Effect of cholinergic ligands on the lipids of acetylcholine receptor-rich membrane preparations from Torpedo californica

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Supramol. Struct.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/jss.400040308· OSTI ID:7309711

Martinez-Carrion, M; Raftery, M A; Thomas, J K; Sator, V

Ion permeation, triggered by ligand-receptor interaction, is associated with the primary events of membrane depolarization at the neuromuscular junction and synaptic connections. To explore the possible sites of ion permeation, the long-lived fluorescent probe pyrene (fluorescence lifetime approximately 400 nsec) has been inserted into the lipid phase of acetylcholine receptor-rich membrane (AcChR-M) preparations from Torpedo californica. The pyrene probe is susceptible to both fluidity and permeability changes in the lipid bilayer. These changes are detected by variations in the rate of decay of the excited singlet state of pyrene after pulsation with a 10-nsec ruby laser flash. Variations of these lifetimes in the membrane preparations alone or in the presence of quenchers show that binding of cholinergic agonists and antagonists, neurotoxins, and local anesthetics to AcChR-M produces varying effects on the properties of the pyrene probe in the lipid phase. It is concluded that binding of cholinergic ligands to the receptor does not significantly alter the fluidity or permeability of the lipids in the bilayer in contact with pyrene. On the other hand, local anesthetics do affect these properties.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Notre Dame, IN
• OSTI ID: 7309711
• Journal Information: J. Supramol. Struct.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Supramol. Struct.; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN JSPMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACETYLCHOLINE
AMINES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
ANTIGENS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
BINDING ENERGY
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DRUGS
ENERGY
ESTERS
FISHES
HYDROCARBONS
IONS
KINETICS
LIGANDS
LIPIDS
MEMBRANES
MUSCLES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASYMPATHOMIMETICS
PERMEABILITY
PYRENE
QUATERNARY COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXINS
VERTEBRATES