Merck + Co., Inc.

Richard Brochu

Doris F Cully

Jeffrey W Warmke

Philip S Paress

Adrian Etter

Charles J Cohen

To date, L-glutamate-gated chloride (GluCl) channels have been observed only in invertebrate organisms. Modulators of this channel (either agonists or antagoinists) will interfere with neurotransmission. For example, agents such as avermectins activate the GluCl, causing paralysis due to blocking of neurotranmitter release, resulting in death of the organism. Because GluCl channels are invertebreate specific, they are excellent targets for the discovery of novel insecticides, anthelminths and parasiticides that will display a marked safety profile because of the lack of mechanism based toxicity in vertebrate organisms. The present specification discloses isolation of a cDNA clone from the cat flea (CfGluCl-1) that encodes a L-glutamate-gated chloride channel. Heterologous expression of CfGluCl-1 cRNA in results in robust expression of a L-glutamate-gated chloride current and the channel is activated and potentiated by avermectins. The expression of CfGluCl-1 in a heterologous expression system if useful to screens for novel GluCl channel agonsts and antagonsits. Additionally, this specification disclose impoved methods of screening for GluCl channel modulators.

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Gillette, NJ, United States of America

Richard Brochu