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. 1989 Jun;97(2):353–360. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1989.tb11961.x

What confers specificity on glycine for its receptor site?

N Tokutomi 1, M Kaneda 1, N Akaike 1
PMCID: PMC1854542  PMID: 2547472

Abstract

1. The structural requirements for activation of the glycine receptor were studied in isolated ventromedial hypothalamic neurones of rats by use of a 'concentration-clamp' technique under single-electrode voltage-clamp conditions. 2. alpha-Amino acids (L-alpha-alanine, and D-alpha-alanine, and L-serine), and glycine-methylester, glycine-ethylester and beta-amino acids (beta-alanine and taurine) produced a transient inward Cl- current, which was similar to that induced by glycine. 3. The responses to individual alpha- and beta-amino acids were selectively antagonized by strychnine, but were not affected by bicuculline, picrotoxin or the taurine antagonist, TAG (6-aminomethyl-3-methyl-4H,1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide hydrochloride), suggesting that alpha- and beta-amino acids activate the same glycine receptor. 4. beta-Amino acids were slightly more potent than the alpha-amino acids in causing cross-desensitization of the glycine response. 5. From the results of the structure-activity analysis of the optical isomers of alpha-alanine, serine and cysteine, a tentative structure of the glycine receptor is proposed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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