Na+ occupancy and Mg2+ block of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel

Yongling Zhu, Anthony Auerbach*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of extracellular and intracellular Na+ on the single-channel kinetics of Mg2+ block was studied in recombinant NR1-NR2B NMDA receptor channels. Na+ prevents Mg2+ access to its blocking site by occupying two sites in the external portion of the permeation pathway. The occupancy of these sites by intracellular, but not extracellular, Na+ is voltage-dependent. In the absence of competing ions, Mg2+ binds rapidly (>108 M-1s-1, with no membrane potential) to a site that is located 0.60 through the electric field from the extracellular surface. Occupancy of one of the external sites by Na+ may be sufficient to prevent Mg2+ dissociation from the channel back to the extracellular compartment. With no membrane potential; and in the absence of competing ions, the Mg2+ dissociation rate constant is >10 times greater than the Mg2+ permeation rate constant, and the Mg2+ equilibrium dissociation constant is ∼12 μM. Physiological concentrations of extracellular Na+ reduce the Mg2+ association rate constant ∼40-fold but, because of the "lock-in" effect, reduce the Mg2+ equilibrium dissociation constant only ∼18-fold.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)275-285
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of General Physiology
Volume117
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Channel blockade
  • Ion binding sites
  • Magnesium
  • Permeation
  • Selectivity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology

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