Search

An approach to identify backbone conformational changes underlying nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) gating was developed. Specific backbone peptide bonds were replaced with an ester, which disrupts backbone hydrogen bonds at the site of mutation. At a conserved proline residue ( α Pro221) in the first transmembrane (M1) domain, the amide-to-ester mutation provides receptors with near-normal sensitivity, although the natural amino acids tested other than Pro produce receptors that gate with a much larger EC 50 than normal. Therefore, a backbone hydrogen bond at this site may interfere with normal gating. In the α M2 domain, the amide-to-ester mutation yielded functional receptors at 15 positions, 3 of which provided receptors with >10-fold lower EC 50 than wild type. These results support a model for gating that includes significant changes of backbone conformation within the M2 domain.

Understanding the gating mechanism of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and similar channels constitutes a significant challenge in chemical neurobiology. In the present work, we use a stereochemical probe to evaluate a proposed pin-into-hydrophobic socket mechanism for the alphaVal46 side chain of the nAChR. Utilizing nonsense suppression methodology we incorporated isoleucine (Ile), O-methyl threonine (Omt) and threonine (Thr) as well as their side chain epimers (the allo counterparts). Surprisingly, our results indicate that only the pro-S methyl group of the alphaVal46 side chain is sensitive to changes in hydrophobicity, consistent with the precise geometrical requirements of the pin-into-socket mechanism.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is the prototype ligand-gated ion channel. A number of aromatic amino acids have been identified as contributing to the agonist binding site, suggesting that cation–π interactions may be involved in binding the quaternary ammonium group of the agonist, acetylcholine. Here we show a compelling correlation between: ( i ) ab initio quantum mechanical predictions of cation–π binding abilities and ( ii ) EC 50 values for acetylcholine at the receptor for a series of tryptophan derivatives that were incorporated into the receptor by using the in vivo nonsense-suppression method for unnatural amino acid incorporation. Such a correlation is seen at one, and only one, of the aromatic residues—tryptophan-149 of the α subunit. This finding indicates that, on binding, the cationic, quaternary ammonium group of acetylcholine makes van der Waals contact with the indole side chain of α tryptophan-149, providing the most precise structural information to date on this receptor. Consistent with this model, a tethered quaternary ammonium group emanating from position α149 produces a constitutively active receptor.

Der Vergleich mit Kronenethern drangt sich auf, wenn man die Anordnung von Carbonyl-Sauerstoffatomen des Proteinruckgrats in der Struktur des Kaliumkanals (siehe schematischer Ausschnitt) aus dem Bakterium Streptomyces lividans betrachtet. Dieser engste Teil der Kanalpore wirkt als Selektivitatsfilter, was die um den Faktor 10 000 grosere Durchlassigkeit der Kanale fur K+- im Vergleich zu der fur Na+-Ionen erklaren konnte. Tatsachlich wurden in diesem Bereich zwei K+-Ionen lokalisiert; dies ist ein Hinweis auf den hohen Ionenflus durch den Kanal.

Efforts to developed detailed insights into the structure and function of the molecules of memory, thought and sensory perception—physical organic chemistry on the brain—are described. By combining more conventional chemical tools with a number of techniques adapted from modern biology, it is now possible to perform systematic structure–function studies on the integral membrane proteins that play a central role in molecular neurobiology. There are substantial challenges associated with such studies, but we believe the potential payoff is considerable. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Studies of ion channel proteins present many special challenges, including the potential for novel stereochemical phenomena. Here we describe several examples in which modern studies of ion channels have involved or made use of stereochemistry. Chirality 10:8–13, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The preparation of tetraphenol 3 and its attempted oxidation to tetraradical 2 are described. Tetraphenoxyl 2 was envisioned as a more stable analog of the previously reported, quintet tetraradical 1. However, EPR studies on 3 and model compounds and crystallographic characterization of the product from oxidation of 3 suggest that 2 is not a viable target. Apparently, 2 or an intermediate in the multistep oxidation path leading to it undergoes a ring closure to a bicyclobutane. The bicyclobutane, in turn, undergoes a surprisingly facile rearrangement to the analogous butadiene structure.

