Neuronal acetylcholine receptors in Drosophila: the ARD protein is a component of a high-affinity alpha-bungarotoxin binding complex.

The ard gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes a structural homologue of vertebrate nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR) and is expressed exclusively in nervous tissue. To study the nature of the ARD protein, antibodies were raised against fusion constructs containing two regions of this polypeptide. One segment is putatively extracellular (amino acids 65-212), the other domain is exposed to the cytoplasm (amino acids 305-444). The ARD antisera obtained served to investigate the physical relationship between the ARD protein and alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-Btx) binding sites occurring in Drosophila. Two different high-affinity binding sites for [125I]alpha-Btx, a highly potent antagonist of vertebrate muscle AChR, were detected in fly head membranes. Equilibrium binding and kinetic studies revealed Kd values of approximately 0.1 nM (site 1) and approximately 4 nM (site 2). The estimated maximal binding (Bmax) was approximately 240 and 1080 fmol/mg protein respectively. Both sites exhibited a nicotinic-cholinergic pharmacology. Immunoprecipitation experiments with the ARD antisera indicated that the ARD protein is associated with the [125I]alpha-Btx binding site 1 only. These data support the previously postulated hypothesis that the ARD protein is part of an alpha-Btx binding neuronal AChR of Drosophila. Furthermore, they indicate heterogeneity in nicotinic-cholinergic binding sites in the insect nervous system.     

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of Drosophila: three subunits encoded by genomically linked genes can co-assemble into the same receptor complex

The second beta-like subunit (SBD) is a putative structural subunit of Drosophila melanogaster nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Here we have produced specific antibodies against SBD to study, which other nAChR subunits can co-assemble with SBD in receptor complexes of the Drosophila nervous system. Immunohistochemical studies in the adult optic lobe revealed that SBD has a distribution similar to that of the alpha-subunit ALS in the synaptic neuropil. The subunits ALS, D(alpha)2 and SBD can be co-purified by alpha-bungarotoxin affinity chromatography. Moreover, anti-SBD antibodies co-precipitate ALS and D(alpha)2 and, vice versa, ALS and D(alpha)2 antibodies co-immunoprecipitate SBD protein. Two-step immunoaffinity chromatography with immobilized antibodies against ALS and D(alpha)2 revealed the existence of nAChR complexes that include ALS, D(alpha)2 and SBD as integral components. Interestingly, the genes encoding these three subunits appear to be directly linked in the Drosophila genome at region 96 A of the third chromosome. In addition, SBD appears to be a component of a different receptor complex, which includes the ARD protein as an additional beta-subunit, but neither ALS nor D(alpha)2 nor the third alpha-subunit D(alpha)3. These findings suggest a considerable complexity of the Drosophila nicotinic receptor system.     

Dα3, a New Functional α Subunit of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors from Drosophila

Abstract: Nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs) are important excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the insect CNS. We have isolated and characterized the gene and the cDNA of a new nAChR subunit from Drosophila . The predicted mature nAChR protein consists of 773 amino acid residues and has the structural features of an ACh-binding α subunit. It was therefore named Dα3, for D rosophila α -subunit 3 . The dα3 gene maps to the X chromosome at position 7E. The properties of the Dα3 protein were assessed by expression in Xenopus oocytes. Dα3 did not form functional receptors on its own or in combination with any Drosophila β-type nAChR subunit. Nondesensitizing ACh-evoked inward currents were observed when Dα3 was coexpressed with the chick β2 subunit. Half-maximal responses were at ∼0.15 µ M ACh with a Hill coefficient of ∼1.5. The snake venom component α-bungarotoxin (100 n M ) efficiently but reversibly blocked Dα3/β2 receptors, suggesting that Dα3 may be a component of one of the previously described two classes of toxin binding sites in the Drosophila CNS.     

