title: Inactivation of a quisqualate-sensitive glutamate receptor by photosensitive analogues of philanthotoxin.
abstract: Three photosensitive, synthetic analogues of delta-philanthotoxin (PhTX-433) have been tested on the locust, excitatory nerve-muscle system. At 10(-9) M they inhibit reversibly the postjunctional currents (EPSCs) recorded from muscle fibres during motor nerve stimulation, mainly by non-competitively antagonizing postjunctional quisqualate-sensitive glutamate receptors (Quis-R), probably through open channel block. This use-dependent antagonism is characteristic of the philanthotoxins. When the preparation was irradiated with 270 nm U.V. during toxin application and nerve stimulation the EPSCs were inhibited irreversibly. Irradiation of the preparation alone or in the presence of philanthotoxins (e.g. PhTX-433) which are not photosensitive did not lead to irreversible inhibition of the EPSC. It is concluded that the three photosensitive toxins bind covalently to Quis-R in its open channel conformation during U.V. irradiation, thereby irreversibly blocking the channel gated by this receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Goodnow
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Sudan
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Usherwood
mesh_terms: D000345:Affinity Labels / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism; D006110:Grasshoppers; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011073:Polyamines; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000345:Affinity Labels; D005971:Glutamates; D011073:Polyamines; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D014862:Wasp Venoms; C034092:delta-philanthotoxin