51. GABAAreceptor subunits identified inParameciumby immunofluorescence confocal microscopy
- Author
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Paola Ramoino, Francesco Beltrame, Cesare Usai, Alberto Diaspro, Marco Fato, and Silvia Scaglione
- Subjects
medicine.diagnostic_test ,biology ,GABAA receptor ,Confocal ,Immunofluorescence ,biology.organism_classification ,Microbiology ,Molecular biology ,Cell biology ,GABAA-rho receptor ,law.invention ,Confocal microscopy ,law ,Cytoplasm ,Genetics ,medicine ,Paramecium ,Receptor ,Molecular Biology - Abstract
The presence of opioid, b-adrenergic and cholinergic receptors has been demonstrated in ciliated protozoa, but little is known about c-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. In this study we have analyzed the distribution of GABAA-type receptor subunits in Paramecium. Confocal laser microscopy using antibodies specific for a1-, a2-, a3-, a6-, b2/3-, c2-, e-, k-, and h-subunits showed that most receptors are aggregated in clusters and are distributed both on cell surface and in the cytoplasm. The intensity of labelling of the a6-, b2/3- and c2-subunits was more intense than the a1-, e-, and h-subunits, suggesting that the former are present in higher concentrations than the latter. � 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Published
- 2004