I am looking for information on models for the ACh receptor mechanism.
A preliminary search revealed that
a. The Ach receptor tertiary and quartenary structure in the membrane
is not determined although the domains have been identified and
sequenced.
b. Much is known about (at least) two snake-venom (Bungarotoxin and
Erabutoxin) binding sites.
c. No clear mechanism for the conformational change that leads to
the opening of the channel exists.
There is a lot of other (less relevant for me) material on this receptor,
but I have no clues to the mechanism that could lead to the opening
and closing of this channel.
I am also not able to get my hands on this "theoretical model". I meet
people who say such a model exists but when I get down to the brass
tacks, I don't get a reference. (By model I mean a theoretical
structure based on the sequence, or better still some MD simulation
results (Oh joy! if this exists))
Is anyone interested in this receptor? Can s/he provide pointers?
Discuss?
I don't read the net often, so would prefer personal mail.
-ratnam
ratnam at lisboa.ks.uiuc.edu
--
==============================================================
Rama Ratnam, Theoretical Biophysics, Beckman Institute
Dept of Biophysics, University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
ratnam at lisboa.ks.uiuc.edu
