A C6 glioma cell line stably transfected with the human kappa opioid receptor (kappaOR) was used to characterize receptor binding and G protein activation via the kappaOR by a comprehensive series of opioid ligands. The ligand-binding affinity for [3H]5alpha,7alpha, 8beta(-)-N-methyl-N-(7-Cl-pyrrolidinyl)-1-oxaspiro(4, 5)dec-8-yl)benzene acetamide (U69593) was similar to that observed in monkey brain membranes and was 10-fold lower in the presence of sodium and GDP. Both peptide and nonpeptide agonists maximally stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding. The stimulation of [35S]GTPgammaS binding was blocked by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin. Partial stimulation of [35S]GTPgammaS binding via the kappaOR was observed for several ligands that are antagonists at the mu opioid receptor, suggesting an additional mechanism of drug action. The ability of isomers of tifluadom and levallorphan to stimulate [35S]GTPgammaS binding indicates that the chiral carbon of levallorphan, a benzomorphan derivative, imparts a greater degree of stereoselectivity than does the chiral carbon in the benzodiazepine derivative tifluadom. In addition, (-)tifluadom, the less potent isomer of tifluadom, which is also a gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor agonist, stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding. In contrast, d-pentazocine, (+)SKF10047, (+)cyclazocine, and d-ethylketocyclazocine displayed no agonist activity. kappaOR-selective antagonist norbinaltorphimine competitively inhibited the stimulation of [35S]GTPgammaS binding by the active isomers of ethylketocyclazocine, cyclazocine, and nalorphine to the same degree, indicating that all three ligands are eliciting an effect via the kappaOR. The results suggest that these cells express a homogeneous population of kappaOR, and that their [35S]GTPgammaS-binding properties make them an excellent means to assess kappaOR efficacy.