Properties of human brain glycine receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes.
Glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors from the foetal human brain were 'transplanted' into the Xenopus oocyte membrane by injecting the oocytes with poly(A)+-mRNA extracted from the cerebral cortex. Activation of both glycine and GABA receptors induced membrane currents carried largely by chloride ions. However, unlike the GABA-activated current, the glycine current was blocked by strychnine, and was not potentiated by barbiturate. At low doses, the glycine current increased with concentration following a 2.7th power relation, suggesting that binding of three molecules of glycine may be required to open a single membrane channel. The current induced by steady application of glycine decreased with hyperpolarization beyond about -60 mV.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D007473:Ion Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D005998:Glycine