Question

Which of the following are examples of ligand-gated ion channels? Choose all of the correct answers.

Answer 1

Answer: B) nicotinic Acetylcholine (ACh) receptor

C) muscarinic ACh receptor

Explanation: Ligand-gated ion channels are receptor channels that produce or respond to signals through the binding of some extracellular intracellular small molecule that causes the opening or closing of the channel. In Ligand-gated ion channels, the binding of the mushroom alkaloid muscarine (in the case of a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor) or the binding of nicotine ( in the case of nicotinic Ach receptors) to its receptor on the plasma membrane causes a conformational change in the receptor, causing the ion channel intrinsic to the receptor to open. The opening of the channel results in inward movement of positive charges such as sodium, calcium and potassium ions into the cell.