Evidence of enrichment in glycine receptors of crude synaptic membranes from rat spinal cord following Triton X-100 treatment

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1983 May 16;112(3):809-16. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(83)91689-3.

Abstract

Treatment of synaptic membranes from rat brainstem and spinal cord with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 at 1-10 microliters/mg protein caused a marked increase in glycine receptor (3H)strychnine binding expressed per mg of residual membrane protein. The effect was maximal (220 +/- 6% of control) at 5 microliters Triton/mg protein, while higher concentrations caused progressive loss of strychnine binding ability of membranes (27 +/- 6% at 25 microliters Triton/mg protein). The increase in strychnine binding caused by low Triton X-100 reflected an increase in membrane Bmax, the kD being unaffected by the treatment. The affinity of glycine analogues for receptor sites was not appreciably affected by the detergent either. The findings suggest an enrichment of the synaptic membrane preparation in glycine receptors, caused by the solubilization by Triton of membrane constituents not related to the receptor sites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Stem / metabolism*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Octoxynol
  • Phospholipids / metabolism
  • Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / drug effects
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Glycine
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism*
  • Strychnine / metabolism
  • Synaptic Membranes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Phospholipids
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Glycine
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Octoxynol
  • Strychnine