抗FGF2人鼠嵌合抗体在HEK293T细胞中的表达优化

目的：FGF2是肿瘤血管新生过程中最重要的因子之一,因此通过制备抗FGF2人鼠嵌合抗体中和其发挥作用,以达到抑制肿瘤生长的目的。方法：利用分泌抗FGF2抗体的杂交瘤细胞株IgG9B9和人B淋巴细胞,分别克隆抗体轻链可变区V_L、重链可变区V_H和人重链恒定区C_H基因,从pComb3λ载体中扩增出人λ 链恒定区C_L基因,通过重叠PCR,将V_L,V_H和C_L,C_H片段分别连接形成嵌合抗体的轻链L和重链H,将L/H链以单独构建或串联于同一载体的方式,构建抗FGF2嵌合抗体表达载体,并通过调控元件WPRE优化载体、共转染促生长因子aFGF以及调整表达温度等方式提高嵌合抗体在真核细胞中的表达。结果：成功构建了优化表达载体PLexm-WPRE、PLexm-aFGF;L、H链基因也成功构建,并以L、H或L-F2A-H（2A连接肽将L和H连接起来）的方式分别成功连接到PLexm,PLexm-WPRE载体中。转染细胞上清的ELISA鉴定结果表明,L/H链单独构建要比串联构建的方式具有更高的表达水平,WPRE能有效促进抗体的表达而aFGF并不能促进其表达,与31、37℃相比,33℃时抗体的表达量最高,同时嵌合抗体表现出了很好的结合活性及中和活性,竞争IC50=6.25μg/ml。通过亲和层析获得了高纯度的抗FGF2嵌合抗体。结论：在33℃下,人鼠嵌合抗体基因在WPRE存在下表达量最高,且与抗原FGF2有很好的结合活性及中和活性,为临床应用奠定了基础。     

人源性抗体在HEK293T细胞中瞬时表达条件的优化

以HEK293T细胞为宿主对抗体基因的转染和表达条件进行优化。以GFP(green fluorescence protein)和人源性抗b FGF抗体1A2为报告基因,考察了3种转染试剂磷酸钙,PEI,FuGene HD的转染效率,确定FuGene HD的转染效率最高后,对DNA∶FuGene HD的比例,加入氯喹的浓度,转染后的孵育时间,最佳的低温培养温度以及加入组蛋白抑制剂的浓度进行了优化。结果显示,FuGene HD的转染效率最高,达到56.7%。当转染的DNA=2μg/4×106细胞时,DNA∶FuGene HD的最佳比例为1∶4(W/V);加入氯喹能够增强FuGene HD的转染效率,最佳浓度为100μmol/L,转染后的最佳孵育时间为6h;低温诱导能够提高293T细胞表达抗体的能力,最佳的温度为33℃;加入组蛋白抑制剂丁酸钠或丙戊酸能够明显提高抗体的表达量,丙戊酸的效果优于丁酸钠。通过对转染试剂,转染方法,培养温度,组蛋白抑制剂的加入等条件进行优化使人源性抗bFGF抗体的表达量从1.5mg/L提高到了15.1mg/L。     

IFN-λ1在HEK293T细胞中表达纯化及活性检测

[目的]构建IFN-λ1真核表达质粒,利用人胚胎肾HEK293T细胞表达系统,获得具有良好生物学活性的IFN-λ1重组蛋白。[方法]将IFN-λ1目的基因克隆到pcDNA3.1+载体NheⅠ与XhoⅠ多克隆位点构建pcDNA3.1-IFN-λ1分泌表达质粒,并将其转染到HEK293T细胞中;采用Ni-NTA亲和层析方法分离纯化重组蛋白,SDS-PAGE和蛋白免疫印迹(Western Blotting)检测IFN-λ1的表达与纯度;采用qPCR、WB结合显微镜观察检测IFN-λ1的生物学活性。[结果]IFN-λ1真核表达质粒构建正确,而且能够在HEK293T细胞中分泌表达重组蛋白,分离纯化的IFN-λ1能够有效地诱导ISG15、ISG54、ISG56、OAS1、TNFα、MX1和TRAIL等凋亡相关基因的表达,激活p38促凋亡信号通路,抑制水泡性口炎病毒对BHK-21细胞的感染。[结论]成功构建了pcDNA3.1-IFN-λ1真核表达质粒,能够在HEK293T细胞中分泌表达IFN-λ1重组蛋白;分离纯化的IFN-λ1重组蛋白具有潜在的抗肿瘤和抗病毒生物学活性,为进一步研究IFN-λ1的功能和临床应用奠定了基础。     

犬β防御素-1真核表达载体的构建及其在HEK293T细胞中的表达

哺乳动物的β-防御素是一类具有广谱抗微生物活性的阳离子小肽.为了克隆和分析犬β防御素-1基因,并建立一套在HEK293T细胞中高效表达犬β防御素-1的方法,本研究采用RT-PCR方法从犬睾丸组织中扩增出犬β防御素-1(cBD-1)的cDNA基因,并将其克隆到pcDNA3.1A载体中,构建了犬β防御素-1基因的真核表达载体pcDNA3.1A-cBD-1,经磷酸钙介导转染HEK293T细胞进行表达.结果表明:克隆的犬β防御素-1基因序列与已发表序列(GenBank 编号:NM-001024641)的同源性为99.7%.表达犬β防御素-1经Western-blot检测,证明构建的犬β防御素-1基因表达载体能够在真核细胞中表达,表达产物能够分泌到细胞外.为进一步研究犬β防御素的功能奠定了基础.     

小鼠甘丙肽1型受体在HEK293A细胞中的表达和内化

目的:克隆小鼠甘丙肽1型受体( mGalR1)基因,构建其真核表达载体,并观察该基因在HEK293A细胞中的表达和内化.方法:应用RT - PCR方法,以小鼠下丘脑RNA为模板,扩增获得甘丙肽Ⅰ型受体(mGalR1)基因并定向克隆到pEGFP - N1真核表达载体;mGalR1 - pEGFP表达载体瞬时转染HEK293A细胞,利用激光共聚焦显微技术观察mGalR1在给予甘丙肽(10-7mol/L)0、5、10、15min刺激时的内化情况.结果:克隆得到正确的mGalR1基因全长序列,其cDNA为1047bp,共编码348个氨基酸;共聚焦显微镜结果表明mGalR1主要在膜上表达,经甘丙肽刺激5～15min后受体下膜进入胞浆.结论:成功构建真核表达载体mGalR1 - pEGFP并在HEK293A中表达;在甘丙肽刺激下小鼠甘丙肽1型受体存在内化现象.     

柠檬酸铁铵对悬浮HEK293细胞转染的影响机制探究

基于聚乙烯亚胺（polyethyleneimine, PEI）的悬浮人胚胎肾细胞（human embryonic kidney 293 cells, HEK293）转染技术前景广阔,但培养基组分会影响转染效率。简单的离心换液存在污染风险,且影响细胞状态。探究抑制转染效率的关键组分对转染过程的影响机制,有利于从根本上解决该问题。首先通过探究培养基中对转染效率具有潜在影响的组分确定关键组分柠檬酸铁铵（ferric ammonium citrate, FAC）的抑制作用,然后通过考察柠檬酸铁铵添加对细胞状态、PEI与DNA形成的复合物（PEI-DNA complex, PEI-DNA复合物）结合情况、目的基因表达情况的影响,分析其抑制转染效率的机制。结果表明,高浓度的柠檬酸铁铵对细胞转染存在明显抑制作用,且该抑制作用随着柠檬酸铁铵浓度的升高而逐渐增强。当柠檬酸根和铁离子同时存在时才会抑制细胞转染过程。过高浓度的柠檬酸铁铵使PEI-DNA复合物的粒径显著增加,复合物进入细胞更加困难,导致进入细胞的复合物数量减少,最终引起细胞转染效率的大幅下降。柠檬酸铁铵通过影响PEI-DNA复合物的大小限制D...     

