The present invention relates to the field of GABA receptor structure and
function. In one aspect, the present invention relates to impairment of
the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in parasitic nematodes, for
the purpose of crop protection and/or soil treatment. The invention
includes mutated nematode GABA receptor subunits, nematode GABA
neuromuscular junction receptor complexes, nucleic acids which encode the
mutated and functional receptor complexes, antibodies which selectively
bind the GABA receptor complexes and/or subunits, and assays for
compounds which adversely affect nematode GABA neuromuscular junction
receptor function. The present invention therefore relates broadly to
recombinant DNA technology, molecular biology tools, and crop protection
and/or soil treatment.