Roles of agonist-binding sites in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function.
Under equilibrium conditions, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo electroplax carries two high affinity-binding sites for agonists. It is generally assumed that these are the only agonist sites on the receptor and that their occupancy results in rapid channel activation followed by slower conformational transitions that lead to the high affinity equilibrium state. These slow transitions are thought to reflect the physiological process of desensitization. Here we show that preequilibration of the high affinity sites with saturating concentrations of carbamylcholine does not diminish the ion flux response to subsequent exposure to higher (activating) concentrations of this agonist. This finding has profound implications with respect to receptor function: (1) occupancy of the high affinity sites per se does not desensitize the receptor and (2) these sites cannot be directly involved in receptor activation. It is thus necessary to invoke the presence of additional binding sites in channel opening.
Dunn
S M
SM
Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H7, Canada. Susan.Dunn@UAlberta.CA
Raftery
M A
MA
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001692:Biological Transport; D002217:Carbachol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000502:physiology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013793:Thallium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014101:Torpedo
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D002217:Carbachol; D013793:Thallium