrane domains, N and C termini located intracellularly, and a large extracellular loop containing the ATP binding domain. To identify regions important for binding and gating, previous experimental work was focused on mutagenesis of conserved ectodomain residues. Here, we used the known sequence and secondary structure similarities between the Lys180-Lys326 ectodomain region of P2X(4) and the class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases as a guide to generate a three-dimensional model of the receptor-binding site and to design mutants. The interplay between homology modeling and site-directed mutagenesis suggested that Asp280 residue of P2X(4)R coordinates ATP binding via the magnesium ion, Phe230 residue coordinates the binding of the adenine ring of ATP, and Lys190, His286, and Arg278 residues coordinate the actions of negatively charged alpha-, beta-, and gamma-phosphate groups, respectively. Until the crystal structure of the channel is solved, this model could provide a useful approach for future studies on the identification of ATP binding domain and gating of P2XRs.

Abstract: Ivermectin (IVM) applied extracellularly increases the sensitivity of P2X4 receptor (P2X4R) to ATP, enhances the maximum current amplitudes, and greatly prolongs the deactivation kinetics. In this manuscript, we focused on identification of receptor-specific residues responsible for IVM effects on channel gating using the wild-type rat homomeric P2X4R, several chimeric P2X2/P2X4 receptors, and single-point P2X4R-specific mutants in the ectodomain and two transmembrane domains. Experiments with chimeric receptors revealed that the Val49–Val61 but not the Val64–Tyr315 ectodomain sequence is important for the effects of IVM on channel deactivation. Receptor-specific mutations placed in the Gly29–Val61 and Asp338–Leu358 regions showed the importance of Trp50, Val60, and Val357 residues in IVM regulation of the rate of channel deactivation, but not on the maximum current amplitude. These results suggest that the transmembrane domains and the nearby ectodomain region contribute to the effects of IVM on channel deactivation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]