Microtransplantation of Functional Receptors and Channels from the Alzheimer's Brain to Frog Oocytes

About a decade ago, cell membranes from the electric organ of Torpedo and from the rat brain were transplanted to frog oocytes, which thus acquired functional Torpedo and rat neurotransmitter receptors. Nevertheless, the great potential that this method has for studying human diseases has remained v...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2004-02, Vol.101 (6), p.1760-1763
Main Authors: Miledi, R., Dueñas, Z., Martinez-Torres, A., Kawas, C. H., Eusebi, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alzheimer Disease - metabolism
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimers disease
Animals
Biological Sciences
Cell membranes
Electric current
GABA receptors
Humans
Ion Channels - metabolism
Ion currents
Membranes
Neurology
Neurotransmitter receptors
Oocytes
Oocytes - metabolism
P branes
Receptors
Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism
Rodents
String theory
Xenopus
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Summary:About a decade ago, cell membranes from the electric organ of Torpedo and from the rat brain were transplanted to frog oocytes, which thus acquired functional Torpedo and rat neurotransmitter receptors. Nevertheless, the great potential that this method has for studying human diseases has remained virtually untapped. Here, we show that cell membranes from the postmortem brains of humans that suffered Alzheimer's disease can be microtransplanted to the plasma membrane of Xenopus oocytes. We show also that these postmortem membranes carry neurotransmitter receptors and voltage-operated channels that are still functional, even after they have been kept frozen for many years. This method provides a new and powerful approach to study directly the functional characteristics and structure of receptors, channels, and other membrane proteins of the Alzheimer's brain. This knowledge may help in understanding the basis of Alzheimer's disease and also help in developing new treatments.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.0308224100