APPEARANCE OF GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS ON THE SURFACE OF HL-60 CELLS UPON DIFFERENTIATION

A specific interaction of L-glutamic acid with promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells completely differentiated by all-E-retinoic acid (K-d = 0. 5 mu M) and by plasma membrane fraction from the same cells (K-d = 1 m u M) was detected through radioligand analysis and characterized. Quis qualate, a nonlabeled structural analogue of glutamic acid, was found to inhibit competitively the specific binding of L-[H-3]glutamic acid to the membranes (K-i = 0.24 mu M). The stereospecificity of the bindi ng was demonstrated. These data suggest that specific glutamate recept ors appear on the surface of HL-60 cells during their differentiation.