title: Ligand-gated channels.
abstract: Ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) are fast-responding channels in which the receptor, which binds the activating molecule (the ligand), and the ion channel are part of the same nanomolecular protein complex. This paper will describe the properties and functions of the nicotinic acetylcholine LGIC superfamily, which plays a critical role in the fast chemical transmission of electrical signals between nerve cells and between nerve and muscle cells. The superfamily will mainly be exemplified by the excitatory nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and the inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) channels.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. p.barry@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Joseph W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter