Synthetic analogues of arthropod polyamine-containing toxins have been investigated for antagonism of the quisqualate-sensitive L-glutamate receptor (quis-GluR) of locust muscle. Block of the cation-selective channel gated by quis-GluR was demonstrated for N-(4-hydroxyphenylpropanoyl)-and N-(4-hydroxyphenylacetyl)-spermine at significantly lower concentrations than that for spermine.
EXPERIMENTAL METHODSSubstituted polyamines were tested on metathoracic retractor unguis nerve-muscle preparations of female locusts, Schistocerca gregaria. This small muscle retracts
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