Ligand-gated channels

Abstract—Ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) are fast-re-sponding channels in which the receptor, which binds the activating molecule (the ligand), and the ion channel are part of the same nanomolecular protein complex. This paper will describe the properties and functions of the nicotinic acetylcholine LGIC superfamily, which plays a critical role in the fast chemical trans-mission of electrical signals between nerve cells and between nerve and muscle cells. The superfamily will mainly be exemplified by the excitatory nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and the inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) channels. Index Terms—Acetylcholine receptor channel, channel gating, glycine receptor channel, ion permeation. I