To provide material suitable for structural studies of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, we have expressed and purified the NH2-terminal extracellular domain of the mouse muscle alpha subunit. Several constructs were initially investigated using Xenopus oocytes as a convenient small scale expression system. A fusion protein (alpha210GPI) consisting of the 210 NH2-terminal amino acids of the alpha subunit and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchorage sequence conferred surface alpha-bungarotoxin binding in oocytes. Coexpression of alpha210GPI with an analogous construct made from the delta subunit showed no evidence of heterodimer formation. The alpha210GPI protein was chosen for large scale expression in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. The alpha210GPI protein was cleaved from these cells and purified on an immunoaffinity column. Gel and column chromatography show that the purified protein is processed as expected and exists as a monomer. The purified protein also retains the two distinct, conformation-specific binding sites expected for the correctly folded alpha subunit. Circular dichroism studies of alpha210GPI suggest that this region of the receptor includes considerable beta-sheet secondary structure, with a small proportion of alpha-helix.

Background: A key structural issue for all integral membrane proteins is the exposure of individual residues to the intracellular or extracellular media. This issue involves the basic transmembrane topology as well as more subtle variations in surface accessibility. Direct methods to evaluate the degree of exposure for residues in functional proteins expressed in living cells would be highly valuable. We sought to develop a new experimental method to determine highly surface-exposed residues, and thus transmembrane topology, of membrane proteins expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Results: We have used the in vivo nonsense suppression technique to incorporate biotinylated unnatural amino acids into functional ion channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Binding of 125 I-streptavidin to biotinylated receptors was used to determine the surface exposure of individual amino acids. In particular, we studied the main immunogenic region of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The biotin-containing amino acid biocytin was efficiently incorporated into five sites in the main immunogenic region and extracellular streptavidin bound to one residue in particular, α70. The position of α70 as highly exposed on the receptor surface was thus established. Conclusions: The in vivo nonsense suppression technique has been extended to provide the first in a potential series of methods to identify exposed residues and to assess their relative exposure in functional proteins expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

The benzene · · · hexafluorobenzene stacking interaction was evaluated at several levels of theory. At the MP2/6–31G** level, it is estimated that the interaction is stabilizing by approximately 3.7 kcal mol−1. Lower levels of theory perform poorly on this system. This is a fairly strong non-covalent interaction, suggesting this motif may be a valuable supramolecular synthon. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The 5-HT_3AB receptor is the best-characterized heteropentameric 5-HT_3 receptor. Under conditions of heterologous expression, the 5-HT_3AB receptor shows a single functionally resolvable population, suggesting the presence of a unique subunit stoichiometry; however, conflicting previous reports have suggested two different possible stoichiometries. Here we isolate plasma membrane sheets containing assembled receptors from individual HEK293T cells. We then determine the stoichiometry of 5-HT_3AB receptors on the plasma membrane by fluorescence methods, employing meCFP- and meYFP-labeled A and B subunits. Over a wide range of cDNA transfection ratios, fluorescence intensity ratios are closest to values that correspond to a subunit ratio of A_3B_2. Förster resonance energy transfer (family FRET) efficiencies provide minor corrections (3–6%) to the subunit ratios and provide independent support for a predominantly A_3B_2 stoichiometry on the plasma membrane sheets. Twin FRET efficiencies support these data, also suggesting that the two B subunits are nonadjacent in most of the heteropentamers. The high-frequency variant HTR3B p.Y129S (c.386A>C, rs11767445), linked to psychiatric disease, also forms A_3B_2 receptors on the plasma membrane. The 5-HT_3B Y129S, subunit incorporates in a slightly (11–14%) more efficient manner than the common variant. In general, most of the subunits reside within the cell. In contrast to the findings for the plasma membrane, the relative abundances and FRET characteristics of intracellular subunits depend strongly on the transfection ratio. The straightforward and unambiguous combination of plasma membrane-sheet isolation, fluorescence intensity ratios, and FRET is a generally promising procedure for determining stoichiometry of proteins on the plasma membrane.

