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Detection Of Functional Nicotinic Receptors Blocked By Α-Bungarotoxin On Pc12 Cells And Dependence Of Their Expression On Post-Translational Events, Edward M. Blumenthal, William G. Conroy, Suzanne J. Romano, Paul D. Kassner, Darwin K. Berg
Detection Of Functional Nicotinic Receptors Blocked By Α-Bungarotoxin On Pc12 Cells And Dependence Of Their Expression On Post-Translational Events, Edward M. Blumenthal, William G. Conroy, Suzanne J. Romano, Paul D. Kassner, Darwin K. Berg
Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications
A major class of nicotinic receptors in the nervous system is one that binds α-bungarotoxin and contains the α7 gene product. PC12 cells, frequently used to study nicotinic receptors, express the α7 gene and have binding sites for the toxin, but previous attempts to elicit currents from the putative receptors have failed. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques and rapid application of agonist, we find a rapidly desensitizing acetylcholine-induced current in the cells that can be blocked by α-bungarotoxin. The current amplitude varies dramatically among three populations of PC12 cells but correlates well with the number of toxin-binding receptors. In contrast, …