Since their discovery more than fifty years ago, α-neurotoxins have been used to study acetylcholine receptor-coupled ion channels. Here, daCostaet al. find that toxin binding to a single site of the pentameric α7 receptor blocks function, suggesting the five binding sites are interdependent and the toxin arrests the sites in the inactive conformation.
- Corrie J. B. daCosta
- Chris R. Free
- Steven M. Sine
