PMID: 26912815

Authors:

Stroebel D, Buhl DL, Knafels JD, Chanda PK, Green M, Sciabola S, Mony L, Paoletti P, Pandit J

Title:

A novel binding mode reveals two distinct classes of NMDA receptor GluN2B-selective antagonists.

Journal:

Mol Pharmacol. 2016 Feb 24. pii: mol.115.103036.

Abstract:

NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are glutamate-gated ion channels that play key roles in brain physiology and pathology. Because numerous pathological conditions involve NMDAR overactivation, subunit-selective antagonists hold strong therapeutic potential, although clinical successes remain limited. Among the most promising NMDAR-targeting drugs are allosteric inhibitors of GluN2B-containing receptors. Since the discovery of ifenprodil, a range of GluN2B-selective compounds with strikingly different structural motifs have been identified. This molecular diversity raises the possibility of distinct binding sites, although supporting data are lacking. Using x-ray crystallography, we show that EVT-101, a GluN2B antagonist structurally unrelated to the classical phenylethanolamine pharmacophore, binds at the same GluN1/GluN2B dimer interface as ifenprodil but adopts a remarkably different binding mode involving a distinct subcavity and receptor interactions. Mutagenesis experiments demonstrate that this novel binding site is physiologically relevant. Moreover, in silico docking unveils that GluN2B-selective antagonists broadly divide into two distinct classes according to binding pose. These data widen the allosteric and pharmacological landscape of NMDARs and offer a renewed structural framework for designing next-generation GluN2B antagonists with therapeutic value for brain disorders.