The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor as a molecular machine for neuromuscular transmission

BOUZAT, CECILIA; MUKHTASIMOVA, NURIYA

Current Opinion in Physiology

Elsevier

Año: 2018 vol. 4 p. 40 - 48

2468-8673

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has crucialfunctions at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). It belongs to thesuperfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels and hasbecome the stereotype for probing fundamental structures andmechanisms. The nAChR operates as a molecular machine thattransduces the binding of nerve-released ACh into an electricalsignal that initiates the process of muscle contraction. Itsmolecular design has been tuned to function as a near perfecton?off switch that responds to ACh with the efficiency andspeed required for proper muscle function. Biochemical,biophysical, electrophysiological and structural studies haveallowed an integrated description of the muscle nAChR,providing information of its molecular function at the NMJ inhealth and disease states and guiding rational therapy