大鼠p75NTR荧光真核表达载体的构建及其在HEK293细胞中的表达

目的:构建大鼠p75神经营养素受体(p75 neurotrophin receptor,p75NTR)cDNA序列的绿色荧光真核表达载体并鉴定其在人胚肾293(human embryo kidney 293,HEK293)细胞中的表达.方法:采用PCR方法从含野生型大鼠p75NTR的pDC316-RP75质粒中扩增目的片段,经EcoRⅠ和SaⅡ双酶切,定向克隆于pEGFP-N1质粒中,构建绿色荧光真核表达栽体pEGFP-N1-RP75,经酶切及测序鉴定后,通过脂质体转染HEK293细胞,激光共聚焦及免疫组织化学法鉴定大鼠p75NTR的表达.结果:重组质粒经酶切鉴定和序列分析证实含有大鼠p75NTR的编码序列,转染后经激光共聚焦显微镜及免疫组织化学染色观察表明重组质粒能够在HEK293细胞中表达出具有活性的大鼠p75NTR片段.结论:大鼠p75NTR绿色荧光真核表达栽体构建成功并可在HEK293细胞中表达,为进一步研究奠定了基础.     

诱导表达p27对HEK293细胞生长代谢的影响

目的:研究诱导表达p27对HEK293细胞生长和代谢的影响。方法:将pTet-on载体和响应于Dox的p27诱导表达载体共转染HEK293细胞,随机挑选单克隆细胞株。以细胞周期分布和活细胞密度为主要观察指标,考察稳定转染的细胞在Dox诱导下的细胞生长;以Qglc、Qlac和Qgln为主要观察指标,考察转染细胞在Dox诱导下的细胞代谢。结果:p27基因的表达使HEK293细胞的增殖速度显著降低,G1期细胞比例显著升高,葡萄糖消耗和乳酸生产减少。结论:诱导表达p27基因是对HEK293细胞进行G1期阻滞的一种有效策略。     

诱导表达p27对HEK293细胞生长代谢的影响

目的：研究诱导表达p27对HEK293细胞生长和代谢的影响。方法：将pTet—on载体和响应于Dox的p27诱导表达载体共转染HEK293细胞,随机挑选单克隆细胞株。以细胞周期分布和活细胞密度为主要观察指标,考察稳定转染的细胞在Dox诱导下的细胞生长;以Qglc、Qlac和Qgln为主要观察指标,考察转染细胞在Dox诱导下的细胞代谢。结：p27基因的表达使HEK293细胞的增殖速度显著降低,G1期细胞比例显著升高,葡萄糖消耗和乳酸生产减少。结论：诱导表达p27基因是对HEK293细胞进行G1期阻滞的一种有效策略。     

重组人神经生长因子rh-β-NGF真核表达载体的构建及其在HEK293细胞中的表达

为大量制备β-NGF,构建了一种稳定、高效表达重组人神经生长因子(Recombinant human nerve growth factor,rh-β-NGF)的真核表达载体及含该重组载体的HEK293细胞株。首先,构建重组质粒p CMV-β-NGF-IRES-dhfr并转染至HEK293细胞系,用MTX加压筛选和有限稀释法进行选择,获得高效表达rh-β-NGF的单克隆重组细胞株;随后逐步降低血清培养,最终使细胞株完全适应无血清培养基并稳定表达rh-β-NGF;SDS-PAGE分析该表达产物,可见相对分子质量约13 k Da的条带,纯度大于50%,经质谱法测定得到其肽图谱与理论序列完全匹配,接着利用离子交换层析和分子筛层析纯化rh-β-NGF;最后进行重组细胞株表达效率和表达稳定性检测,表明重组细胞株可稳定、高效表达rh-β-NGF,其分泌效率大于20 pg/(cell?d),并能诱导PC12细胞的分化,具有良好的生物学活性。     

Ion Permeation and Selectivity of Wild-Type Recombinant Rat CNG (rOCNC1) Channels Expressed in HEK293 Cells

The permeation properties of adenosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-activated recombinant rat olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (rOCNC1) in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells were investigated using inside-out excised membrane patches. The relative permeability of these rOCNC1 channels to monovalent alkali cations and organic cations was determined from measurements of the changes in reversal potential upon replacing sodium in the bathing solution with different test cations. The permeability ratio of Cl⁻ relative to Na⁺ (P _Cl /P _Na ) was about 0.14, confirming that these channels are mainly permeable to cations. The sequence of relative permeabilities of monovalent alkali metal ions in these channels was P _Na ≥P _K > P _Li > P _Cs ≥P _Rb , which closely corresponds to a high-strength field sequence as previously determined for native rat olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). The permeability sequence for organic cations relative to sodium was P _NH3OH > P _NH4 > P _Na > P _Tris > P _Choline > P _TEA , again in good agreement with previous permeability ratios obtained in native rat ORNs. Single-channel conductance sequences agreed surprisingly well with permeability sequences. These conductance measurements also indicated that, even in asymmetric bi-ionic cation solutions, the conductance was somewhat independent of current direction and dependent on the composition of both solutions. These results indicate that the permeability properties of rOCNC1 channels are similar to those of native rat CNG channels, and provide a suitable reference point for exploring the molecular basis of ion selectivity in recombinant rOCNC1 channels using site-directed mutagenesis. Received: 3 July 2000/Revised: 29 August 2000     