Cloning and Functional Characterisation of Two Novel Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α Subunits from the Insect Pest Myzus persicae

Abstract: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors play a major role in excitatory neurotransmission in insect CNSs and constitute an important target for insecticides. Here, we report the isolation and functional characterisation of two cDNAs encoding nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α subunits from a major insect pest, the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae . These two subunits, termed Mpα1 and Mpα2, are respective structural homologues of the Drosophila Dα2/ Schistocerca gregaria αL1 α-subunit pair and the Drosophila ALS α subunit. Xenopus oocyte expression confirmed that each Myzus subunit can form functional acetylcholine- or nicotine-gated channels. However, some electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of the Myzus subunits were distinct from those encoded by the corresponding Drosophila subunits. Coexpression of the Myzus subunits with the chick β2 subunit revealed other differences from the Drosophila system, as only very limited potentiation of agonist-induced currents was observed with Mpα2 and none with Mpα1. Available data therefore indicate that structurally homologous insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α subunits from different species can exhibit distinctive physiological and pharmacological characteristics.     

Presence of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on dorsal root ganglion neurons proved using knockout mice and selective α-neurotoxins in histochemistry

In complex tissues where multiple subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed, immunohistochemistry has been the most popular tool for investigation of nAChR subunit distribution. However, recent studies with nAChR subunit knockout mice demonstrated that a large panel of antibodies is unsuitable. Thus, we aimed to develop a histochemical method for selective labeling of α7 nAChR with neurotoxins, utilizing α7 nAChR-transfected cells, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord from wild-type and knockout mouse. The specificity of Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated α-bungarotoxin (Alexa-αBgt) was demonstrated in binding to α7-transfected cells inhibited by long-chain α-cobratoxin (CTX), but not short-chain α-neurotoxin II (NTII). In contrast, binding to Torpedo muscle-type nAChRs and to motor end plates in mouse tongue sections was prevented by both CTX and NTII. In tissue sections of DRG, expressing all neuronal nAChR subunits, only CTX precluded Alexa-αBgt labeling of neurons, with no staining for α7 nAChR knockout tissue. It proved that α7 nAChRs are the major αBgt-binding sites in mouse DRG. Corresponding results were obtained for terminals in the spinal cord. Thus, we present a protocol utilizing Alexa-αBgt and non-labeled CTX/NTII that allows specific histochemical detection of α7 nAChR with a spatial resolution at the level of single axon terminals.     

Galanthamine and non-competitive inhibitor binding to ACh-binding protein: evidence for a binding site on non-alpha-subunit interfaces of heteromeric neuronal nicotinic receptors

Rapid neurotransmission is mediated through a superfamily of Cys-loop receptors that includes the nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChR), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)), serotonin (5-HT(3)) and glycine receptors. A class of ligands, including galanthamine, local anesthetics and certain toxins, interact with nAChRs non-competitively. Suggested modes of action include blockade of the ion channel, modulation from undefined extracellular sites, stabilization of desensitized states, and association with annular or boundary lipid. Alignment of mammalian Cys-loop receptors shows aromatic residues, found in the acetylcholine or ligand-binding pocket of nAChRs, are conserved in all subunit interfaces of neuronal nAChRs, including those that are not formed by alpha subunits on the principal side of the transmitter binding site. The amino-terminal domain containing the ligand recognition site is homologous to the soluble acetylcholine-binding protein (AChBP) from mollusks, an established structural and functional surrogate. We assess ligand specificity and employ X-ray crystallography with AChBP to demonstrate ligand interactions at subunit interfaces lacking vicinal cysteines (i.e. the non-alpha subunit interfaces in nAChRs). Non-competitive nicotinic ligands bind AChBP with high affinity (K(d) 0.015-6 microM). We mutated the vicinal cysteine residues in loop C of AChBP to mimic the non-alpha subunit interfaces of neuronal nAChRs and other Cys loop receptors. Classical nicotinic agonists show a 10-40-fold reduction in binding affinity, whereas binding of ligands known to be non-competitive are not affected. X-ray structures of cocaine and galanthamine bound to AChBP (1.8 A and 2.9 A resolution, respectively) reveal interactions deep within the subunit interface and the absence of a contact surface with the tip of loop C. Hence, in addition to channel blocking, non-competitive interactions with heteromeric neuronal nAChR appear to occur at the non-alpha subunit interface, a site presumed to be similar to that of modulating benzodiazepines on GABA(A) receptors.     

