Anomalous interaction of the acetylcholine receptor protein with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114.

PA Maher, SJ Singer - … of the National Academy of Sciences, 1985 - National Acad Sciences
PA Maher, SJ Singer
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1985National Acad Sciences
Integral membrane proteins that form water-filled channels through membranes often exist
as aggregates of similar or identical subunits spanning the membrane. It has been
suggested that the insertion into the membrane of the channel-forming domains of the
subunits may impart unusual structural features to the membrane-intercalated portions of the
protein. To test this proposal, we have investigated the interaction of a multisubunit channel-
forming integral membrane protein, the acetylcholine receptor protein, with the nonionic …
Integral membrane proteins that form water-filled channels through membranes often exist as aggregates of similar or identical subunits spanning the membrane. It has been suggested that the insertion into the membrane of the channel-forming domains of the subunits may impart unusual structural features to the membrane-intercalated portions of the protein. To test this proposal, we have investigated the interaction of a multisubunit channel-forming integral membrane protein, the acetylcholine receptor protein, with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114. Whereas non-channel-forming integral membrane proteins that have heretofore been studied form mixed micelles with the detergent, the acetylcholine receptor was excluded from the Triton X-114 micelles. The structural implications of this result are discussed.
National Acad Sciences