Structure of the human dopamine transporter and mechanisms of inhibition

The neurotransmitter dopamine has central roles in mood, appetite, arousal and movement¹. Despite its importance in brain physiology and function, and as a target for illicit and therapeutic drugs, the human dopamine transporter (hDAT) and mechanisms by which it is inhibited by small molecules and Zn²⁺ are without a high-resolution structural context. Here we determine the structure of hDAT in a tripartite complex with the competitive inhibitor and cocaine analogue, (–)-2-β-carbomethoxy-3-β-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane² (β-CFT), the non-competitive inhibitor MRS7292³ and Zn²⁺ (ref. ⁴). We show how β-CFT occupies the central site, approximately halfway across the membrane, stabilizing the transporter in an outward-open conformation. MRS7292 binds to a structurally uncharacterized allosteric site, adjacent to the extracellular vestibule, sequestered underneath the extracellular loop 4 (EL4) and adjacent to transmembrane helix 1b (TM1b), acting as a wedge, precluding movement of TM1b and closure of the extracellular gate. A Zn²⁺ ion further stabilizes the outward-facing conformation by coupling EL4 to EL2, TM7 and TM8, thus providing specific insights into how Zn²⁺ restrains the movement of EL4 relative to EL2 and inhibits transport activity.