The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Different techniques from various disciplines have made possible the analysis of the structure and the multiplicity of functions performed by ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels and receptors. This book covers one of the fastest growing fields in the molecular neurosciences - that of the ligand-gated ion channels (LGIC). Future trends, which are analyzed in each chapter, encompass the likely strategies for decoding structure-function relationships of the receptor molecule, the establishment of the differences in ionic selectivity and the mechanisms of permeability through the pore, and the possible use of genetic kindredness between actylcholine receptors of different species for the diagnosis of new genetic diseases.