Blockade of Neuronal α7-nAChR by α-Conotoxin ImI Explained by Computational Scanning and Energy Calculations
Figure 1
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor structure and α-conotoxin ImI.
(A) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand gated-ion channels. Their structure is composed of a ligand-binding domain (red), a transmembrane domain (blue), and an intracellular domain (white). nAChRs are permeable to Na+ and K+ and, for some isoforms, Ca2+. The opening of the channel is triggered by acetylcholine or nicotine. One of the acetylcholine binding sites is indicated as a blue star. (B) α-conotoxin ImI comprises 12 residues and is C-terminally amidated (indicated by * in the sequence). The structure features a short α-helix and two disulfide bonds that link cysteines I-III and II-IV.