Crystalline arrays of membrane-bound acetylcholine receptor

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Jun;78(6):3678-82. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.6.3678.

Abstract

Electron micrographs of tubular structures with a crystalline arrangement of membrane-bound acetylcholine receptor oligomers have been analyzed by digital image reconstruction. The receptor molecules are oriented synaptic side out, and in projection they appear to be asymmetric and have a defined orientation. All four subunits are contained in the oligomers as demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy; these structures therefore appear to be suitable for subunit localization in the oligomer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Cell-Free System
  • Crystallography
  • Fishes
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Motor Endplate / ultrastructure
  • Receptors, Cholinergic* / immunology

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Receptors, Cholinergic