Transformation by concanavalin A of the response of molluscan neurones to L-glutamate.

Concanavalin A causes in all Aplysia and Helix neurones a depolarising response to L-glutamate. The Con A-induced glutamate response is pharmacologically distinct from the three cell-specific glutamate responses (two inhibitory, one excitatory) that can be elicited from untreated molluscan neurones. The transformation in glutamate sensitivity brought about by Con A does not seem to be related to the lectin's capacity to produce redistribution of receptor sites in cell membranes.