title: Expression of native GABAA receptors in Xenopus oocytes injected with rat brain synaptosomes.
abstract: 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 gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Motzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deserra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biggio
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011277:Pregnanediones / Q000494:pharmacology; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D003975:Diazepam; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D010852:Picrotoxin; D011277:Pregnanediones; D011724:Pyridazines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C016837:zinc chloride; C049853:gabazine; C006477:alphaxalone