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The submembrane machinery for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor clustering.

The submembrane machinery for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor clustering. segregation of membrane proteins into specialized domains is important for many aspects of cell function, especially those involving cell-cell interaction and conununication . Of particular interest to cellular and molecular neurobiologists are the highly specialized distributions of ion channels at synapses. Both the pre- and postsynaptic membranes exhibit organized arrays ofion channels that are important for synaptic transmission. At the neuromuscular junction, voltage-activated calcium channels are clustered at presynaptic active zones (62), the sites ofacetylcholine release . Directly across the synaptic gap from active zones are regions of the postsynaptic membrane containing extraordinarily high concentrations (8-10,000/pz) of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR)' (24). A few microns away from the synapse, the concentration of receptors abruptly decreases to very low levels . Typically, >90% of the AChR in a skeletal muscle fiber are found at the synapse, an area that occupies <0.1% of the total muscle membrane. The AM is a pentameric complex of four different transmembrane subunits that is inherently capable of diffusion within theplane ofthe membrane. Understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for anchoring AChR at postsynaptic sites has been a major issue for researchers interested in neuromuscular synaptogenesis. Clustering of AChR occurs early during rat neuromuscular synapse formation, http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Journal of Cell Biology Rockefeller University Press

The submembrane machinery for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor clustering.

The Journal of Cell Biology , Volume 114 (1): 1 – Jul 1, 1991

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References (75)

Publisher
Rockefeller University Press
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 by The Rockefeller University Press
ISSN
0021-9525
eISSN
1540-8140
DOI
10.1083/jcb.114.1.1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

segregation of membrane proteins into specialized domains is important for many aspects of cell function, especially those involving cell-cell interaction and conununication . Of particular interest to cellular and molecular neurobiologists are the highly specialized distributions of ion channels at synapses. Both the pre- and postsynaptic membranes exhibit organized arrays ofion channels that are important for synaptic transmission. At the neuromuscular junction, voltage-activated calcium channels are clustered at presynaptic active zones (62), the sites ofacetylcholine release . Directly across the synaptic gap from active zones are regions of the postsynaptic membrane containing extraordinarily high concentrations (8-10,000/pz) of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR)' (24). A few microns away from the synapse, the concentration of receptors abruptly decreases to very low levels . Typically, >90% of the AChR in a skeletal muscle fiber are found at the synapse, an area that occupies <0.1% of the total muscle membrane. The AM is a pentameric complex of four different transmembrane subunits that is inherently capable of diffusion within theplane ofthe membrane. Understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for anchoring AChR at postsynaptic sites has been a major issue for researchers interested in neuromuscular synaptogenesis. Clustering of AChR occurs early during rat neuromuscular synapse formation,

Journal

The Journal of Cell BiologyRockefeller University Press

Published: Jul 1, 1991

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