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor shows broad pharmacology, complicating the development of subtype-specific nicotinic receptor agonists. Here we use unnatural amino acid mutagenesis to characterize binding to α7 by the smoking cessation drug varenicline (Chantix; Pfizer, Groton, CT), an α4β2-targeted agonist that shows full efficacy and modest potency at the α7 receptor. We find that unlike binding to its target receptor, varenicline does not form a cation-π interaction with TrpB, further supporting a unique binding mode for the cationic amine of nicotinic agonists at the α7 receptor. We also evaluate binding to the complementary face of the receptor’s binding site by varenicline, the endogenous agonist acetylcholine, and the potent nicotine analog epibatidine. Interestingly, we find no evidence for functionally important interactions involving backbone NH and CO groups thought to bind the canonical agonist hydrogen bond acceptor of the nicotinic pharmacophore, perhaps reflecting a lesser importance of this pharmacophore element for α7 binding. We also show that the Trp55 and Leu119 side chains of the binding site’s complementary face are important for the binding of the larger agonists epibatidine and varenicline, but dispensable for binding of the smaller, endogenous agonist acetylcholine.

Memantine (Namenda) is prescribed as a treatment for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s Disease. Memantine functions by blocking the NMDA receptor, but the key binding interactions between drug and receptor are not fully elucidated. To determine key binding interactions of memantine, we made side-by-side comparisons of IC_(50) for memantine and amantadine, a structurally related drug, in the GluN1/GluN2B NMDA receptor. We identified hydrophobic binding pockets for the two methyl groups on memantine formed by the residues A645 and A644 on the third transmembrane helices of GluN1 and GluN2B, respectively. Moreover, we found that while adding two methyl groups to amantadine to produce memantine greatly improves affinity, adding a third methyl group to produce the symmetrical trimethylamantadine diminished affinity. Our results provide a better understanding of chemical-scale interactions between memantine and the NMDA channel, which will potentially benefit the development of new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases involving NMDA receptors.

Enthalpic and entropic changes during GPCR activation are poorly understood. Based on the recent solved structures, researchers in the GPCR structural biology field have proposed several 'local activating switches' that consisted of a few number of conserved residues, but have long ignored the collective dynamical effect (conformational entropy) of a domain composed of an ensemble of residues. A new paradigm has been proposed recently that a GPCR can be viewed as a composition of several functional coupling domains, each of which undergoes order-to-disorder or disorder-to-order transitions upon activation. Here we identified and studied these functional coupling domains by comparing the local entropy changes of each residue between the inactive and active states of the β2 adrenergic receptor from molecular dynamics simulation. We found that agonist and G-protein binding increases the heterogeneity of the entropy distribution in the receptor. This new activation paradigm in terms of receptor entropic maps provides a novel way to design functionally biased mutants and may also assist in the identification of allosteric sites in GPCRs.

A nonsense suppression method was employed to incorporate a total of four natural and six unnatural residues at the 9' position of the M2 region in the beta, gamma, and delta subunits of muscle nicotinic receptors. In 33 pairwise comparisons of functional properties as influenced by structural features including side chain length, branching, and substitution of oxygen for methylene carbons, it is concluded that increased polarity in the side chains at the 9' position consistently increases the sensitivity to acetylcholine. In addition, the stereochemistry of the side chain can have marked influences on the EC50, primarily because of changes in the single-channel open time. For the case of isoleucine versus allo-isoleucine in the delta subunit, these changes are themselves modified by mutations at the 9' position in other subunits. The data suggest an especially strong interaction between the beta and delta subunits in the pore region, leading in turn to a suggested arrangement of subunits within the pentamer.

The cation-pi interaction is an important, general force for molecular recognition in biological receptors. Through the sidechains of aromatic amino acids, novel binding sites for cationic ligands such as acetylcholine can be constructed. We report here a number of calculations on prototypical cation-pi systems, emphasizing structures of relevance to biological receptors and prototypical heterocycles of the type often of importance in medicinal chemistry. Trends in the data can be rationalized using a relatively simple model that emphasizes the electrostatic component of the cation-pi interaction. In particular, plots of the electrostatic potential surfaces of the relevant aromatics provide useful guidelines for predicting cation-pi interactions in new systems.

