Abstract
The acetylcholine receptor protein plays a leading part in the synaptic transmission mechanism. The binding of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, to the protein triggers conformational changes, allowing the translocation of ions through the membrane. The structural relationships between the binding sites of the cholinergic ligands and the translocating part of the protein are still unknown, as the subunit composition is. A better knowledge of the structure of the acetylcholine receptor protein is the aim of the present study.Negatively stained preparations of purified cholinergic receptor protein and of membrane fragments rich in acetylcholine receptor protein are characterized by the presence of particles having a diameter of 8-9 mm, and exhibiting a doughnut like structure, with a central pit filled with stain. The variability in the stain distribution on the particle surface did'nt allow to determine the subunit structure of the protein. In the case of crystalline biological specimens, methods of averaging have allowed to overcome this problem; then, we have tried to crystallize the membrane-bound cholinergic receptor protein.
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