Method of identifying compounds that bind to the insect gaba receptor

A host cell comprising an expression vector wherein said expression vector comprises a first nucleic acid encoding the insect receptor GABA subunit LCCH3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:

• 2, and a second nucleic acid encoding the insect GABA receptor Grd having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:
• 4, wherein said first and second nucleic acids are operably linked to one or more regulatory elements.

An insect host cell comprising a first heterologous nucleic acid encoding the insect GABA receptor LCCH3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:2, and a second heterologous nucleic acid encoding the insect GABA receptor Grd having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:

• 4, wherein said insect host cell is a Spodoptera frugiperda, Trichoplusia ni or Drosophila Schneider Line 1 cell.

A permanently transformed insect cell line comprising a first nucleic acid encoding the insect GABA receptor subunit LCCH3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:

• 2, wherein said first nucleic acid is operably linked to a first promoter, and a second nucleic acid encoding the insect GABA receptor subunit Grd having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. NO:
• 4, wherein said second nucleic acid is operably linked to a promoter.

A baculovirus expression vector comprising a first nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:

• 2;
• and a second nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:
• 4.

A kit for measuring the ability of a compound to bind to the GABA recognition site of an insect GABA receptor, wherein said kit contains a container containing a host cell comprising a first expression vector comprising a first nucleic acid encoding the insect receptor GABA subunit LCCH3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:

• 2, wherein said first nucleic acid is operably linked to a first promoter, and a second expression vector comprising a second nucleic acid encoding the insect GABA receptor Grd having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:
• 4, wherein said second nucleic acid is operably linked to a second promoter, and wherein said host cell expresses or is capable of expressing the nucleic acid encoding the insect GABA receptor LCCH3 and the nucleic acid encoding the insect GABA receptor subunit Grd.

A kit for measuring the ability of a compound to bind to the GABA recognition site of an insect GABA receptor, wherein said kit contains a first container containing a host cell comprising an expression vector, wherein said expression vector comprises a first nucleic acid encoding the insect receptor GABA subunit LCCH3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:

• 2, and a second nucleic acid encoding the insect GABA receptor Grd having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:4, wherein said first and second nucleic acids are operably linked to one or more regulatory elements.