PHOTOLYSIS OF A NEWLY SYNTHESIZED CAGED GLYCINE ACTIVATES THE GLYCINERECEPTOR OF RAT CNS NEURONS

The functions of 12 different newly synthesized caged glycines were ex amined on strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors on rat hypothalamic n eurons using photochemical and physiological methods. Quantitative ana lysis of Cl- current induced by photolyzed glycines revealed N-[1-(2-n itrophenyl)ethylcarbonoxyl] glycine (N4-caged glycine) to be the most effectively photolyzed. The current amplitude induced by photolyzed N4 -caged glycine was almost the same as that induced by normal glycine. We propose N-[1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethylcarbonoxyl] to be a useful photola bile moiety for new caged neurotransmitters.