title: RdlDv, a novel GABA-gated chloride channel gene from the American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis.
abstract: The American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis is a major transmitter of bacterial and viral pathogens in human and animal populations, and compounds active against this species would benefit both human and animal health. Invertebrate GABA-gated chloride channels are validated targets of commonly used insecticides and acaricides. We cloned a novel member of the invertebrate GABA-gated chloride channel gene family from Dermacentor variabilis, RdlDv. The closest homologue of the predicted gene product of RdlDv is the RDL protein encoded by the GABA-gated chloride channel gene Drosophila Rdl (Resistance to Dieldrin), with which it shares 64% amino acid identity. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, RdlDv produces GABA-activated currents blocked by the known insecticides and RDL antagonists fipronil and picrotoxinin. These results suggest that RdlDv encodes a GABA-gated chloride channel subunit, making it a potential target for compounds active against the tick D. variabilis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ion Channels, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Priest
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Cully
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ludmerer
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000235:genetics*; D004026:Dieldrin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007305:Insecticide Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D054830:Sesterterpenes; D014981:Xenopus; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels; D004026:Dieldrin; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D010852:Picrotoxin; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D054830:Sesterterpenes; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C082030:Rdl protein, Drosophila; C022961:picrotoxinin; C082360:fipronil