A novel receptor of -latrotoxin which binds -LTx independently of calcium presence and is thus a mediator of the calcium-independent stimulation of neurotransmitter release by -latrotoxin has been isolated, purified and characterized. The invention has application to perpendicular magnetic recording disks and magnetic tunnel junction devices used as read heads for disk drives and memory cells in magnetic memory arrays. An abstract level of each of the keywords is specified in accordance with predetermined rules.