Site-directed mutagenesis of the histamine H1-receptor reveals a selective interaction of asparagine207 with subclasses of H1-receptor agonists.

In this study we investigated the role of the threonine203 and the asparagine207 residues in the fifth transmembrane domain of the guinea-pig histamine H1-receptor by site-directed mutagenesis to non-functional alanines. Whereas the threonine203 residue is not important for the action of histamine, the asparagine207 residue appears to be involved in the binding of the N tau-nitrogen atom of histamine and its 2-methyl-analogue. For the 2-phenyl-analogue and non-imidazole H1-receptor agonists, this residue is, however, not essential for binding. On the basis of this study we conclude that different histamine H1-receptor agonists interact in different ways with the H1-receptor protein. Moreover, we speculate that the interaction with the N pi-nitrogen atom is essential for H1-receptor activation.