Probing the Role of Backbone Hydrogen Bonding in a Critical β Sheet of the Extracellular Domain of a Cys-Loop Receptor

Long-range communication is essential for the function of members of the Cys-loop family of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels. The involvement of the peptide backbone in binding-induced conformational changes that lead to channel gating in these membrane proteins is an interesting, but unresolved issue. To probe the role of the peptide backbone, we incorporated a series of alpha-hydroxy acid analogues into the beta-sheet-rich extracellular domain of the muscle subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, the prototypical Cys-loop receptor. Specifically, mutations were made in beta strands 7 and 10 of the alpha subunit. A number of single backbone mutations in this region were well tolerated. However, simultaneous introduction of two proximal backbone mutations led to surface-expressed, nonfunctional receptors. Together, these data suggest that while the receptor is remarkably robust in its ability to tolerate single amide-to-ester mutations throughout these beta strands, more substantial perturbations to this region have a profound effect on the protein. These results support a model in which backbone movements in the outer beta sheet are important for receptor function.