title: Functional properties of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits expressed in various combinations.
abstract: The four kinds of subunits of the Torpedo californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptor have been produced in various combinations by injecting Xenopus oocytes with the corresponding subunit-specific mRNAs synthesized by transcription in vitro of the cloned cDNAs. Functional analysis suggests that association of the alpha-subunit with either the gamma- or the delta-subunit is a prerequisite for generating the conformation necessary for agonist binding. The acetylcholine receptor devoid of either the beta-, gamma- or delta-subunit exhibits weak channel activity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D014101:Torpedo / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D007473:Ion Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic