THE NICOTINIC ACETYLCHOLINE-RECEPTOR - STRUCTURE AND AUTOIMMUNE PATHOLOGY

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR) are presently the best-ch aracterized neurotransmitter receptors. They are pentamers of homologo us or identical subunits, symmetrically arranged to form a transmembra ne cation channel. The AChR subunits form a family of homologous prote ins, derived from a common ancestor. An autoimmune response to muscle AChR causes the disease myasthenia gravis. This review summarizes rece nt developments in the understanding of the AChR structure and its mol ecular recognition by the immune system in myasthenia.