Differential expression of glutamate receptors in Xenopus oocytes injected with messenger RNA from lobster muscle

Abstract In the neuromuscular synapse of lobster walking leg, application of glutamate and its agonists generated transient depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane. The order of potency was quisqualate > glutamate > kainate. NMDA was inactive on lobster muscle. However, the membrane of Xenopus oocytes injected with mRNA from lobster muscle acquired sensitivity to NMDA. The order of potency for inducing current responses in the oocyte membrane was kainate > glutamate = NMDA > > quisqualate. The results suggest that mRNAs coding for glutamate receptors in the lobster muscle are expressed differently in Xenopus oocyte membrane.