STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE NICOTINIC-ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTOR IMMOBILIZED ON CRYSTALS AND PHOSPHOLIPIDES STUDIED BY FTIR-SPECTROSCOPY

摘要

The n-Acetylcholine Receptor (n-AChR) is a transmembrane protein which is involved in chemo-electrical signal transduction across postsynaptic membranes and neuromuscular junctions. This receptor is one of the best characterized for ligand gated ion channels [1]. In order to study its function by FTIR spectroscopy outside its natural media receptor containing membranes have to be immobilized directly on crystals [2]. This technique has already been successfully applied to other integral membrane proteins like bacteriorhodopsin [3]. In this study we present evidence for the proper orientation of membranes containing n-AChR on crystals. Orientation on phospholipid surfaces is also investigated.