Cholesterol Down-Regulates BK Channels Stably Expressed in HEK 293 Cells

Cholesterol is one of the major lipid components of the plasma membrane in mammalian cells and is involved in the regulation of a number of ion channels. The present study investigates how large conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK) channels are regulated by membrane cholesterol in BK-HEK 293 cells expressing both the α-subunit hKCa1.1 and the auxiliary β1-subunit or in hKCa1.1-HEK 293 cells expressing only the α-subunit hKCa1.1 using approaches of electrophysiology, molecular biology, and immunocytochemistry. Membrane cholesterol was depleted in these cells with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), and enriched with cholesterol-saturated MβCD (MβCD-cholesterol) or low-density lipoprotein (LDL). We found that BK current density was decreased by cholesterol enrichment in BK-HEK 293 cells, with a reduced expression of KCa1.1 protein, but not the β1-subunit protein. This effect was fully countered by the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin or the lysosome function inhibitor bafilomycin A1. Interestingly, in hKCa1.1-HEK 293 cells, the current density was not affected by cholesterol enrichment, but directly decreased by MβCD, suggesting that the down-regulation of BK channels by cholesterol depends on the auxiliary β1-subunit. The reduced KCa1.1 channel protein expression was also observed in cultured human coronary artery smooth muscle cells with cholesterol enrichment using MβCD-cholesterol or LDL. These results demonstrate the novel information that cholesterol down-regulates BK channels by reducing KCa1.1 protein expression via increasing the channel protein degradation, and the effect is dependent on the auxiliary β1-subunit.     

Characterization of Recombinant Human Cardiac KCNQ1/KCNE1 Channels (I Ks) Stably Expressed in HEK 293 Cells

The present study was designed to characterize pharmacological, biophysical and electrophysiological properties of the recombinant human cardiac I _Ks (KCNQ1/KCNE1) channels at physiological temperature. Human cardiac KCNQ1 and KCNE1 genes were cotransfected into HEK 293 cells, and a cell clone stably expressing both genes was selected. Membrane currents were recorded using a perforated patch-clamp technique. The typical I _Ks was slowly activated upon depolarization voltages in HEK 293 cells stably expressing human cardiac KCNQ1 and KCNE1 genes, and the current was inhibited by I _Ks blockers HMR 1556 and chromanol 293B, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀s) of 83.8 nM and 9.2 μM, respectively. I _Ks showed a significant temperature-dependent increase in its magnitude upon elevating bath temperature to 36°C from room temperature (21°C). The current was upregulated by the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol, and the effect was reversed by H89. In addition, I _Ks was inhibited by Ba²⁺ in a concentration-dependent manner (IC₅₀ = 1.4 mM). Action potential clamp revealed a “bell-shaped” time course of I _Ks during the action potential, and maximal peak current was seen at the plateau of the action potential. A significant use- and frequency-dependent increase of I _Ks was observed during a train of action potential clamp. These results indicate that the recombinant human cardiac I _Ks stably expressed in HEK 293 cells is similar to native I _Ks in drug sensitivity and regulated by Ba²⁺ and β-adrenoceptor via the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A pathway. Importantly, the current exhibits significant temperature dependence, a bell-shaped time course during action potential and prominent use- or frequency-dependent accumulation during a train of action potentials.     

Allitridi Inhibits Multiple Cardiac Potassium Channels Expressed in HEK 293 Cells

Allitridi (diallyl trisulfide) is an active compound (volatile oil) from garlic. The previous studies reported that allitridi had anti-arrhythmic effect. The potential ionic mechanisms are, however, not understood. The present study was designed to determine the effects of allitridi on cardiac potassium channels expressed in HEK 293 cells using a whole-cell patch voltage-clamp technique and mutagenesis. It was found that allitridi inhibited hKv4.3 channels (IC₅₀ = 11.4 µM) by binding to the open channel, shifting availability potential to hyperpolarization, and accelerating closed-state inactivation of the channel. The hKv4.3 mutants T366A, T367A, V392A, and I395A showed a reduced response to allitridi with IC₅₀s of 35.5 µM, 44.7 µM, 23.7 µM, and 42.4 µM. In addition, allitridi decreased hKv1.5, hERG, hKCNQ1/hKCNE1 channels stably expressed in HEK 293 cells with IC₅₀s of 40.2 µM, 19.6 µM and 17.7 µM. However, it slightly inhibited hKir2.1 current (100 µM, inhibited by 9.8% at −120 mV). Our results demonstrate for the first time that allitridi preferably blocks hKv4.3 current by binding to the open channel at T366 and T367 of P-loop helix, and at V392 and I395 of S6 domain. It has a weak inhibition of hKv1.5, hERG, and hKCNQ1/hKCNE1 currents. These effects may account for its anti-arrhythmic effect observed in experimental animal models.     

High Yield Expression of Recombinant Human Proteins with the Transient Transfection of HEK293 Cells in Suspension

The art of producing recombinant proteins with complex post-translational modifications represents a major challenge for studies of structure and function. The rapid establishment and high recovery from transiently-transfected mammalian cell lines addresses this barrier and is an effective means of expressing proteins that are naturally channeled through the ER and Golgi-mediated secretory pathway. Here is one protocol for protein expression using the human HEK293F and HEK293S cell lines transfected with a mammalian expression vector designed for high protein yields. The applicability of this system is demonstrated using three representative glycoproteins that expressed with yields between 95-120 mg of purified protein recovered per liter of culture. These proteins are the human FcγRIIIa and the rat α2-6 sialyltransferase, ST6GalI, both expressed with an N-terminal GFP fusion, as well as the unmodified human immunoglobulin G1 Fc. This robust system utilizes a serum-free medium that is adaptable for expression of isotopically enriched proteins and carbohydrates for structural studies using mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Furthermore, the composition of the N-glycan can be tuned by adding a small molecule to prevent certain glycan modifications in a manner that does not reduce yield.     

Anion-Sensitive Regions of L-Type CaV1.2 Calcium Channels Expressed in HEK293 Cells

L-type calcium currents (I_Ca) are influenced by changes in extracellular chloride, but sites of anion effects have not been identified. Our experiments showed that CaV1.2 currents expressed in HEK293 cells are strongly inhibited by replacing extracellular chloride with gluconate or perchlorate. Variance-mean analysis of I_Ca and cell-attached patch single channel recordings indicate that gluconate-induced inhibition is due to intracellular anion effects on Ca²⁺ channel open probability, not conductance. Inhibition of CaV1.2 currents produced by replacing chloride with gluconate was reduced from ∼75%–80% to ∼50% by omitting β subunits but unaffected by omitting α₂δ subunits. Similarly, gluconate inhibition was reduced to ∼50% by deleting an α1 subunit N-terminal region of 15 residues critical for β subunit interactions regulating open probability. Omitting β subunits with this mutant α1 subunit did not further diminish inhibition. Gluconate inhibition was unchanged with expression of different β subunits. Truncating the C terminus at AA1665 reduced gluconate inhibition from ∼75%–80% to ∼50% whereas truncating it at AA1700 had no effect. Neutralizing arginines at AA1696 and 1697 by replacement with glutamines reduced gluconate inhibition to ∼60% indicating these residues are particularly important for anion effects. Expressing CaV1.2 channels that lacked both N and C termini reduced gluconate inhibition to ∼25% consistent with additive interactions between the two tail regions. Our results suggest that modest changes in intracellular anion concentration can produce significant effects on CaV1.2 currents mediated by changes in channel open probability involving β subunit interactions with the N terminus and a short C terminal region.     

Small RNA Analysis in Sindbis Virus Infected Human HEK293 Cells

Introduction

In contrast to the defence mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi) in plants and invertebrates, its role in the innate response to virus infection of mammals is a matter of debate. Since RNAi has a well-established role in controlling infection of the alphavirus Sindbis virus (SINV) in insects, we have used this virus to investigate the role of RNAi in SINV infection of human cells.