Cations bind to the pi face of an aromatic structure through a surprisingly strong, non-covalent force termed the cation-pi interaction. The magnitude and generality of the effect have been established by gas-phase measurements and by studies of model receptors in aqueous media. To first order, the interaction can be considered an electrostatic attraction between a positive charge and the quadrupole moment of the aromatic. A great deal of direct and circumstantial evidence indicates that cation-pi interactions are important in a variety of proteins that bind cationic ligands or substrates. In this context, the amino acids phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr), and tryptophan (Trp) can be viewed as polar, yet hydrophobic, residues.

Ab initio calculations on pyridine and pyridinium analogues of m-xylylene indicate that the neutral heterocycle is essentially equivalent to benzene as a ferromagnetic coupling unit, while the cationic pyridiniums behave much differently. Depending on the substitution pattern, a protonated pyridine can serve as a ferromagnetic coupling unit or an antiferromagnetic coupling unit. Both valence bond and molecular orbital arguments provide qualitative rationalizations of these results. In an effort to test the theoretical predictions, bis(trimethylenemethane) analogues of the pyridine and pyridinium biradicals were synthesized and analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. General support for the theoretical predictions is obtained.

The nonsense codon suppression method for unnatural amino acid incorporation has been applied to intact cells and combined with electrophysiological analysis to probe structure-function relations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Functional receptors were expressed in Xenopus oocytes when tyrosine and phenylalanine derivatives were incorporated at positions 93, 190, and 198 in the binding site of the alpha subunit. Subtle changes in the structure of an individual side chain produced readily detectable changes in the function of this large channel protein. At each position, distinct features of side chain structure dominated the dose-response relation, probably by governing the agonist-receptor binding.

RDL receptors are GABA-activated inhibitory Cys-loop receptors found throughout the insect CNS. They are a key target for insecticides. Here, we characterize the GABA binding site in RDL receptors using computational and electrophysiological techniques. A homology model of the extracellular domain of RDL was generated and GABA docked into the binding site. Molecular dynamics simulations predicted critical GABA binding interactions with aromatic residues F206, Y254, and Y109 and hydrophilic residues E204, S176, R111, R166, S176, and T251. These residues were mutated, expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and their functions assessed using electrophysiology. The data support the binding mechanism provided by the simulations, which predict that GABA forms many interactions with binding site residues, the most significant of which are cation-π interactions with F206 and Y254, H-bonds with E204, S205, R111, S176, T251, and ionic interactions with R111 and E204. These findings clarify the roles of a range of residues in binding GABA in the RDL receptor, and also show that molecular dynamics simulations are a useful tool to identify specific interactions in Cys-loop receptors.

GABA A receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels involved in fast inhibitory neurotransmission and are allosterically modulated by the anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and sedative-hypnotic benzodiazepines. Here we show that the prokaryotic homolog ELIC also is activated by GABA and is modulated by benzodiazepines with effects comparable to those at GABA A receptors. Crystal structures reveal important features of GABA recognition and indicate that benzodiazepines, depending on their concentration, occupy two possible sites in ELIC. An intrasubunit site is adjacent to the GABA-recognition site but faces the channel vestibule. A second intersubunit site partially overlaps with the GABA site and likely corresponds to a low-affinity benzodiazepine-binding site in GABA A receptors that mediates inhibitory effects of the benzodiazepine flurazepam. Our study offers a structural view how GABA and benzodiazepines are recognized at a GABA-activated ion channel.

