Comparison of the subunit structure of acetylcholine receptors from muscle and electric organ of Electrophorus electricus

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Abstract
The acetylcholine receptors of the electric organ and muscle tissues of E. electricus are composed of .alpha., .beta., .gamma. and .delta. subunits. Receptor subunits from the 2 tissues were compared by peptide mapping with monoclonal antibodies, an affinity-labeling reagent and a lectin to characterize particular peptide fragments. These experiments indicate that the corresponding receptor subunits from the 2 tissues are extensively homologous or identical throughout their amino acid sequences. Small differences in the electrophoresis of peptide fragments of .alpha. subunits between the 2 tissues occurred on fragments which bound labeled lectin. The acetylcholine receptors in electric organ and muscle tissues of Electrophorus differ in structure only by minor posttranslational modifications perhaps involving carbohydrate.