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of Drosophila melanogaster: the alpha-subunit dalpha3 and the beta-type subunit ARD co-assemble within the same receptor complex

Dalpha3 is a functional alpha-subunit of Drosophila melanogaster nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Here, we produced Dalpha3-specific antibodies to study which other nAChR subunits can co-assemble with Dalpha3 in receptor complexes of the Drosophila nervous system. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that Dalpha3 is co-distributed with the beta-subunit ARD in synaptic neuropil regions of the optic lobe. Both subunits can be co-purified by alpha-bungarotoxin affinity chromatography. Dalpha3 antibodies co-immunoprecipitate Dalpha3 and ARD proteins and, vice versa, anti-ARD antibodies co-precipitate ARD and Dalpha3. These data demonstrate that one type of fly nAChRs includes these two subunits as integral components.     

5-Iodo-A-85380 binds to alpha-conotoxin MII-sensitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) as well as alpha4beta2* subtypes

Recent work suggests that 5-iodo-A-85380, a radioiodinated analog of the 3-pyridyl ether A-85380, represents a promising imaging agent for non-invasive, in vivo studies of alphaAbeta2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs; *denotes receptors containing the indicated subunits), because of its low non-specific binding, low in vivo toxicity and high selectivity for alpha4beta2* nAChRs. As an approach to elucidate nAChR subtypes expressed in striatum, we carried out competitive autoradiography in monkey and rat brain using 5-[125I]iodo-A-85380 ([125I]A-85380) and [125I]alpha-conotoxin MII, a ligand that binds with high affinity to alpha6* and alpha3* nAChRs, but not to alpha4beta2* nAChRs. Although A-85380 is reported to be selective for alpha4beta2* nAChRs, we observed that A-85380 completely inhibited [125I]alpha-conotoxin MII binding in rat striatum and that A-85380 blocked >90% of [125I] alpha-conotoxin MII sites in monkey caudate and putamen. These results suggest that A-85380 binds to non-alpha4beta2* nAChRs, including putative alpha6* nAChRs. Experiments to determine the percentage of [125I]A-85380 sites that contain alpha-conotoxin MII-sensitive (alpha6beta2*) nAChRs indicate that they represent about 10% of [125I]A-85380 sites in rodent striatum and about 30% of sites in monkey caudate and putamen. These data are important for identifying alterations in nicotinic receptor subtypes in Parkinson's disease and other basal ganglia disorders both in in vitro and in in vivo imaging studies.     

Similarity Between Rat Brain Nicotinic α-Bungarotoxin Receptors and Stably Expressed α-Bungarotoxin Binding Sites

Abstract: The present results demonstrate stable expression of α-bungarotoxin (α-BGT) binding sites by cells of the GH₄C₁ rat pituitary clonal line. Wild-type GH₄C₁ cells do not express α-BGT binding sites, nor do they contain detectable mRNA for nicotinic receptor α2, α3, α4, α5, α7, β2, or β3 subunits. However, GH₄C₁ cells stably transfected with rat nicotinic receptor α7 cDNA (α7/GH₄C₁ cells) express the transgene abundantly as mRNA, and northern analysis showed that the message is of the predicted size. The α7/GH₄C₁ cells also express saturable, high-affinity binding sites for ¹²⁵I-labeled α-BGT, with a K_D of 0.4 nM and B_max of 3.2 fmol/10⁶ intact cells. ¹²⁵I-α-BGT binding affinities and pharmacological profiles are not significantly different for sites in membranes prepared either from rat brain or α7/GH₄C₁ cells. Furthermore, K_D and K_i values for ¹²⁵I-α-BGT binding sites on intact α7/GH₄C₁ cells are essentially similar to those for hippocampal neurons in culture. Sucrose density gradient analysis showed that the size of the α-BGT binding sites expressed in α7/GH₄C₁ cells was similar to that of the native brain α-BGT receptor. Chronic exposure of α7/GH₄C₁ cells in culture to nicotine or an elevated extracellular potassium concentration induces changes in the number of α-BGT binding sites comparable to those observed in cultured neurons. Collectively, the present results show that the properties of α-BGT binding sites in transfected α7/GH₄C₁ cells resemble those for brain nicotinic α-BGT receptors. If the heterologously expressed α-BGT binding sites in the present study are composed solely of α7 subunits, the results could suggest that the rat brain α-BGT receptor has a similar homooligomeric structure. Alternatively, if α-BGT binding sites exist as heterooligomers of α7 plus some other previously identified or novel subunit(s), the data would indicate that the α7 subunits play a major role in determining properties of the α-BGT receptor.     

