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Rabbit antiserum against purified Electrophorus electricus acetylcholine receptor is studied using an immunoprecipitin assay to measure either antibody titer or concentration of toxin-binding sites in solubilized receptor preparations. This antiserum, unlike control serum, blocks the electrophysiological response of the electroplax to carbamylcholine. Toxin (alpha-neurotoxin, Naja naja) and several cholinergic ligands produce partial inhibition of the reaction of antiserum with purified acetylcholine receptor. Evidence is presented that some of the toxin-binding sites on receptor, purified by affinity chromatography on toxin-agarose conjugates, are occluded by toxin. In addition, evidence is presented that antireceptor antiserum will cause precipitation of more toxin-binding sites present in an initial extract than in purified receptor preparations.
Patrick et al. (Sat,) studied this question.