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Timing AMPA Receptor Activation with Laser-Pulse Photolysis

  • Protocol
Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Technologies

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 106))

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Abstract

The use of laser light to liberate glutamate from “caged glutamate” for rapidly initiating AMPA receptor activation enables one to measure the rate of channel opening on the microsecond time scale. From a series of observed rate constants as a function of glutamate concentration, the channel-opening and channel-closing rate constants can be calculated. These kinetic constants define the basic gating property of AMPA receptors. They can also be used to characterize the mechanism of channel regulation by modulatory agents, and the structure-function relationship. Here, I describe the instrumentation of laser-pulse photolysis, data analysis, and advantages as well as limitations of this technique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Center for Neuroscience Research, University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY), Albany, NY, 12222, USA

    Li Niu

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  1. Li Niu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li Niu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Gabriela K. Popescu

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Niu, L. (2016). Timing AMPA Receptor Activation with Laser-Pulse Photolysis. In: Popescu, G. (eds) Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Technologies. Neuromethods, vol 106. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2812-5_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2812-5_16

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2811-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2812-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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