Molecular weight and structural nonequivalence of the mature alpha subunits of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor.

AUTOR(ES)

Conti-Tronconi, B M

RESUMO

A discrepancy of about 20% exists between the molecular weight of the alpha subunit of Torpedo californica electroplax acetylcholine receptor as determined by gel electrophoresis of the mature protein (Mr 40,000 +/- 2000) and by nucleotide sequence analysis of cDNA (Mr approximately equal to 50,000). We demonstrate by amino acid sequence analysis that post-translational processing does not occur and that the mature subunit has a Mr of approximately equal to 50,000. The functional acetylcholine receptor contains two copies of this alpha subunit in addition to one each of related beta, gamma, and delta subunits. The binding sites for cholinergic ligands that are located on the alpha subunits have been shown to be nonequivalent. Amino acid sequence analysis of peptides obtained by proteolytic cleavage of the alpha subunit reveals that N-asparagine glycosylation at a single site (residue 141) occurs to a different extent in the two copies of this polypeptide in the mature protein and provides an explanation for nonequivalence of their binding sites.

Documentos Relacionados

• In vitro synthesis, glycosylation, and membrane insertion of the four subunits of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor.
• Molecular cloning of cDNA coding for the gamma subunit of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor.
• Photoaffinity labeling and quaternary structure of the acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica.
• Specific binding of perhydrohistrionicotoxin to Torpedo acetylcholine receptor.
• Scanning tunneling microscopy imaging of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor.