Abstract
Crystal structures of amino-acid receptor agonists glycine, taurine, GABA, and β-alanine were compared. Degree and accuracy of coincidences of distance between nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the crystal structures were used as criteria for similarity. It is concluded that crystal structure of agonists and agonist action on amino acid receptors are correlated. A theory is advanced that, when an agonist has a cooperative effect on a receptor, relative spacing of molecules on the receptor surface is similar to the spacing of molecules in the agonist's crystal structure.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
M. M. Kats, "Binding-site structure of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor," Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Biol., No.3, 479–480 (1988).
A. I. Kitaigorodskii, P. M. Zorskii, and V. K. Bel'skii, Structure of Organic Substance. Findings of Structural Investigations [in Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1982).
K. S. Raevskii and V. P. Georgiev, Transmitter Amino Acids: Neuropharmacological and Neurochemical Aspects [in Russian], Meditsina, Moscow (1986).
P. V. Sergeev and N. L. Shimanovskii, Receptors of Physiologically Active Substances [in Russian], Meditsina, Moscow (1987).
B. V. Safronov, K. V. Baev, I. V. Batueva, et al., "Characteristics of the effect of glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid on the spinial cord neurons of lamprey," Neirofiziologiya,20, No. 6, 823–826 (1988).
B. V. Safronov, "Characteristics of the effect of inhibitory transmitters on isolated neurons of lamprey spinal cord," Author's Abstract of Dissertation for Candidate of Biological Sciences, Kiev (1989).
I. A. Sytinskii, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Inhibition Neurotransmitter [in Russian], Nauka, Leningrad (1977).
International Tables for X-Ray Crystallography, Vol. 1, Birmingham (1974).
P. G. Jonsson and P. G. Kvick, "The crystal and molecular structure of the amino acid α-glycine," Acta Crystallogr. Sec. B:,28, No. 6, 1827–1829 (1972).
Microcomputers in the Neurosciences, Clarendon Press, Oxford (1985).
A. Nistri and A. Constanti, "Pharmacological characterization of different types of GABA and glutamate receptors in vertebrates and invertebrates," Prog. Neurobiol.,13, No. 2, 117–235 (1979).
Y. Okaya, "Refinement of the crystal structure of taurine, 2-aminoethylsulfonic acid. An example of computer-controlled experimentation," Acta Crystallogr. Sec. B:,21, No. 5, 726–729 (1966).
J. Parimola and L. M. Pant, "The crystal and molecular structure of β-alanine," Acta Crystallogr., Sec. B:,18, No. 4, 806–807 (1962).
K. Tomita, H. Higashi, and T. Fujiwara, "The crystal and molecular structure of GABA," Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn.,46, No. 7, 2199–2200 (1973).
Additional information
A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 44–51, January–February, 1992.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kertser, S.L., Baev, K.V. Correlation between crystal structure and biological action of some amino-acid receptor agonists. Neurophysiology 24, 33–39 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01053480
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01053480