The recently published crystal structure of the D3 dopamine receptor shows a tightly packed region of aromatic residues on helices 5 and 6 in the space bridging the binding site and what is thought to be the origin of intracellular helical motion. This highly conserved region also makes contacts with residues on helix 3, and here we use double mutant cycle analysis and unnatural amino acid mutagenesis to probe the functional role of several residues in this region of the closely related D2 dopamine receptor. Of the eight mutant pairs examined, all show significant functional coupling (Ω > 2), with the largest coupling coefficients observed between residues on different helices, C3.36/W6.48, T3.37/S5.46, and F5.47/F6.52. Additionally, three aromatic residues examined, F5.47, Y5.48, and F5.51, show consistent trends upon progressive fluorination of the aromatic side chain. These trends are indicative of a functionally important electrostatic interaction with the face of the aromatic residue examined, which is likely attributed to aromatic–aromatic interactions between residues in this microdomain. We also propose that the previously determined fluorination trend at W6.48 is likely due to a sulfur−π interaction with the side chain of C3.36. We conclude that these residues form a tightly packed structural microdomain that connects helices 3, 5, and 6, thus forming a barrier that prevents dopamine from binding further toward the intracellular surface. Upon activation, these residues likely do not change their relative conformation, but rather act to translate agonist binding at the extracellular surface into the large intracellular movements that characterize receptor activation.

The serotonin type 3 receptor (5-HT3R) is a ligand-gated ion channel that mediates fast synaptic transmission in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The 5-HT3R is a therapeutic target, and the clinically available drugs ondansetron and granisetron inhibit receptor activity. Their inhibitory action is through competitive binding to the native ligand binding site, although the binding orientation of the drugs at the receptor has been a matter of debate. Here we heterologously express mouse 5-HT3A receptors in Xenopus oocytes and use unnatural amino acid mutagenesis to establish a cation-π interaction for both ondansetron and granisetron to tryptophan 183 in the ligand binding pocket. This cation-π interaction establishes a binding orientation for both ondansetron and granisetron within the binding pocket.

The serotonin type 3A (5-HT(3)A) receptor is a Cys-loop (pentameric) neurotransmitter-gated ion channel found in the central and peripheral nervous systems and implicated in numerous diseases. In previous studies with the endogenous agonist serotonin, we identified two interactions critical for receptor function: a cation-π interaction with W183 in loop B (TrpB) and a hydrogen bond to E129 in loop A. Here we employ mutant cycle analyses utilizing conventional and unnatural amino acid mutagenesis to demonstrate that a third residue, D124 of loop A, forms two functionally important hydrogen bonds to the backbone of loop B. We also show that these three interactions, the cation-π interaction, the backbone hydrogen bonds, and the E129 hydrogen bond, are tightly coupled to each other, suggesting they function as a single unit. We also identify key functional differences between serotonin and the competitive partial agonist m-chlorophenyl biguanide (mCPBG) at these residues. mCPBG displays no cation-π at TrpB and extreme sensitivity to the positioning of E129, on which it is reliant for initiation of channel gating.

We exploit the optical and spatial features of subwavelength nanostructures to examine individual receptors on the plasma membrane of living cells. Receptors were sequestered in portions of the membrane projected into zero-mode waveguides. Using single-step photobleaching of green fluorescent protein incorporated into individual subunits, the resulting spatial isolation was used to measure subunit stoichiometry in α4β4 and α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine and P2X2 ATP receptors. We also show that nicotine and cytisine have differential effects on α4β2 stoichiometry.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a family of closely related but pharmacologically distinct neurotransmitter-gated ion channels. They are therapeutic targets for a wide range of neurological disorders, and a key issue in drug development is selective targeting among the greater than 20 subtypes of nAChRs that are known. The present work evaluates a proposed hydrogen bonding interaction involving a residue known as the “loop B glycine” that distinguishes receptors that are highly responsive to ACh and nicotine from those that are much less so. We have performed structure-function studies on the loop B site, including unnatural amino acid mutagenesis, in three different nAChR subtypes and found that the correlation between agonist potency and this residue is strong. Low potency receptor subtypes have a glycine at this key site, and mutation to a residue with a side chain converts a low potency receptor to a high potency receptor. Innately high potency receptors have a lysine at the loop B site and show a decrease in potency for the reverse mutation (i.e. introducing a glycine). This residue lies outside of the agonist binding site, and studies of other residues at the agonist binding site show that the details of how changes at the loop B glycine site impact agonist potency vary for differing receptor subtypes. This suggests a model in which the loop B residue influences the global shape of the agonist binding site rather than modulating any specific interaction.

