The Cys-loop receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels important in fast synaptic transmission. By examining the pentamerization properties of membrane domain point mutants and split GlyR and 5HT3A subunits, the precise geometry of transmembrane helix packing is seen to crucially define the closed pentameric stoichiometry.
- Svenja Haeger
- Dmitry Kuzmin
- Günther Schmalzing
