Location of functional regions of acetylcholine receptor α-subunit by site-directed mutagenesis

Abstract

The availability of cloned cDNAs encoding the four subunits of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor, which can be expressed to make functional receptors in Xenopus oocytes, has made possible a detailed investigation of the functions of the different structural components of the receptor. The functional analysis of receptors with α-subunits altered at specific sites by site-directed mutagenesis of the cDNA has allowed the location of specific regions of the α-subunit molecule involved in acetylcholine binding and forming a transmembrane ionic channel. © 1985 Nature Publishing Group.