Purification of AMPA type glutamate receptor by a spider toxin

A glutamate receptor was purified from Triton X-100-solubilized bovine cerebellum membranes. The purification was carried out in two steps: affinity chromatography using a spider toxin (Joro spider toxin; JSTX) immobilized on a lysine-agarose column, and a Mono Q anion exchange column. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the purified active fraction showed a single band with Coomassie Blue staining, which migrated with a M(r) = 130,000. The specific [3H]amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole propionate ([3H]AMPA) binding activity of the affinity-purified fraction was 2095-fold higher than that of the crude soluble fraction. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis showed a Kd of 12.7 nM [3H]AMPA in the purified fraction. The purified fraction was examined with patch-clamp recording methods in reconstituted liposomes. A glutamate-activated channel was observed and was inhibited with JSTX. The rank order of potency of agonists inducing channel currents was AMPA = glutamate greater than quisqualate much greater than kainate greater than NMDA. Thus, there is strong evidence that the 130 kDa protein is a purified component of the native AMPA type glutamate channel of bovine cerebellum.