Neurotransmitter Receptor Complexes In The Brain: Biochemical Characterization And Functional Analysis Of Receptor-Receptor Interactions

authors

• Toulmé Estelle
• Martinez Audrey
• Boué-Grabot Eric

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abstract

Neurotransmitter receptors are integral membrane proteins expressed at the cell surface that allow communication between neuronal cells. Communication between neurons in the mammalian central nervous system, also called synaptic transmission, is achieved through the release of one or more neurotransmitters or modulators from the same pre-synaptic terminal that leads to the activation of specific neurotransmitter receptors localized at the post-synaptic membrane. Receptors are classified by their transduction mechanisms into two main families: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs). Upon ligand’s binding, GPCRs mediate their effect through the activation of G proteins which engage second messenger pathways; whereas LGICs induce the opening of a central pore permeable to selected ions. Neurotransmitter-gated channels play a crucial role in controlling neuronal activity and the modulation of their function has important consequences for neuronal excitability. It is well established that changes in the number, molecular composition, properties, interaction with receptor-associated proteins and/or localization of LGICs modulate receptor function. Recent findings demonstrated that physical interaction between two distinct ligand-gated channel types represent an additional mechanism to regulate specific receptor function and/or trafficking and consequently synaptic transmission. In this chapter, we provide an overview on such interaction between distinct receptors and describe in details reliable biochemical methods for assessing physical interaction between distinct LGICs. We also mention other complementary methods to examine the functional impact of receptor-receptor interactions.

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