DISTRIBUTION OF ACETYL-CHOLINE RECEPTORS AND POST-SYNAPTIC NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION PROTEINS IN SKELETAL MUSCLE TISSUE

摘要

It is well defined that acetyl-choline receptors (AChRs) cluster along the post-synaptic sarcolemma and are not found elsewhere in muscle tissue. The AChR associates with Muscle Specific Kinase (MuSK) and Lipoprotein-related Receptor Protein 4 (LRP4). These transmembrane proteins are associated with the post-synaptic region of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), and essential in the formation, maturation and maintenance of the NMJ. The AChR is anchored and stabilized to the sarcolemma via the synaptic receptor associated protein, Rapsyn, while MuSK is anchored via the adaptor protein, dok7. Both Rapsyn and dok7 are sub-sarcolemma intracellular proteins, with speculation that they aid in anchorage by means of cyotoskeleton linking. The aim of this study was to establish the distribution and arrangement of the AChR and its associated proteins in skeletal muscle tissue at the post-synaptic NMJ, as well as elsewhere across the muscle tissue.