Premium
Molecular Diversity of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors
Author(s) -
McGEHEE DANIEL S.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1999.tb11330.x
Subject(s) - nicotinic agonist , acetylcholine receptor , receptor , class c gpcr , molecular neuroscience , acetylcholine , ion channel , functional diversity , nicotine , neuroscience , cys loop receptors , rhodopsin like receptors , superfamily , neurotransmitter receptor , neurotransmitter , chemistry , biology , pharmacology , biochemistry , nicotinic acetylcholine receptor , metabotropic receptor , glutamate receptor , ecology
The potent behavioral and cognitive effects of nicotine highlight the physiological importance of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These receptors are part of the superfamily of neurotransmitter‐gated ion channels that are responsible for rapid intercellular communication. Molecular cloning of the protein subunits that make up these receptors has led to greater understanding of the pharmacology and physiology of nAChRs. This review outlines our current understanding of the molecular constituents of these receptors and some of the recent studies of the structural determinants of receptor function.