The selectivity filter of a ligand-gated ion channel. The helix-M2 model of the ion channel of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Ferdinand Hucho*, Rolf Hilgenfeld

*Corresponding author for this work
37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Evidence from electrophysiology and biochemistry supports the hypothesis that the ion channel of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is formed by homologous amino acid sequences of all receptor subunits, called helices M2. A model of the ion channel is proposed and the selectivity filter is described as a ring of negatively-charged amino acid side chains [(1988) Nature 335, 645-648] which may undergo conformational changes upon permeation of the cation. Acetylcholine receptor; Ion channel; Selectivity filter; Molecular modeling.

Original languageEnglish
JournalFEBS Letters
Volume257
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)17-23
Number of pages7
ISSN0014-5793
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23.10.1989

Funding

Acknowledgements: Work by one of the authors, (F.H.), referred to in this article was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 312) and the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie.

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

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