Functional coupling of residues that are far apart in space is the quintessential property of allosteric receptors. Data from functional studies of allosteric receptors, such as whole-cell dose–response relations, can be used to determine if mutation to a receptor significantly impacts agonist potency. However, the classification of perturbations as primarily impacting binding or allosteric function is more challenging, often requiring detailed kinetic studies. This protocol describes a simple strategy, derived from mutant cycle analysis, for elucidating long-range functional coupling in allosteric receptors (ELFCAR). Introduction of a gain-of-function reporter mutation, followed by a mutant cycle analysis of the readily measured macroscopic EC_(50) values can provide insight into the role of many physically distant targets. This new method should find broad application in determining the functional roles of residues in allosteric receptors.

A nonlinear regression procedure for fitting estimates of an association constant and saturation shifts to NMR titration experiments under fast-exchange conditions is described. The method assigns weights to each observation by propagating measurement errors through the fitted model. A series of Monte Carlo studies simulating a variety of possible experimental conditions has shown this method to be significantly superior to other methods commonly in use.

Preparation and characterization of several new polymers that are considered one-dimensional prototypes for the polaronic ferromagnetic are reported. Synthesis involved either Wittig or Suzuki coupling to produce polymers with extended {pi} systems. Oxidative doping (I{sub 2} or AsF{sub 5}) produces radical cations (polarons) that are stable at room temperature. Magnetic characterization of the doped polymers, using SQUID-based magnetometry, indicates that in several instances ferromagnetic coupling of polarons occurs along the polymer chain. Comparison of the various polymers reveals useful design principles and suggests new directions for the development of magnetic organic materials. 39 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.

There is much current interest in the design and synthesis of water-soluble organic molecules with hydrophobic binding sites. A variety of interesting artificial receptors (hosts) based on cyclophane skeletons has been prepared and shown to bind flat, aromatic guests very efficiently. In contrast, efforts to bind other types of guests, such as derivatives of polycyclic aliphatic systems, have been less successful. We report herein that a new class of receptor molecules, which we have designed and synthesized, 7 binds a guest of this second type very effectively. Two binding modes are seen: one in which the guest is bound in a relatively random orientation and one which involves very much stronger binding with a very precise orientation of the guest in the binding site.

Cys-loop receptor binding sites characteristically possess an “aromatic box,” where several aromatic amino acid residues surround the bound ligand. A cation-π interaction between one of these residues and the natural agonist is common, although the residue type and location are not conserved. Even in the closely related vertebrate GABAAand GABACreceptors, residues in distinct locations perform this role: in GABAAreceptors, a Tyr residue in loop A forms a cation-π interaction with GABA, while in GABACreceptors it is a loop B residue. GABA-activated Cys-loop receptors also exist in invertebrates, where they have distinct pharmacologies and are the target of a range of pesticides. Here we examine the location of GABA in an insect binding site by incorporating a series of fluorinated Phe derivatives into the receptor binding pocket using unnatural amino acid mutagenesis, and evaluating the resulting receptors when expressed inXenopusoocytes. A homology model suggests that two aromatic residues (in loops B and C) are positioned such that they could contribute to a cation-π interaction with the primary ammonium of GABA, and the data reveal a clear correlation between the GABA EC50and the cation-π binding ability both at Phe206 (loop B) and Tyr254 (loop C), demonstrating for the first time the contribution of two aromatic residues to a cation-π interaction in a Cys-loop receptor.

The defining feature of the α subunits of the family of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is a vicinal disulfide between Cys-192 and Cys-193. Although this structure has played a pivotal role in a number of pioneering studies of nicotinic receptors, its functional role in native receptors remains uncertain. Using mutant cycle analysis and unnatural residue mutagenesis, including backbone mutagenesis of the peptide bond of the vicinal disulfide, we have established the presence of a network of hydrogen bonds that extends from that peptide NH, across a β turn to another backbone hydrogen bond, and then across the subunit interface to the side chain of a functionally important Asp residue in the non-α subunit. We propose that the role of the vicinal disulfide is to distort the β turn and thereby properly position a backbone NH for intersubunit hydrogen bonding to the key Asp.

