Bicuculline

Bicuculline
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(6R)-​6-​[(5S)-​6-​methyl-​5,​6,​7,​8-​tetrahydro​[1,3]dioxolo​[4,5-g]​isoquinolin-​5-​yl]​furo[3,4-e]​[1,3]​benzodioxol-​8(6H)-​one
Identifiers
CAS Number 485-49-4 YesY
ATC code None
PubChem CID 10237
IUPHAR/BPS 2312
ChemSpider 9820 YesY
UNII Y37615DVKC N
ChEBI CHEBI:3092 N
ChEMBL CHEMBL417990 N
Chemical data
Formula C20H17NO6
Molar mass 367.352 g/mol
 NYesY (what is this?)  (verify)

Bicuculline is a light-sensitive competitive antagonist of GABAA receptors. It was originally identified in 1932 in plant alkaloid extracts[1] and has been isolated from Dicentra cucullaria, Adlumia fungosa, Fumariaceae, and several Corydalis species. Since it blocks the inhibitory action of GABA receptors, the action of bicuculline mimics epilepsy. This property is utilized in laboratories across the world in the in vitro study of epilepsy, generally in hippocampal or cortical neurons in prepared brain slices from rodents. This compound is also routinely used to isolate glutamatergic (excitatory amino acid) receptor function.

The action of bicuculline is primarily on the ionotropic GABAA receptors, which are ligand-gated ion channels concerned chiefly with the passing of chloride ions across the cell membrane, thus promoting an inhibitory influence on the target neuron. These receptors are the major targets for benzodiazepines and related anxiolytic drugs.

The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of bicuculline on GABAA receptors is 3 μM.

In addition to being a potent GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline can be used to block Ca2+-activated potassium channels.[2]

Sensitivity to bicuculline is defined by IUPHAR as a major criterion in the definition of GABAA receptors 

See also

References

  1. ↑ Manske, R. H. F. (1932). "The Alkaloids of Fumaraceous Plants. II. Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.". Canadian Journal of Research 7: 265–269. doi:10.1139/cjr32-078.
  2. ↑ Khawaled, R.; Bruening-Wright, A.; Adelman, J. P.; Maylie, J. (1999). "Bicuculline Block of Small-conductance Calcium-activated Potassium Channels". Pflügers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology 438 (3): 314–321. doi:10.1007/s004240050915. ISSN 0031-6768. PMID 10398861.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, September 02, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.