Sterol derivative binding to the orthosteric site causes conformational changes in an invertebrate Cys-loop receptor.

ABSTRACT: Cys-loop receptors or pentameric ligand-gated ion channels are mediators of electrochemical signaling throughout the animal kingdom. Because of their critical function in neurotransmission and high potential as drug targets, Cys-loop receptors from humans and closely related organisms have been thoroughly investigated, whereas molecular mechanisms of neurotransmission in invertebrates are less understood. When compared with vertebrates, the invertebrate genomes underwent a drastic expansion in the number of the nACh-like genes associated with receptors of unknown function. Understanding this diversity contributes to better insight into the evolution and possible functional divergence of these receptors. In this work, we studied orphan receptor Alpo4 from an extreme thermophile worm Alvi

SUBMITTER: De Gieter S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10338036 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature