Abstract
Acetylcholine receptors of fish electric organs and mammalian skeletal muscle comprise four structurally homologous glycoprotein subunits in the mole ratio α2βγδ (refs 1–4). All four subunits have leader sequences and are exposed on both sides of the membrane5,6. From amino acid sequencing, three groups5,7,8 have predicted that each subunit has four hydrophobic α-helical transmembranous domains. Because the N-terminus of each subunit is thought to remain on the extracellular surface after cleavage of the leader sequence, this model predicts that the N- and C-termini are both on the extracellular side. An alternative model proposed by two other groups9,10 predicts that there is, in addition, a fifth amphipathic transmembranous domain which would place the C-terminus on the cytoplasmic side. Here, using anti-subunit sera and monoclonal antibodies and their reaction with synthetic subunit peptides, we demonstrate that the C-terminus is in fact on the cytoplasmic surface. We also show that, contrary to other predictions11, the most hydrophilic sequence on the extracellular domain of α-subunits is not the main immunogenic region.
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Lindstrom, J., Criado, M., Hochschwender, S. et al. Immunochemical tests of acetylcholine receptor subunit models. Nature 311, 573–575 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311573a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/311573a0
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