Channel properties of the purified glutamate receptor from rat brain reconstituted in planar lipid bilayer membrane

The properties of the purified rat brain glutamate receptor (GluR), reconstituted in planar lipid bilayer (BLM) were characterised. The single channel currents activated by glutamate and aspartate were similar. The different kinetics of current fluctuation were observed. Paroxysms of channel activity seems to be resulted from the transit of GluR through its active conformation from which it can open several times before desensitising. The effect of concanovaline A (Con A) as an agent blocking desensitisation of glutamatergic synapses was investigated. It was shown that Con A evokes high levels of conductivity and prolonged opening events of channels. Another agent, which stabilises glutamate activated conductivity, dithiothreitol (DTT), evokes “chronic” channel activity. This study demonstrates that purified GluR reconstituted in planar lipid bilayers exhibits the ion-conductivity properties that are associated with the postsynaptic membrane.