α-Bungarotoxin Binds to Low-Affinity Nicotine Binding Sites in Rat Brain

Reported differences in the pharmacology and distribution of [3H]nicotine and [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites in mammalian brain suggest that these ligands label separate receptor sites. Affinity purification of an alpha-bungarotoxin binding protein from rat brain failed to copurify the high-affinity nicotine binding site, which remained in the nonbound soluble fraction after the affinity chromatography step. This confirms the independence of these putative receptor sites. Nevertheless, the binding of [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin to P2 membranes was inhibited by (-)-nicotine (Ki = 9 X 10(-6) M), and this sensitivity was preserved after affinity purification. It is proposed that alpha-bungarotoxin binds to a population of low-affinity nicotine binding sites. Comparison of the enantiomers of nicotine in competition studies at both radioligand binding sites revealed an 80-fold preference for the (-) form at the high-affinity [3H]nicotine binding site, whereas the site labelled by [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin displayed little stereoselectivity. In this respect, the brain alpha-bungarotoxin binding site resembles the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo electric organ.     

Analysis of α-Bungarotoxin Binding in the Goldfish Central Nervous System

Abstract: We report here the equilibrium, kinetic, and pharmacological analysis of α-¹²⁵I-bungarotoxin (α-¹²⁵I-Bgt) binding to a Triton x-100-solubilized goldfish brain synaptosomal fraction. In addition, a refined analysis of equilibrium binding to a particulate synaptosomal fraction is presented. Equilibrium binding from both particulate and soluble fractions revealed an apparent heterogeneity of binding sites. Kinetic analysis of the soluble receptor revealed linear association kinetics and nonlinear dissociation kinetics. The dissociation curve suggested the presence of at least two rate constants. Potential sources of the binding heterogeneity found in both the equilibrium binding and dissociation kinetics experiments are (1) multiple receptor species, (2) multiple ligand species, and (3) different, possibly interconvertible, states of a single receptor type. No evidence for the first two alternatives was found. Support for the third alternative was obtained by observing the effect of cholinergic ligands on α-¹²⁵I-Bgt dissociation. Carbamylcholine and d -tubocurarine increased the apparent proportion of rapidly dissociating sites, suggesting that the two binding affinities can be interconverted and may arise from a single receptor type. Evidence concerning the identity of the α -Bgt binding protein as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is discussed.     

Dbeta3, an atypical nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit from Drosophila : molecular cloning, heterologous expression and coassembly

Insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a central role in mediating neuronal synaptic transmission and are the target sites for the increasingly important group of neonicotinoid insecticides. Six nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits (four alpha-type and two beta-type) have been cloned previously from the model insect species Drosophila melanogaster. Despite extensive efforts, it has not been possible to generate functional recombinant nAChRs by heterologous expression of any combination of these six subunits. It has, however, been possible to express functional hybrid receptors when Drosophila alpha subunits are co-expressed with vertebrate beta subunits. This has led to the assumption that successful heterologous expression might require an, as yet, uncloned beta-type insect subunit. Examination of the recently completed Drosophila genomic sequence data has identified a novel putative nAChR beta-type subunit. Here we report the molecular cloning, heterologous expression and characterization of this putative Drosophila nAChR subunit (Dbeta3). Phylogenetic comparisons with other ligand-gated ion channel subunit sequences support its classification as a nAChR subunit but show it to be a distantly related member of this neurotransmitter receptor subunit family. Evidence that the Dbeta3 subunit is able to coassemble with other Drosophila nAChR subunits and contribute to recombinant nAChRs has been obtained by both radioligand binding and coimmunoprecipitation studies in transfected Drosophila S2 cells.     