Cation-π interactions have been demonstrated to play a major role in agonist-binding in Cys-loop receptors. However, neither the aromatic amino acid contributing to this interaction nor its location is conserved among Cys-loop receptors. Likewise, it is not clear how many different agonists of a given receptor form a cation-π interaction or, if they do, whether it is with the same aromatic amino acid as the major physiological agonist. We demonstrated previously that Phe159 in the glycine receptor (GlyR) α1 subunit forms a strong cation-π interaction with the principal agonist, glycine. In the current study, we investigated whether the lower efficacy agonists of the human GlyR β-alanine and taurine also form cation-π interactions with Phe159. By incorporating a series of unnatural amino acids, we found cation-π interactions between Phe159 and the amino groups of β-alanine and taurine. The strengths of these interactions were significantly weaker than for glycine. Modeling studies suggest that β-alanine and taurine are orientated subtly differently in the binding pocket, with their amino groups further from Phe159 than that of glycine. These data therefore show that similar agonists can have similar but not identical orientations and interactions in the binding pocket and provide a possible explanation for the lower potencies of β-alanine and taurine.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric, neurotransmitter-gated ion channels responsible for rapid excitatory neurotransmission in the central and peripheral nervous systems, resulting in skeletal muscle tone and various cognitive effects in the brain. These complex proteins are activated by the endogenous neurotransmitter ACh as well as by nicotine and structurally related agonists. Activation and modulation of nAChRs has been implicated in the pathology of multiple neurological disorders, and as such, these proteins are established therapeutic targets. Here we use unnatural amino acid mutagenesis to examine the ligand binding mechanisms of two homologous neuronal nAChRs: the α4β4 and α7 receptors. Despite sequence identity among the residues that form the core of the agonist-binding site, we find that the α4β4 and α7 nAChRs employ different agonist-receptor binding interactions in this region. The α4β4 receptor utilizes a strong cation-π interaction to a conserved tryptophan (TrpB) of the receptor for both ACh and nicotine, and nicotine participates in a strong hydrogen bond with a backbone carbonyl contributed by TrpB. Interestingly, we find that the α7 receptor also employs a cation-π interaction for ligand recognition, but the site has moved to a different aromatic amino acid of the agonist-binding site depending on the agonist. ACh participates in a cation-π interaction with TyrA, whereas epibatidine participates in a cation-π interaction with TyrC2.

The ability of m-phenylene to ferromagnetically couple spin-containing substituents that are substantially twisted out of conjugation is investigated. The "bis(TMM)" strategy is employed, in which two triplet TMM biradicals are linked through m-phenylene to produce relatively stable, organic tetraradicals that are characterized by EPR spectroscopy. Under conditions of moderate twisting (4), ferromagnetic coupling is seen, and the tetraradical has a quintet ground state. Severely twisting both TMMs as in 13 disrupts spin communication, and two noninteracting triplets are produced. This is in contrast to other highly twisted m-phenylene derivatives, in which antiferromagnetic coupling has been observed. Surprisingly, severely twisting only one TMM (14) still produces ferromagnetic coupling and a quintet ground state through a spin polarization mechanism analogous to that proposed for 90° twisted ethylene. Several ring-constrained TMMs (17-19) are investigated as models for more nearly planar systems.

We describe a large number of binding studies in aqueous media designed to provide new insights into noncovalent binding interactions, especially the cation-π interaction. The studies include 7 different hosts, over 70 guests, and over 150 new binding constants. In addition to the now standard NMR methods, circular dichroism has proven to be an especially useful tool for determining aqueous binding constants. We have found that, in addition to the alkyliminium and tetraalkylammonium guests we have studied previously, sulfonium and guanidinium guests also show substantial cation-π effects. Bromination of the host greatly enhances its binding ability in a general fashion, primarily as a result of hydrophobic interactions. Addition of methoxy groups did not enhance binding, apparently as a result of a collapse of the host into a conformation that is not suitable for binding. Replacement of two benzene rings of the host by furans or thiophenes also did not enhance binding. Ab initio calculations provide a rationalization for this effect and suggest a clearer model for the cation-π interaction.

