Na?dependent neurotransmitter transporters or neurotransmitter sodium symporters (NSS) are integral membrane proteins that play a critical role in terminating synaptic transmission and, thus, in shaping the duration and magnitude of synaptic signaling. They work by coupling preexisting ion gradients to the thermodynamically unfavorable movement of small molecule neurotransmitters from the synapse to neuronal and glial cytoplasms. Pumps for the biogenic amines are of particular significance because their dysfunction has been implicated in a number of debilitating neuropsychiatric diseases and because they are the target of a broad array of psychoactive agents such as antidepressants and cocaine. Despite such clinical importance, atomic-level detail into the mechanism of substrate translocation and inhibition has remained elusive. Structure/function studies of LeuT, a prokaryotic NSS member, has revealed critical elements on both topics, but because the identity between this bacterial protein and the eukaryotic counterparts is so low, the comparisons will necessarily be limited. The goal of this application is to determine if the molecular models of transport and inhibition advanced for LeuT also apply to the eukaryotic NSS members. This will be accomplished by screening known biogenic amine transporters in heterologous expression systems for monodispersity and their propensity for crystallization. A representative member will then be crystallized, and its structure solved. Structure-based hypotheses of transport and inhibition will subsequently be tested with a combination of site-directed mutagenesis, cysteine crosslinking, steady-state kinetics, dissociation/association kinetics, and crystallography. While there is certainly much about LeuT that seems to be reflected in eukaryotic NSS counterparts, other areas fall short, so data from these experiments will fill a critical intellectual void. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, structural studies of a eukaryotic biogenic amine transporter will permit further investigation into specific antagonist binding sites and perhaps into the molecular basis for drug resistance, thereby opening the way to rational drug design efforts. When eventually coupled with in vivo work beyond the scope of this application, structure/function studies may also shed light on the molecular underpinnings of disease-causing polymorphisms. Achieving any one of these objectives would likely have significant impact in both the laboratory and in the clinic.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Transition Award (R00)
Project #
5R00MH083050-05
Application #
8272595
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZMH1-ERB-H (01))
Program Officer
Nadler, Laurie S
Project Start
2008-05-15
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$242,315
Indirect Cost
$95,901
Name
Yale University
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Abramyan, Ara M; Slack, Rachel D; Meena, Sitaram et al. (2018) Computation-guided analysis of paroxetine binding to hSERT reveals functionally important structural elements and dynamics. Neuropharmacology :
Adhikary, Suraj; Deredge, Daniel J; Nagarajan, Anu et al. (2017) Conformational dynamics of a neurotransmitter:sodium symporter in a lipid bilayer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E1786-E1795
Davis, Bruce A; Nagarajan, Anu; Forrest, Lucy R et al. (2016) Mechanism of Paroxetine (Paxil) Inhibition of the Serotonin Transporter. Sci Rep 6:23789
Singh, Satinder K; Pal, Aritra (2015) Biophysical Approaches to the Study of LeuT, a Prokaryotic Homolog of Neurotransmitter Sodium Symporters. Methods Enzymol 557:167-98
Fenollar-Ferrer, Cristina; Stockner, Thomas; Schwarz, Thomas C et al. (2014) Structure and regulatory interactions of the cytoplasmic terminal domains of serotonin transporter. Biochemistry 53:5444-60
Patrushev, M V; Kamenski, P A; Mazunin, I O (2014) Mutations in mitochondrial DNA and approaches for their correction. Biochemistry (Mosc) 79:1151-60
Yaffe, Dana; Vergara-Jaque, Ariela; Shuster, Yonatan et al. (2014) Functionally important carboxyls in a bacterial homologue of the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT). J Biol Chem 289:34229-40
Nasr, Mahmoud L; Singh, Satinder K (2014) Radioligand binding to nanodisc-reconstituted membrane transporters assessed by the scintillation proximity assay. Biochemistry 53:4-6