The use of specific ligands for the vertebrate acetylcholine receptor in the characterization of invertebrate acetylcholine receptors.
1. The interaction of two specific ligands for the vertebrate nicotinic acetylcholine receptor were investigated on the solubilized form of a proposed acetylcholine receptor from the invertebrate Limulus polyphemus. 2. The affinity agent 4-(N-maleimodo)benzyltrimethylammonium iodide exhibited no effect on the binding of alpha-bungarotoxin to the Limulus receptor protein. 3. Torpedo acetylcholine receptor antibody neither inhibited alpha-bungarotoxin binding nor produced any alteration in the sedimentation profile of the Limulus receptor. 4. The lack of interaction of 4-(N-maleimido)benzyltrimethylammonium iodide and Torpedo acetylcholine receptor antibody with the Limulus acetylcholine receptor was interpreted to reflect significant difference between the molecular structures of this invertebrate receptor and the acetylcholine receptor of vertebrate.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D006737:Horseshoe Crabs / Q000032:analysis*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014101:Torpedo
D000906:Antibodies; D002038:Bungarotoxins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; C008313:4-(N-maleimido)benzyltrimethylammonium; D000109:Acetylcholine