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Expression of functional GABA, glycine and glutamate receptors in Xenopus oocytes injected with rat brain mRNA

Nature volume 310, pages 318–321 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

The use of Gurdon's1 Xenopus oocyte translation system has allowed the production of neurotransmitter receptors in a foreign cell membrane, following the translation of microinjected mRNA isolated from various sources2–4. This very accessible and relatively simple preparation permits the study of the requirements for receptor–ionophore function, assembly and membrane integration. This analysis is presently feasible for the peripheral nicotinic acetylcholine receptor2,3, the chick brain γ-aminobutyrate (GABA) receptor4 and the rat brain serotonin receptor5. We now report the novel and successful expression of the GABA, glycine, glutamate and related acidic amino acid receptors of mammalian brain, and show that they exhibit pharmacologically separate identities when their mRNAs are processed in the amphibian oocyte.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Neuropharmacology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy, 29/39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK

    K. M. Houamed, T. G. Smart, A. Constanti & D. A. Brown

  2. MRC Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    G. Bilbe & E. A. Barnard

  3. Molecular Genetics Department, Searle Research and Development, Lane End Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HR12 4HL, UK

    B. M. Richards

Authors
  1. K. M. Houamed
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  2. G. Bilbe
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  3. T. G. Smart
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  4. A. Constanti
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  5. D. A. Brown
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  6. E. A. Barnard
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  7. B. M. Richards
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Houamed, K., Bilbe, G., Smart, T. et al. Expression of functional GABA, glycine and glutamate receptors in Xenopus oocytes injected with rat brain mRNA. Nature 310, 318–321 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/310318a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/310318a0

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