The Seizure‐inducing Plastic Explosive RDX Inhibits the Α1β2γ2 GABAA Receptor

Abstract Objective Royal demolition explosive (RDX) can induce seizures in wildlife and humans following release into the environment or after voluntary consumption. During the Vietnam War, RDX intoxication was the most common cause of generalized seizures in US service personnel, and in some sections of the armed forces, eating of RDX has continued as “a dare” to this day. After its mechanism of action was long unknown, RDX was recently shown to be a GABAA receptor antagonist. We here determined the GABAA receptor subtype‐selectivity of RDX and mapped its functional binding site. Methods We used whole‐cell patch‐clamp to determine the potency of RDX on 10 recombinantly expressed GABAA receptors and mapped the RDX binding site using a combination of Rosetta molecular modeling and site‐directed mutagenesis. Results RDX was found to reversibly inhibit the α1β2γ2 GABAA receptor with an IC50 of 23 μmol/L (95% CI 15.1–33.3 μmol/L), whereas α4 and α6 containing GABAA receptor combinations were 4–10‐fold less sensitive. RDX is binding to the noncompetitive antagonist (NCA) site in the pore. In a molecular model based on the cryo‐EM structure of the resting state of the α1β2γ2 receptor, RDX forms two hydrogen bonds with the threonines at the T6’ ring and makes hydrophobic interactions with the valine and alanine in 2′ position of the α1 or β2 subunits. Interpretation Our findings characterize the mechanism of action of RDX at the atomistic level and suggest that RDX‐induced seizures should be susceptible to treatment with GABAA modulating drugs such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, propofol, or neurosteroids.