The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a highly developed synapse linking motor neuron
activity with muscle contraction. A complex of molecular cascades together with the …

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) comprise a family of pentameric ligand-gated ion
channels widely distributed in the central and peripheric nervous system and in non …

Although it has long been proposed that membrane proteins may contain tightly bound
lipids, their identity, the structure of their binding sites, and their functional and structural …

Synaptic GABA A receptors (GABA A Rs) mediate most of the inhibitory neurotransmission in
the brain. The majority of these receptors are comprised of α1, β2, and γ2 subunits. The …

Desensitization in pentameric ligand-gated ion channels plays an important role in
regulating neuronal excitability. Here, we show that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a key ω …

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are allosteric proteins that generate membrane currents by
isomerizing (“gating”) between resting and active conformations under the influence of …

Aromatic–aromatic interactions are a prominent feature of the crystal structure of ELIC
[Protein Data Bank (PDB) code 2VL0], a bacterial member of the nicotinic receptor …

It has recently been proposed that post-translational modification of not only the M3–M4
linker but also the M1–M2 linker of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels modulates …

Neurotransmitter receptors of the Cys-loop superfamily mediate rapid synaptic transmission
throughout the nervous system, and include receptors activated by ACh, GABA, glycine and …

Non‐technical summary During fast synaptic transmission, series of brief pulses of highly
concentrated neurotransmitter impinge repetitively on the postsynaptic membrane. The …