PMC

The concentration–response curves of mouse α1β1δε nAChR subtype for GI and alanine-substituted analogues. (A) The concentration–response curves for GI and [E1A] GI. peptide [E1A] GI shifted the curves to the left, relative to the parent peptide GI. (B) The concentration–response curves for GI, [P5A] GI, [G8A] GI, [R9A] GI and [Y11A] GI. [P5A] GI, [G8A] GI, [R9A] GI and [Y11A] GI were towards the right compared to the native GI. All data represent mean ± S.E.M, n = 7–10.

ASD w GI, ASD children with GI symptoms, ASD w/o GI, ASD children without GI symptoms, NT Sib w GI, NT siblings with GI symptoms; NT sib w/o GI, NT siblings without GI symptoms, NT Un Con w GI, unrelated controls with GI symptoms; Un Con w/o GI, unrelated controls without GI symptoms; PDD-NoS, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.

α-conotoxin GI and its analogues were tested on neuronal rat α9α10 nAChR subtype expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The representative current traces showing the inhibition of rat α9α10 ACh-evoked currents by GI (A), [E1A] GI (B), [P5A] GI (C) and [G8A] GI (D) respectively. Oocytes were clamped at −70 mV holding potential, and membrane currents were evoked with 10 μM ACh. The inhibition of GI, [E1A] GI and [P5A] GI for rat α9α10 nAChR was 48.4%, 10.5%, 72.3% and 69.8% at the concentration of 10 μM respectively. (E) Concentration–response curves for GI, [P5A] GI and [G8A] GI. All data in (E) represent mean ± S.E.M, n = 5–8.

Box and whisker plots are plotted with the median, 25% and 75% representing the edges of the boxplot; and 1.5 times the median representing the whiskers of the boxplot. P values were calculated using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Panel A. Box and whisker plot of Shannon diversity index in the fecal specimens from the GI Panel Negative Group and the GI Panel Positive Group. Panel B. Box and whisker plot of Shannon diversity index in the fecal specimens from the GI Panel Negative Group and the C. difficile Positive Group. Panel C. Box and whisker plot of Shannon diversity index in the fecal specimens from the GI Panel Negative Group and the Other GI Panel Positive Group. Panel D. Box and whisker plot of Chao1 in the fecal specimens from the GI Panel Negative Group and the GI Panel Positive Group. Panel E. Box and whisker plot of Chao1 in the fecal specimens from the GI Panel Negative Group and the C. difficile Positive Group. Panel F. Box and whisker plot of Chao1 in the fecal specimens from the GI Panel Negative Group and the Other GI Panel Positive Group.