"The rat alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) can undergo rapid onset of desensitization; however, the mechanisms of desensitization are largely unknown. The contribution of a tryptophan (W) residue at position 55 of the rat alpha7 nAChR subunit, which lies within the beta2 strand, was studied by mutating it to other hydrophobic and/or aromatic amino acids, followed by voltage-clamp experiments in Xenopus oocytes. When mutated to alanine, the alpha7-W55A nAChR desensitized more slowly, and recovered from desensitization more rapidly, than wildtype alpha7 nAChRs. The contribution of desensitization was validated by kinetic modelling. ..."

Model Type: Channel/Receptor

Receptors: Nicotinic

Genes: nAChR alpha 7

Model Concept(s): Ion Channel Kinetics

Simulation Environment: Pascal/Delphi

Implementer(s): Skorinkin, Andrei [askorink at yandex.ru]

References:

Gay EA, Giniatullin R, Skorinkin A, Yakel JL. (2008). Aromatic residues at position 55 of rat alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are critical for maintaining rapid desensitization. The Journal of physiology. 586 [PubMed]