Question

name three states of the acetylcholine receptor. what opens the channel? which ions pass through the open acetylcholine receptor? describe the conformational change that allows channel opening. quizzlet

Answer 1

The acetylcholine receptor can exist in closed, open, or desensitized states. Binding of acetylcholine opens the channel, allowing sodium, calcium, and potassium ions to pass through, creating a conformational change necessary for cellular response.

Step-by-step explanation:

The acetylcholine receptor (AChR) has three main states: closed, open, and desensitized. The channel opens in response to the binding of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to its specific location on the extracellular surface of the channel protein. This binding leads to a conformational change in the protein structure that allows ions to pass through. Specifically, the ions that pass through an open acetylcholine receptor are the cations of sodium, calcium, and potassium. The shift in the structure of the channel when acetylcholine binds is essential for the change in the cell's membrane potential and for initiating a cellular response.