Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: The 5-HT(3) receptor is a member of the Cys-loop family of ligand-gated ion channels. These receptors are located in both the peripheral and central nervous systems, where functional receptors are constructed from five subunits. These subunits may be the same (homopentameric 5-HT(3A) receptors) or different (heteropentameric receptors, usually comprising of 5-HT(3A) and 5-HT(3B) receptor subunits), with the latter having a number of distinct properties. The 5-HT(3) receptor binding site is comprised of six loops from two adjacent subunits, and critical ligand binding amino acids in these loops have been largely identified. There are a range of selective agonists and antagonists for these receptors and the pharmacophore is reasonably well understood. There are also a wide range of compounds that can modulate receptor activity. Studies have suggested many diverse potential disease targets that might be amenable to alleviation by 5-HT(3) receptor selective compounds but to date only two applications have been fully realised in the clinic: the treatment of emesis and irritable-bowel syndrome.
Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design
Authors: A. Thompson, S. R. Lummis
Institution: University of Cambridge
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Wellcome Trust
OpenAlex ID: W2006065882