The biochemistry of an acetylcholine receptor

Abstract

Abstract The acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica electroplax has been studied at three levels of molecular organization: receptor‐rich membrane fragments, solubilized and purified receptor, and reconstituted receptor in phospholipid vesicles. The binding of cholinergic ligands to the membrane‐bound and the solubilized material is not cooperative, and the number of ligand sites is less than the number of toxin sites. In addition, the purified macromolecule contains the molecular features necessary for ion‐translocation during postsynaptic depolarization, since a chemically excitable membrane can be formed from purified receptor and Torpedo phospholipids.