Host Cell-Specific Folding of the Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor α8 Subunit

Abstract: Heterologous expression of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α8 subunit in cultured mammalian cell lines has revealed that the correct folding of this protein is dependent on the host cell type. The α8 subunit, which is able to form homo-oligomeric ion channels when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, could be detected in all transfected cell lines by both immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence microscopy with a monoclonal antibody that recognises a linear epitope. In contrast, the α8 subunit could be detected in some but not in all transfected cell lines with a monoclonal antibody that recognises a conformation-sensitive epitope or by nicotinic radioligand binding. It is interesting that although correctly folded α8 protein could be detected in transfected rat pituitary (GH₄C₁) cells, only misfolded α8 protein could be detected in a large subpopulation of transfectants (transient or clonal stable isolates). We have also found that the protein encoded by a chimaeric cDNA (constructed from the N-terminal region of α8 and the C-terminal domain of the serotonin 5-HT₃ receptor subunit) is expressed efficiently, and in a conformation that binds α-bungarotoxin, in all cell types examined. These results, together with previous expression studies with the homo-oligomeric α7 subunit and hetero-oligomeric nicotinic receptor subunit combinations, suggest that the cell-specific folding described here is a phenomenon that may be characteristic of homo-oligomeric nicotinic receptors.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF AN α-BUNGAROTOXIN BINDING COMPONENT FROM DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Abstract— We describe an α-bungarotoxin binding component from Dromphila melanoyaster that has the properties expected of an acetylcholine receptor. Toxin binding to a paniculate form of this component has been shown to be proportional to amount of extract, to be saturable and to be destroyed by heat. Localization studies using ¹²⁵I-α-bungarotoxin binding to frozen sections has shown toxin binding to be restricted to synaptic areas of the Drosophila CNS. We have also shown that this toxinbinding component can be treated with Triton X-100 without significantly altering its toxin-binding and pharmacological specificity. The ability of preincubation with cholinergic ligands to block labeled α-bungarotoxin binding to both particulate and detergent treated extracts has been studied. The nicotinic agents nicotine, d-tubocurarine, and acetylcholine are the most effective blocking agents. All of the muscarinic agents tested and the nicotinic agent decamethonium were less effective than acetylcholine in preventing α-bungarotoxin binding.     

Nicotinic Agonists Regulate α-Bungarotoxin Binding Sites of TE671 Human Medulloblastoma Cells

The TE671 human medulloblastoma cell line expresses a variety of characteristics of human neurons. Among these characteristics is the expression of membrane-bound high-affinity binding sites for alpha-bungarotoxin, which is a potent antagonist of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on these cells. These toxin binding sites represent a class of nicotinic receptor isotypes present in mammalian brain. Treatment of TE671 cells during proliferative growth phase with nicotine or carbamylcholine, but not with muscarine or d-tubocurarine, induced up to a five-fold increase in the density of radiolabeled toxin binding sites in crude membrane fractions. This effect was blocked by co-incubation with the nicotinic antagonists d-tubocurarine and decamethonium, but not by mecamylamine or by muscarinic antagonists. Following a 10-13 h lag phase upon removal of agonist, recovery of the up-regulated sites to control values occurred within an additional 10-20 h. These studies indicate that the expression of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on TE671 cells is subject to regulation by nicotinic agonists. Studies of the murine CNS have consistently indicated nicotine-induced up-regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, thereby supporting the identification of the toxin binding site on these cells as the functional nicotinic receptor. Although a mechanism for this effect is not apparent, nicotine-induced receptor blockade does not appear to be involved.     

The α5(H105R) mutation impairs α5 selective binding properties by altered positioning of the α5 subunit in GABAA receptors containing two distinct types of α subunits

GABA_A receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels that are major mediators of fast inhibitory neurotransmission. Clinically relevant GABA_A receptor subtypes are assembled from α5(1-3, 5), β1-3 and the γ2 subunit. They exhibit a stoichiometry of two α, two β and one γ subunit, with two GABA binding sites located at the α/β and one benzodiazepine binding site located at the α/γ subunit interface. Introduction of the H105R point mutation into the α5 subunit, to render α5 subunit-containing receptors insensitive to the clinically important benzodiazepine site agonist diazepam, unexpectedly resulted in a reduced level of α5 subunit protein in α5(H105R) mice. In this study, we show that the α5(H105R) mutation did not affect cell surface expression and targeting of the receptors or their assembly into macromolecular receptor complexes but resulted in a severe reduction of α5-selective ligand binding. Immunoprecipitation studies suggest that the diminished α5-selective binding is presumably due to a repositioning of the α5(H105R) subunit in GABA_A receptor complexes containing two different α subunits. These findings imply an important role of histidine 105 in determining the position of the α5 subunit within the receptor complex by determining the affinity for assembly with the γ2 subunit.     

