Mutations of L293 in transmembrane two of the mouse 5‐hydroxytryptamine 3A receptor alter gating and alcohol modulatory actions

1 The goal of this study was to determine whether mutations of L293 at the 15′ position of TM2 in the 5‐HT 3A receptor alter macroscopic current kinetics, and if these changes could account for alterations in alcohol modulation. Receptor function was assessed in Xenopus oocytes under voltage‐clamp and in HEK293 cells with whole‐cell patch‐clamp recording and rapid drug application. 2 Examination of responses of L293C and L293S receptors to agonist alone revealed enhanced activation, deactivation, and desensitization rates relative to the wild‐type receptor. The L293G mutation produced marked slowing of deactivation and desensitization rates. Increased potency of 5‐HT and increased efficacy of the partial agonist, DA, was also observed in these mutant receptors. 3 Ethanol and trichloroethanol (TCEt) enhancement of receptor function was reduced or eliminated in receptors containing L293 mutations to C, G, or S. The L293I mutant receptor retained ethanol and TCEt sensitivity. Ethanol and TCEt enhanced activation rate in the wild‐type, but not the L293G and L293S receptors. No relationship was observed between any physicochemical property of the substituted amino acids and the change in alcohol potentiation of function. 4 The changes in receptor‐channel properties in the mutant receptors support the idea that the L293 residue has important roles in channel gating. Our findings indicate that loss of allosteric modulation by alcohols is not related in any simple way to changes in channel kinetic properties brought about by L293 mutants. We did not observe any evidence that L293 is part of an alcohol binding site.British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 148 , 88–101. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706685