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Title: Functional reconstitution of the bovine brain GABA sub A receptor from solubilized components

Journal Article · · Biochemistry; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bi00432a030· OSTI ID:5547159

The GABA{sub A}/benzodiazepine receptor has been solubilized from membrane preparations of bovine cerebral cortex and has been reconstituted, in a functionally active form, into phospholipid vesicles. In preliminary experiments, the receptor was labeled with the photoactive benzodiazepine ({sup 3}H)flunitrazepam prior to solubilization. A peptide of apparent molecular weight 53,500 was specifically labeled by this method, and this was used as a marker for the receptor during the reconstitution procedures. The labeled protein was solubilized with approximately 40% efficiency by 1% {beta}-octyl glucoside. Reconstitution was achieved by mixing the solubilized proteins with a 4:1 mixture of soybean asolectin and bovine brain phospholipids, followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-50-80 to remove detergent. The incorporation of the GABA{sub A} receptor into membrane vesicles has been verified by sucrose gradient centrifugation in which the ({sup 3}H)-flunitrazepam-labeled peptide comigrated with ({sup 14}C)phosphatidylcholine used as a lipid marker. Vesicles prepared without labeled markers retained the ability to bind both ({sup 3}H)flunitrazepam and the GABA analogue ({sup 3}H)muscimol. A novel fluorescence technique has been used to measure chloride transport mediated by the GABA{sub A} receptor in reconstituted vesicles. Flux was also blocked by pretreatment with the competitive GABA{sub A} receptor blocker bicuculline or with the noncompetitive GABA{sub A} receptor antagonist picrotoxin.

OSTI ID:
5547159
Journal Information:
Biochemistry; (USA), Vol. 28:6; ISSN 0006-2960
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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