Molecular characterization of Dalpha6 and Dalpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits from Drosophila: formation of a high-affinity alpha-bungarotoxin binding site revealed by expression of subunit chimeras

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) mediate fast synaptic transmission in the insect brain and are target sites for neonicotinoid insecticides. Seven nAChR subunits (four alpha-type and three beta-type) have been cloned previously from Drosophila melanogaster, the model insect system and characterized by heterologous expression. Recently, three further putative nAChR alpha subunits (Dalpha5, Dalpha6 and Dalpha7) with sequence similarity to the vertebrate alpha7 subunit have been identified from Drosophila genome sequence data but there have been no reports, as yet, of their characterization by heterologous expression. In the present study, we report the first isolation of a full-length Dalpha7 cDNA and the independent molecular cloning of Dalpha6. Binding of nicotinic radioligands was not detected to full-length Dalpha6 or Dalpha7 subunits when expressed alone or when or co-expressed with other nAChR subunits in Drosophila or mammalian cell lines, but specific cell-surface binding of [(125)I]alpha-bungarotoxin (K(d) = 0.68 +/- 0.22 nm) and [(3)H]methyllycaconitine (K(d) = 0.27 +/- 0.06 nm) was detected after expression of a subunit chimera containing the ligand-binding domains of Dalpha6 fused to the C-terminal domain of the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 5HT(3A). Although cell-surface binding was not detected with a Dalpha7/5HT(3Alpha) chimera expressed alone, co-expression of the two subunit chimeras resulted in significantly enhanced levels of nicotinic radioligand binding (with no change in affinity). This is the first evidence for the formation of a nAChR binding site by heterologously expressed Drosophila nAChR subunits in the absence of a co-expressed vertebrate nAChR subunit. In addition to the formation of homomeric nAChR complexes, evidence has been obtained from both radioligand binding and co-immunoprecipitation studies for the co-assembly of Dalpha6 and Dalpha7 into heteromeric cell surface complexes.     

Interaction of α-conotoxin ImII and its analogs with nicotinic receptors and acetylcholine-binding proteins: additional binding sites on Torpedo receptor

α-Conotoxins interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and acetylcholine-binding proteins (AChBPs) at the sites for agonists/competitive antagonists. α-Conotoxins blocking muscle-type or α7 nAChRs compete with α-bungarotoxin. However, α-conotoxin ImII, a close homolog of the α7 nAChR-targeting α-conotoxin ImI, blocked α7 and muscle nAChRs without displacing α-bungarotoxin ( Ellison et al. 2003, 2004 ), suggesting binding at a different site. We synthesized α-conotoxin ImII, its ribbon isomer (ImII iso ), 'mutant' ImII(W10Y) and found similar potencies in blocking human α7 and muscle nAChRs in Xenopus oocytes. Both isomers displaced [¹²⁵I]-α-bungarotoxin from human α7 nAChRs in the cell line GH₄C₁ (IC₅₀ 17 and 23 μM, respectively) and from Lymnaea stagnalis and Aplysia californica AChBPs (IC₅₀ 2.0–9.0 μM). According to SPR measurements, both isomers bound to immobilized AChBPs and competed with AChBP for immobilized α-bungarotoxin ( K _d and IC₅₀ 2.5–8.2 μM). On Torpedo nAChR, α-conotoxin [¹²⁵I]-ImII(W10Y) revealed specific binding ( K _d 1.5–6.1 μM) and could be displaced by α-conotoxin ImII, ImII iso and ImII(W10Y) with IC₅₀ 2.7, 2.2 and 3.1 μM, respectively. As α-cobratoxin and α-conotoxin ImI displaced [¹²⁵I]-ImII(W10Y) only at higher concentrations (IC₅₀≥ 90 μM), our results indicate that α-conotoxin ImII and its congeners have an additional binding site on Torpedo nAChR distinct from the site for agonists/competitive antagonists.