Xenopus borealis as an alternative source of oocytes for biophysical and pharmacological studies of neuronal ion channels.

ABSTRACT: For the past 30 years, oocytes from Xenopus laevis have been extensively used to express and characterise ion channels in an easily controlled environment. Here we report the first use of oocytes from the closely related species Xenopus borealis as an alternative expression system for neuronal ion channels. Using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique, we show that a wide variety of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels have the same channel properties and pharmacological profiles when expressed in either X. laevis or X. borealis oocytes. Potential advantages of the X. borealis oocytes include a smaller endogenous chloride current and the ability to produce more intense fluorescence signals when studied with voltage-clamp fluorometry. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a difference

SUBMITTER: Cristofori-Armstrong B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4594035 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature