THE BETA-SUBUNIT OF CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS AVERMECTIN RECEPTOR RESPONDS TO GLYCINE AND IS ENCODED BY CHROMOSOME-1

A full-length cDNA encoding the beta subunit of the recently described avermectin receptor was amplified from Caenorhabditis elegans mRNA. W hen this cDNA was injected into Xenopus oocytes a dose-dependent respo nse to glycine was observed, together with a smaller response to 1 mM GABA. The EC(50) of the glycine response was similar to that described previously for glutamate (0.38 mM). Hybridisation of the cDNA to poly tene filters identified three yeast artificial chromosome clones that gave a positive signal, Y37B3, Y38E5, and Y24C9, all of which are mapp ed to chromosome 1. Hybridisation to a series of cosmid clones coverin g this area further mapped the gene encoding this subunit to the regio n -2,818 to -2,824.