Thermodynamics and structural analysis of positive allosteric modulation of the ionotropic glutamate receptor GluA2.
Krintel, C., Frydenvang, K., Olsen, L., Kristensen, M.T., de Barrios, O., Naur, P., Francotte, P., Pirotte, B., Gajhede, M., Kastrup, J.S.(2012) Biochem J 441: 173-178
- PubMed: 21895609 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20111221
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
3TDJ, 3TKD - PubMed Abstract: 
Positive allosteric modulators of the ionotropic glutamate receptor-2 (GluA2) are promising compounds for the treatment of cognitive disorders, e.g. Alzheimer's disease. These modulators bind within the dimer interface of the LBD (ligand-binding domain) and stabilize the agonist-bound conformation slowing receptor desensitization and/or deactivation. In the present study, we employ isothermal titration calorimetry to determine binding affinities and thermodynamic details of binding of modulators of GluA2. A mutant of the LBD of GluA2 (LBD-L483Y-N754S) that forms a stable dimer in solution was used. The potent GluA2 modulator BPAM-97 was used as a reference compound. Evidence that BPAM-97 binds in the same pocket as the well-known GluA2 modulator cyclothiazide was obtained from X-ray structures. The LBD-L483Y-N754S:BPAM-97 complex has a Kd of 5.6 μM (ΔH=-4.9 kcal/mol, -TΔS=-2.3 kcal/mol; where 1 kcal≈4.187 kJ). BPAM-97 was used in a displacement assay to determine a Kd of 0.46 mM (ΔH=-1.2 kcal/mol, -TΔS=-3.3 kcal/mol) for the LBD-L483Y-N754S:IDRA-21 complex. The major structural factors increasing the potency of BPAM-97 over IDRA-21 are the increased van der Waals contacts to, primarily, Met496 in GluA2 imposed by the ethyl substituent of BPAM-97. These results add important information on binding affinities and thermodynamic details, and provide a new tool in the development of drugs against cognitive disorders.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.