Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: Ex-vivo expression of functional, non-hybrid, heteropentameric receptors from a marine arthropod, Lepeophtheirus salmonis.

ABSTRACT: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels mostly located in the post-synaptic membrane of cholinergic synapses. The natural neurotransmitter is acetylcholine, but they are also the direct targets for neonicotinoids, chemicals widely used against ectoparasites, arthropod vectors and agricultural pests. There are significant concerns regarding adverse effects of neonicotinoids on beneficial insects. In arthropods, functional nAChRs made of α subunits have been expressed from Drosophila genes, and hybrid receptors (sometimes also referred to as chimeric receptors) using species-specific α subunits and vertebrate β subunits have been expressed ex-vivo. Arthropod-specific nAChRs made of both α and β subunits from the target species have not been expressed ex-vivo.

SUBMITTER: Rufener L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7419010 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature