Discovery of the First Neurotransmitter Receptor: The Acetylcholine Nicotinic Receptor
Jean‐Pierre Changeux
Abstract
The concept of pharmacological receptor was proposed at the turn of the 20th century but it took almost 70 years before the first receptor for a neurotransmitter was isolated and identified as a protein. This review retraces the history of the difficulties and successes in the identification of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, the first neurotransmitter receptor to be identified.
Topics & Concepts
Neurotransmitter receptorNeurotransmitterNicotinic acetylcholine receptorNicotinic agonistReceptorAcetylcholine receptorMuscarinic acetylcholine receptor M5AcetylcholineAlpha-4 beta-2 nicotinic receptorGanglion type nicotinic receptorNeuroscienceBiologyChemistryPharmacologyMuscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3BiochemistryNicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors StudyReceptor Mechanisms and SignalingIon channel regulation and function