The Challenge
NMDAR ion channels are found in neurons and are frequent targets of research efforts. In addition to potentially playing a key role in learning and memory, it is also a target for research for therapeutic solutions against Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and depression. Dr. Kevin S. Jones and doctoral student, Nichelle Jackson, from the University of Michigan, are exploring the effects of two NMDAR receptor blockers, memantine and MK-801. Despite both drugs binding to the same region of the ion channel, these two antagonists have exceptionally different effects. Whilst memantine is used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, MK-801 is known to induce psychotic effects. Nichelle hypothesizes that these different effects arise from differences in how the drugs interact with the ion channel.
The goal of Nichelle’s research is to identify structural elements within the channel pore that mediate these differences. She uses site-directed mutagenesis to introduce point mutations into the NDMA channels to determine structural elements within the channel pore that are responsible for the differing effects of memantine and MK-801.
The group uses human embryonic kidney cells as a heterologous expression system to measure how the mutations impact changes in the amplitude and waveform of NMDAR current after the drugs block the channel pore. In addition to requiring extremely sensitive equipment to detect small changes in electrical current, the group also needed a way to deliver the antagonists with high temporal precision.

The Solution
The team is using a MultiClamp™ 700B microelectrode amplifier alongside a Digidata 1550 Digitizer with HumSilencer® technology and pCLAMP electrophysiology software to acquire data. They use the digital outputs on the digitizer to control a rapid fluid delivery instrument. This approach provides precise temporal control of drug delivery and allows them to control the entire experiment using pCLAMP software.
The Results
Technical aspects of incorporating the fluid delivery mechanism into the electrophysiology setup was challenging, and the team reached out to Dr Jeffrey Tang at Molecular Devices for advice and support. The research is in early stages but the team has already identified amino acid residues in the NMDAR pore that impact pharmacological properties of the antagonists.
“You never fail to deliver! As I've told you several times before, the technical support you guys deliver is the best I've ever encountered. Thanks, again! – Dr Jones.”