CHARACTERIZATION AND MOLECULAR REACTION SCHEME OF A CHLORIDE CHANNEL EXPRESSED AFTER AXOTOMY IN CRAYFISH

The nerve to the deep extensor abdominal muscle (DEAM) in crayfish species Astacus astacus, containing four excitatory and one inhibitory motor axons, was cut in the third segment on one side of the animal. The distal axon stump was not subject to phagocy-tosis but was present for months after the axotomy. The two lateral bundles of the DEAM were prepared 4–6 weeks after the axotomy. The γ-aminobutyric-acid-(GABA-) activated chloride channel of these bundles was characterized by applying pulses of GABA to outside-out patches of the muscle membrane and measuring the responses. Based on the dose/response relationship of the peak current and of the rise time as well as on single-channel kinetics, a detailed molecular scheme for the reaction of the channel with GABA was derived. This scheme contains four binding steps of the agonist to the receptor and two open states. Simulations of the dose/response relationships with this model resulted in a set of rate constants which generate proper fits. In comparison to the channels present in innervated muscles, the channels of denervated muscles have a higher affinity for GABA, a lower single-channel conductance, four versus five binding steps, and non-cooperative binding. The first three of these adaptations of denervated muscles correspond to similar changes in denervated vertebrate muscles.