Binding of acetylcholine and related compounds to purified acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo Californica electroplax

The binding properties of the purified acetylcholine receptor from $\text{Torpedo}\text{californica}$ were investigated. One type of binding was observed for acetylcholine (K_D = 2.3 μM), dimethyl tubocurarine (K_D = 6.2 μM), and decamethonium (K_D = 55 μM). No cooperativity was observed in ligand binding. By virtue of its ligand binding properties, the purified receptor is nicotinic in nature.