SELECTIVE ACTIONS OF A DETERGENT ON LIGAND-GATED ION CHANNELS EXPRESSED IN XENOPUS OOCYTES

Cytoclean, a commercially available detergent, has selective actions o n ligand-gated ion channels. Cytoclean (0.0005-0.01% v/v) potentiated 50 mu M glycine responses in oocytes expressing alpha-2 glycine recept ors by 23 +/- 7% to 342 +/- 43%. Cytoclean is composed of five compone nts dissolved in water, but only one reagent. Bio-Soft D-62, modulated responses of oocytes expressing alpha-2 glycine receptors. Bio-Soft D -62 (0.00005-0.001% w/v), potentiated 50 mu M glycine responses by 13 +/- 1% to 474 +/- 50%. Bio-Soft D-62 is composed of linear alkylbenzen e sulfonate (>95% C12 chain). The effects of Cytoclean or Bio-Soft D-6 2 were examined on alpha-1 beta-2 and alpha-1 beta-2 gamma-2L gamma-am inobutyric acid(A), gamma-aminobutyric acid(rho 1), lpha-amino-3-hydro xy-5-methyl-4-isoxalonepropionic acid, kainate and 5-hydroxytryptamine (3) receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Enhancement of gamm a-aminobutyric acid(A) receptor function ranged from approximate to 21 % to 458% with Cytoclean (0.0001-0.01%), respectively. Bio-Soft D-62 ( 0.001%) inhibited GABA(rho 1) receptor function by approximate to 72%. Cytoclean had no effect on 5-hydroxytryptamin(3) or GluR6 function, b ut Cytoclean (0.005% and 0.01%) inhibited GluR3-mediated currents by a pproximate to 21% and approximate to 41%, respectively. These results suggest that trace amounts of Cytoclean, such as amounts adhering to g lassware, may modulate ion channel function and potentially confound e xperimental results.