Mutation of structural determinants lining the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel differentially affects phencyclidine block and spermine potentiation and block

Spermine and other endogenous polyamines potentiate, block and permeate the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel. To identify structural determinants of the N-methyl-D-aspartate channel that mediate spermine's actions, we generated mutant receptors with asparagine (N) to glutamine (Q) or arginine (R) substitutions in the selectivity filter of the channel. We demonstrate that mutation of the three critical asparagines in this domain differentially affects block by phencyclidine and both potentiation and block by spermine. N-to-Q and N-to-R mutations in the N site of the NR1 subunit (N598 in NR1₀₁₁, N619 in NR1₁₀₀) and N-to-Q mutations in the N and N+1 sites (N595 and N596 in NR2A, respectively) of the NR2 subunit (Q/NN, R/NN, N/QN, N/NQ, Q/QN and Q/NQ receptors) reduced affinity for phencyclidine. The Q/NN receptor showed markedly reduced potentiation by spermine, with little or no change in spermine block. The R/NN receptor showed markedly reduced spermine potentiation and affinity for spermine at its block site. The N/QN, N/NQ and Q/QN mutant receptors showed somewhat enhanced spermine block, while the Q/NQ double mutant exhibited significantly more enhanced spermine block. Thus, the asparagine residues critical to Ca²⁺ permeability and Mg²⁺ block of N-methyl-D-aspartate channels are also critical to block by spermine and phencyclidine. To examine the interaction of spermine and phencyclidine within the channel, we performed competition studies. Spermine appeared to compete with phencyclidine for binding to the receptor, however, blocks by phencyclidine and by spermine were not additive. The findings suggest that spermine can bind to a site in the external vestibule of the channel to impede phencyclidine binding, but allow Na⁺ influx.