Summary Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) mediate the majority of fast excitatory signaling in the nervous system. Despite the profound importance of iGluRs in the nervous system, little is known about the structures and dynamics of intact receptors in distinct functional states. Here we elucidate the structures of the intact GluA2 AMPA receptor in an apo resting/closed state, in an activated/pre-open state bound with the partial agonists and a positive allosteric modulator and in a desensitized/closed state in complex with FW alone. To probe the conformational properties of these states, we carried out double electron-electron resonance experiments on cysteine mutants and cryo-electron microscopy studies. We show how agonist binding modulates the conformation of the ligand binding domain 'layer' of the intact receptors and how, upon desensitization, the receptor undergoes large conformational rearrangements of amino-terminal and ligand-binding domains. We define mechanistic principles by which to understand antagonism, activation and desensitization in AMPA iGluRs.

AMPA-sensitive glutamate receptors are crucial to the structural and dynamical properties of the brain, to the development and function of the central nervous system and to the treatment of neurological conditions from depression to cognitive impairment. However, the molecular principles underlying AMPA receptor activation have remained elusive. Here we determine multiple x-ray crystal structures of the GluA2 AMPA receptor in complex with a Conus striatus cone snail toxin, a positive allosteric modulator and orthosteric agonists at 3.8 – 4.1 Å resolution. We show how the toxin acts like a ‘straight jacket’ on the ligand-binding domain (LBD) “gating ring”, restraining the domains via both intra and interdimer cross links such that agonist-induced closure of the LBD “clamshells” is transduced into an iris-like expansion of the gating ring. By structural analysis of activation-enhancing mutants, we show how the expansion of the LBD gating ring results in ‘pulling’ forces on the M3 helices that, in turn, are coupled to ion channel gating.

Mutations in ATP1A2, the gene coding for the Na ؉ /K ؉ -ATPase ␣ 2 -subunit, are associated with both familial hemiplegic migraine and sporadic cases of hemiplegic migraine. In this study, we examined the functional properties of 11 ATP1A2 mutations associated with familial or sporadic hemiplegic migraine, including missense mutations (T263M, T376M, R383H, A606T, R763H, M829R, R834Q, R937P, and X1021R), a deletion mutant (del(K935-S940)ins(I)), and a frameshift mutation (S966fs). According to the Na ؉ /K ؉ -ATPase crystal structure, a subset of the mutated residues (Ala 606 , Arg 763 , Met 829 , and Arg 834 ) is involved in important interdomain H-bond networks, and the C terminus of the enzyme, which is elongated by the X1021R mutation, has been implicated in voltage dependence and formation of a third Na ؉ -binding site. Upon heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes, the analysis of electrogenic transport properties, Rb ؉ uptake, and protein expression revealed pronounced and markedly diverse functional alterations in all ATP1A2 mutants. Abnormalities included a complete loss of function (T376M), impaired plasma membrane expression (del(K935-S940)ins(I) and S966fs), and altered apparent affinities for extracellular cations or reduced enzyme turnover (R383H, A606T, R763H, R834Q, and X1021R). In addition, changes in the voltage dependence of pump currents and the increased rate constants of the voltage jump-induced redistribution between E 1 P and E 2 P states were observed. Thus, mutations that disrupt distinct interdomain H-bond patterns can cause abnormal conformational flexibility and exert long range consequences on apparent cation affinities or voltage dependence. Of interest, the X1021R mutation severely impaired voltage dependence and kinetics of Na ؉ -translocating partial reactions, corroborating the criti-