We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Gating of α<sub>3</sub>β<sub>4</sub> neuronal nicotinic receptor can be controlled by the loop M2-M3 of both α<sub>3</sub> and β<sub>4</sub> subunits.
- Authors
Rovira, José Carlos; Vicente-Agulló, Francisco; Campos-Caro, Antonio; Criado, Manuel; Sala, Francisco.; Sala, Salvador; Ballesta, Juan José
- Abstract
Previous studies have shown that the gating mechanism of α3β4 neuronal nicotinic receptors is affected by a residue in the middle of the M2-M3 loop of the β4 subunit. We have extended the study of the same location to the α3 subunit. Bovine α3β4 receptors were mutated in position 268, substituting the residue present in wild-type receptors, i.e. leucine in α3 and asparagine in β4, for an aspartate. Wild-type and mutated α3 and β4 subunits were combined to form four different receptors. We have measured macroscopic currents in Xenopus oocytes elicited by nicotine, and related them to surface receptor expression measured with an epibatidine-binding essay. We also obtained single-channel recordings of the receptors to study their kinetic behaviour. The results were analysed in terms of an allosteric model with three states. We found that the effect of the mutation in the α3 subunit on the gating of the receptor was similar to the corresponding mutation in the β4 subunit. The effect when both subunits were mutated was additive, suggesting that the contribution of each subunit to the gating mechanism is independent.
- Subjects
NICOTINE; LEUCINE; AMINO acids; ORGANIC acids; XENOPUS; PIPIDAE
- Publication
Pflügers Archiv: European Journal of Physiology, 2000, Vol 439, Issue 1/2, p86
- ISSN
0031-6768
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s004249900143