The conformational switch in muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

The recently-determined structure of rhodopsin has provided a suitable basi s for modeling the three-dimensional structure of the M-1 muscarinic acetyl choline receptor. Using this as a framework for interpreting mutagenesis st udies, we have been able to suggest most of the contacts which the receptor makes with acetylcholine and many of the intramolecular contacts which are important for the groundstate structure of the receptor. It is possible to outline a mechanism of G-protein interaction. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science In c. All rights reserved.