The co-infection or infection—transfection variants of the T7 RNA polymerase/vaccinia vector system were used to express 5-HT1ARs in COS-7, BSC-40 and GH3 cells, with co-infection giving ca. 3-fold higher level than infection—transfection. Binding affinities were similar to those of the endogenous 5-HT1AR, with highest affinities for 5-HT and 8-OH-DPAT. Functional properties were demonstrated by assays of agonist-stimulated GTPase activity and its inhibition by pertussin toxin. Immunoblot assays showed expression of the unglycosylated and glycosylated receptor protein in the membrane and, surprisingly, in the cytosolic fractions.