A series of six heterocyclic diesters 1b-6b containing all combinations of nitrogen, sulfur, and selenium has been prepared from a common precursor, diethyl 2,2'-dinitrostilbene-4,4'-dicarboxylate. Electrochemical analysis showed oxidation potential increases in the order N

A number of new organic tetraradicals with quintet ground states have been prepared. Along with their intrinsic significance, these structures provide valuable tests of certain design principles for the construction of organic magnetic materials. The tetraradicals all follow the “bis(TMM)” approach, which promises to provide a wealth of information on spin preferences in organic structures. Efforts to prepare prototypes of the polaronic ferromagnet are also described. Current work is aimed at evaluating the role of bipolaron formation in such systems, in an effort to increase the absolute spin concentration.

Four new hydrocarbon tetraradicals, 1-4, each composed of two triplet trimethylenemethane (TMM) subunits linked by a potential ferromagnetic coupling unit (FC), were synthesized and characterized by variable-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Simulation of the EPR powder spectra and a priori calculation of the zero-field splitting parameters aided spectral assignment. The Heisenberg Hamiltonian appears to quantitatively model relative spin-state energies in 1-4. In three cases ferromagnetic coupling was achieved, as evidenced by quintet ground states in the resulting tetraradicals. In one case, strong evidence for antiferromagnetic coupling was obtained.

A one-pot multistep procedure to prepare alkyl phosphonates from the commercially available acid chlorides or from acid chlorides, generated in situ from the corresponding carboxylic acids with oxalyl chloride.

The reductive deoxygenation of acyl phosphonates using a Wolff−Kishner-like sequence is described. This transformation allows direct access to alkyl phosphonates from acyl phosphonates at room temperature. The method can be combined with acyl phosphonate synthesis into a one pot, four-step procedure for the conversion of carboxylic acids into alkyl phosphonates. The methodology works well for a variety of aliphatic acids and shows a functional group tolerance similar to that of other hydrazone-forming reactions.

Magnetism has fascinated and served humanity for almost 3000 years. Since the discovery of the lodestone (FeO-Fe_2O_3), many different magnetic materials have been developed, almost all based on transition metals and/or rare-earth elements. Technological application of magnetism also has a long history, from the compass to today's sophisticated magnetic memory systems. In contrast, the theory of magnetism has progressed more slowly, despite the efforts of great minds throughout history. The reason early theoretical models were not very valuable is now clear. Any viable theory of magnetism must be based on two inherently quantum mechanical concepts: electron spin and the Pauli exclusion principle. As such, only the 20th century has produced a competent model for magnetism, and that model continues to evolve. Studies over the last 20 years have revealed a bewildering array of new magnetic phenomena that continue to challenge our understanding of solid-state physics.

The ability of m-phenylene to ferromagnetically couple spin-containing substituents that are substantially twisted out of conjugation is investigated. The "bis(TMM)" strategy is employed, in which two triplet TMM biradicals are linked through m-phenylene to produce relatively stable, organic tetraradicals that are characterized by EPR spectroscopy. Under conditions of moderate twisting (4), ferromagnetic coupling is seen, and the tetraradical has a quintet ground state. Severely twisting both TMMs as in 13 disrupts spin communication, and two noninteracting triplets are produced. This is in contrast to other highly twisted m-phenylene derivatives, in which antiferromagnetic coupling has been observed. Surprisingly, severely twisting only one TMM (14) still produces ferromagnetic coupling and a quintet ground state through a spin polarization mechanism analogous to that proposed for 90° twisted ethylene. Several ring-constrained TMMs (17-19) are investigated as models for more nearly planar systems.

A series of six heterocyclic diesters 1b-6b containing all combinations of nitrogen, sulfur, and selenium has been prepared from a common precursor, diethyl 2,2'-dinitrostilbene-4,4'-dicarboxylate. Electrochemical analysis showed oxidation potential increases in the order N