Discovery, Characterization, and Engineering of LvIC, an α4/4-Conotoxin That Selectively Blocks Rat α6/α3β4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

J Med Chem. 2023 Feb 9;66(3):2020-2031. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01786. Epub 2023 Jan 22.

Abstract

α6β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, but their functions are not fully understood, largely because of a lack of specific ligands. Here, we characterized a novel α-conotoxin, LvIC, and designed a series of analogues to probe structure-activity relationships at the α6β4 nAChR. The potency and selectivity of these conotoxins were tested using two-electrode voltage-clamp recording on nAChR subtypes expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. One of the analogues, [D1G,ΔQ14]LvIC, potently blocked α6/α3β4 nAChRs (α6/α3 is a chimera) with an IC50 of 19 nM, with minimal activity at other nAChR subtypes, including the structurally similar α6/α3β2β3 and α3β4 subtypes. Using NMR, molecular docking, and receptor mutation, structure-activity relationships of [D1G,ΔQ14]LvIC at the α6/α3β4 nAChR were defined. It is a potent and specific antagonist of α6β4 nAChRs that could potentially serve as a novel molecular probe to explore α6β4 nAChR-related neurophysiological and pharmacological functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Conotoxins* / chemistry
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Nicotinic Antagonists / chemistry
  • Nicotinic Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Oocytes
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Nicotinic* / chemistry
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • Conotoxins
  • Nicotinic Antagonists
  • Receptors, Nicotinic