Influence of lipid bilayer on the structure of the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

ABSTRACT: The muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a transmitter-gated ion channel residing in the plasma membrane of electrocytes and striated muscle cells. It is present predominantly at synaptic junctions, where it effects rapid depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane in response to acetylcholine released into the synaptic cleft. Previously, cryo-EM of intact membrane from Torpedo revealed that the lipid bilayer surrounding the junctional receptor has a uniquely asymmetric and ordered structure, due to a high concentration of cholesterol. It is now shown that this special lipid environment influences the transmembrane (TM) folding of the protein. All five submembrane MX helices of the membrane-intact junctional receptor align parallel to the surface of the cholesterol-ordere

SUBMITTER: Unwin N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11087746 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature