The aim of this book is to summarize our understanding on the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This area of research received great impetus from the identification of the first subunit sequences to be used as neonicotinoid insecticide target sites. Although a book of this nature can provide the details only of commonly published results, it is hoped that it may provide a useful guide to the newcomer to the field as well as to point out some of the future challenges. For example, we need to determine the precise subunit nomenclature of insect nicotinic receptors. This nomenclature varies amongst species and this led to some of the early confusion that persists. We need to be precise in identifying the subunit composition of native insect nicotinic receptor subtypes, their functional properties and physiological roles.

Illustrates the finding that the insect central nervous system is extremely rich in acetylcholine receptors that have a predominantly nicotinic pharmacology Demonstrates that several amino acids that account for ligand binding domain are conserved in the insect nicotinic receptor subunit Explores the involvement of insect nicotinic receptors in learning and memory processes using the honeybee as insect model

Autorentext
Steeve Hervé Thany is an assistant Professor for Neurobiology and Neurophysiology at the University of Angers, France. Its research interests are in the areas of molecular biology, electrophysiology, pharmacology and behavioral processes involving insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Recent research focused on the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on nicotinic receptors and the intracellular mechanisms regulating their function. He is a member of numerous national and international scientific organisations, including the French Society for Neuroscience (SN) and the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS).

Inhalt
Identification of Cholinergic Synaptic Transmission in the Insect Nervous System.- The Evolution of Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels.- Diversity of Insect Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunits.- Identification of Critical Elements Determining Toxins and Insecticide Affinity, Ligand Binding Domains and Channel Properties.- Electrophysiological Studies and Pharmacological Properties of Insect Native Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.- Characterisation of Insect Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors by Heterologous Expression.- Neonicotinoid Insecticides.- Ecotoxicity of Neonicotinoid Insecticides to Bees.- State of the Art on Insect Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function in Learning and Memory.