Results

SINV AR339 and TR339-GFP were adapted to grow in HEK293 cells. Deep sequencing of small RNAs (sRNAs) early in SINV infection (4 and 6 hpi) showed low abundance (0.8%) of viral sRNAs (vsRNAs), with no size, sequence or location specific patterns characteristic of Dicer products nor did they possess any discernible pattern to ascribe to a specific RNAi biogenesis pathway. This was supported by multiple variants for each sequence, and lack of hot spots along the viral genome sequence. The abundance of the best defined vsRNAs was below the limit of Northern blot detection. The adaptation of the virus to HEK293 cells showed little sequence changes compared to the reference; however, a SNP in E1 gene with a preference from G to C was found.Deep sequencing results showed little variation of expression of cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) at 4 and 6 hpi compared to uninfected cells. Twelve miRNAs exhibiting some minor differential expression by sequencing, showed no difference in expression by Northern blot analysis.

Conclusions

We show that, unlike SINV infection of invertebrates, generation of Dicer-dependent svRNAs and change in expression of cellular miRNAs were not detected as part of the Human response to SINV.     

Enhancement of transient gene expression by fed-batch culture of HEK 293 EBNA1 cells in suspension

Enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP) and erythropoietin (EPO) were used as reporters to assess and improve transient gene expression in HEK 293 EBNA1 cells. The production of EPO only lasted 3 days and reached 18.1 mg/l in suspension cultures in 1 l batch bioreactors. However, GFP expression examined in well-plate experiments persisted for 12 days in transfected cells but decreased rapidly within the next 15 days. These results suggest that the retaining of a plasmid in cells may not be a limiting factor for protein expression in large-scale transient transfection. To improve cell maintenance and protein expression, a fed-batch culture was performed using an enriched medium, a mixture of equal volumes of 293 SFM II medium and a 5 × amino acid solution prepared based on DMEM/F12 medium formula. EPO reached 33.6 mg/l, representing 86% increase over that of the batch culture. Moreover, the total amount of EPO produced was increased by 165% in view of the volume increase in the fed-batch culture. The serum-free medium used in this work enables cells growing well and transfection without medium change. Thus, the process reported here is simple and easy to scale up.     

Effects of Acute and Chronic Ethanol Exposure on Heteromeric N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptors Expressed in HEK 293 Cells

Abstract: Ion flux through native N-methyl-d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors is inhibited by behaviorally relevant concentrations of ethanol (10–100 mM) in a variety of neuronal preparations. However, in animal tissues, it is often difficult to determine accurately which NMDA receptor subunits are responsible for the observed effect. In this study, human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells normally devoid of NMDA receptors were transiently transfected with cDNA expression plasmids coding for specific rat NMDA receptor subunits. Brief application of an NMDA/glycine solution to cells markedly increased intracellular calcium in cells transfected with NR1/NR2A, NR1/NR2B, or NR1/NR2A/NR2B as measured by fura-2 calcium imaging. This increase was both NMDA- and glycine-dependent and was inhibited by competitive and noncompetitive NMDA antagonists, including 2-amino-5-phosphopentanoic acid and MK-801. The NR2B-selective antagonist ifenprodil inhibited responses in cells transfected with NR1/NR2B or NR1/NR2A/NR2B, but not NR1/NR2A subunits. Increasing the transfection ratio of NR2B versus NR2A subunit in NR1/NR2A/NR2B-transfected cells greatly increased their ifenprodil sensitivity. Acute exposure to ethanol (25–100 mM) inhibited the NMDA-mediated increase in intracellular calcium in a dose-dependent manner without affecting basal calcium concentrations. There were no statistically significant differences in ethanol's potency or maximal inhibition between any of the subunit combinations tested. HEK 293 cells transfected with NR1/NR2A/NR2B subunits showed an enhanced sensitivity to ifenprodil following a 24-h exposure to concentrations of ethanol of 50 mM and greater. The enhanced ifenprodil sensitivity following ethanol exposure was not associated with changes in NR1, NR2A, or NR2B immunoreactivity. In contrast to results obtained in transfected HEK 293 cells, no effect of chronic ethanol was observed in oocytes expressing NR1/NR2A/NR2B subunits. These results demonstrate that recombinant NMDA receptors expressed in HEK 293 cells form functional receptors that, like native receptors, are sensitive to modulation by both acute and chronic ethanol treatment.