Edinburgh Napier University

  Determination of the sequences of invertebrate γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated and glutamate-gated receptor/ion channels, through the application of recombinant {DNA} methods, is not just an academic exercise to effect evolutionary comparisons with the sequences of the corresponding vertebrate receptors. The isolation of {DNA} clones would provide the tools to investigate the exact locations and functional properties of these neurotransmitter receptors within simple nervous systems. In addition, since {GABA} receptors, at least, have been suggested to be the targets of certain pesticides, the availability of invertebrate receptor cDNAs might provide the agrochemical industry with the basis for ‘high-throughput’ screening methods for novel pesticidal compounds. Recently, the isolation of molluscan and Drosophila {GABA} receptor and glutamate receptor cDNAs, and the pharmacological properties of a {GABA} receptor expressed from one of these clones, have been reported. These studies should stimulate further research into the electrophysiology and pharmacology of native invertebrate ion channel proteins.