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Expression of Native GABA A Receptors in Xenopus Oocytes Injected With Rat Brain Synaptosomes
Author(s) -
Sanna Enrico,
Motzo Costantino,
Murgia Antonella,
Amato Francesco,
Deserra Tiziana,
Biggio Giovanni
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.67052212.x
Subject(s) - xenopus , gabaa receptor , oocyte , receptor , acetylcholine receptor , torpedo , biology , nicotinic agonist , microbiology and biotechnology , heterologous expression , gabaa rho receptor , electrophysiology , ion channel , neuroscience , chemistry , biochemistry , recombinant dna , embryo , gene
Oocytes from the frog Xenopus laevis were shown recently to express native nicotinic acetylcholine receptors after injection with purified Torpedo electroplaque membrane vesicles. Injection of Xenopus oocytes with rat cortical or nigral synaptosomes has now been shown to result in the expression of γ‐aminobutyric acid type A (GABA A ) receptor‐mediated Cl − currents. Electrophysiological characterization of the responses of these receptors to GABA and other agents revealed that they were incorporated into the oocyte membrane and that they retained their original pharmacological properties, such as sensitivity to Cl − channel blockers, benzodiazepines, and general anesthetics. These results suggest that this approach to the expression of heterologous proteins in Xenopus oocytes may facilitate the study of native synaptic proteins derived from brain tissue.