Solubilized Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors from the Rat Myocardium: Pharmacological and Hydrodynamic Characterization

The vast majority of receptors are membrane proteins, so solubilization is an essential prerequisite for purification of these receptors. If the receptor can be solubilized without destroying its characteristic ability to bind specific ligands, it is possible to use the powerful tool of affinity chromatography in the purification procedure. Furthermore, investigation of the pharmacological and hydrodynamic characteristics of solubilized receptors can, in itself, yield useful information about receptor function, particularly regarding the role of accessory proteins and/or membrane lipids in ligand binding.