Structure-activity relationship for noncoplanar polychlorinated biphenyl congeners toward the ryanodine receptor-Ca2+ channel complex type 1 (RyR1).

Ryanodine receptor isoforms are expressed in both excitable and nonexcitable tissues where they form microsomal Ca2+ release channels broadly involved in shaping cellular signaling. In this report, we provide a detailed structure-activity relationship (SAR) for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and metabolites necessary for enhancing ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) activity using [3H]ryanodine ([3H]Ry) binding analysis. The 2,3,6-Cl PCB configuration is most important for optimal recognition by the RyR1 complex and/or critical for sensitizing its activation. Para substitution(s) diminishes the activity with para-chloro having a higher potency than the corresponding para-hydroxy derivative. The addition of a more bulky para-methyl-sulfonyl group eliminates the activity toward RyR1, supporting the importance of the para positions in binding RyR1. The requirement for an intact major T cell immunophilin FKBP12-RyR1 complex was observed with each of 12 active PCB congeners indicating a common mechanism requiring an immunophilin-regulated Ca2+ release channel. An excellent correlation between the relative potencies for doubling [3H]Ry binding and the corresponding initial rates of PCB-induced Ca2+ efflux indicates that [3H]Ry binding analysis provides a measure of dysregulation of microsomal Ca2+ transport. The SAR for activating RyR1 is consistent with those previously reported in several in vivo and in vitro studies, suggesting that a common mechanism may contribute to the toxicity of noncoplanar PCBs. A practical application of the receptor-based screen developed here with RyR1 is that it provides a quantitative SAR that may be useful in predicting biological activity and risk of mixtures containing noncoplanar PCB congeners that have low or a lack of aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity.

Non-coplanar 2,2',3,5',6-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 95) amplifies ionotropic glutamate receptor signaling in embryonic cerebellar granule neurons by a mechanism involving ryanodine receptors.

The mechanisms by which non-coplanar 2,2',3,5',6-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 95) and rapamycin interact with ryanodine receptor (RyR) complexes to alter Ca2+ signaling, were explored in intact cerebellar granule neurons. PCB 95 (10 microM, 20 min) significantly increased the number of neurons responding to caffeine. PCB 95 sensitization of RyR-mediated responses was further supported by the observations that ryanodine pretreatment blocked response to caffeine and coplanar 2,4,4',5-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 66), which lacks RyR activity, failed to sensitize neurons. PCB 95 did not significantly alter levels of resting cytosolic Ca2+ nor thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ stores, suggesting a more complex mechanism than sensitization from increased cytosolic Ca2+ or an increased endoplasmic reticulum/cytosolic Ca2+ gradient. The immunosuppressant, rapamycin, sensitized neurons to caffeine in a manner similar to PCB 95, suggesting a common mechanism. PCB 95 or rapamycin significantly enhanced Ca2+ responses following N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl4-isoxasolepropiate (AMPA) receptor activation. Store depletion or direct block of RyR with ryanodine enhanced responses to NMDA. PCB 95 further enhanced these responses to NMDA. These results suggest that PCB 95 and rapamycin enhance NMDA- and AMPA-mediated Ca2+ signals by modifying a functional association of the FKBP12/RyR complex that results in amplification of glutamate signaling in cultured cerebellar granule neurons in culture.