Differential regulation of muscle acetylcholine receptor γ-and ϵ-subunit mRNAs

AbstractThe contents of the mRNAs encoding the γ- and ϵ-subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor as well as the single-channel properties of the receptor have been assessed in innervated, denervated and reinnervated rat muscle. The changes in abundance of the γ- and ϵ-subunit mRNAs correlate with the changes in relative density of two classes of acetylcholine receptor channels. The results support the view that a switch in the relative abundance of the γ- and ϵ-subunit mRNAs is a major mechanism in regulating the properties of acetylcholine receptor channels in muscle