Stoichiometry of the Human Glycine Receptor Revealed by Direct Subunit Counting
by Durisic, N.; Godin, A. G.; Wever, C. M.; Heyes, C. D.; Lakadamyali, M.; Dent, J. A.
The subunit stoichiometry of heteromeric glycine-gated channels determines fundamental properties of these key inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors; however, the ratio of alpha 1- to beta-subunits per receptor remains controversial. We used single-molecule imaging and stepwise photobleaching in Xenopus oocytes to directly determine the subunit stoichiometry of a glycine receptor to be 3 alpha 1:2 beta. This approach allowed us to determine the receptor stoichiometry in mixed populations consisting of both heteromeric and homomeric channels, additionally revealing the quantitative proportions for the two populations.
- Journal
- Journal of Neuroscience
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 37
- Year
- 2012
- Start Page
- 12915-12920
- URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2050-12.2012
- ISBN/ISSN
- 1529-2401; 0270-6474
- DOI
- 10.1523/jneurosci.2050-12.2012