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T Wiedmer

Publications and source records attributed to T Wiedmer.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Complement proteins C5b-9 cause release of membrane vesicles from the platelet surface that are enriched in the membrane receptor for coagulation factor Va and express prothrombinase activity.

We have investigated the composition and function of membrane microparticles released from platelets exposed to the C5b-9 proteins of the complement system. Gel-filtered human platelets were incubated with sub-lytic amounts of the purified C5b-9 proteins and the distribution of surface antigens was analyzed using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. C5b-9 assembly caused secretory fusion of the alpha-granule membrane with the plasma membrane and the release of membrane vesicles (approximately 0.1-micron diameter) that contained the plasma membrane glycoproteins (GP) GP Ib and GP IIb-IIIa as well as the alpha-granule membrane protein GMP-140. These microparticles were highly enriched in the C9 neoantigen of the C5b-9 complex. The apparent surface density of C5b-9 on the microparticles was approximately 10(3)-fold higher than on the platelet itself, suggesting that the vesicles were selectively shed from the plasma membrane at the site of C5b-9 insertion. C5b-9 induced the expression of an activation-dependent epitope (recognized by monoclonal antibody, PAC1) in GP IIb-IIIa on the platelet surface but not in GP IIb-IIIa on the microparticles. The surface of the microparticles was also highly enriched in alpha-granule-derived coagulation factor V (or Va), accounting for nearly half of all the membrane-bound factor V detected. The number of potential membrane binding sites for factor Va was probed by adding saturating concentrations of factor Va light chain. Under these conditions, the density of factor Va binding sites on the microparticle surface exceeded that on the C5b-9-treated platelet by three to four orders of magnitude. Moreover, the microparticles provided most of the membrane surface for conversion of prothrombin to thrombin by VaXa. These studies demonstrate that the microparticles shed by C5b-9-treated platelets (and not the platelets themselves) provide the principal binding sites for coagulation factor Va and the principal catalytic surface for the prothrombinase complex. Platelet-derived microparticles formed during complement activation in vivo could provide a membrane surface that facilitates the assembly and dissemination of procoagulant enzyme complexes.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1988

Complement proteins C5b-9 initiate secretion of platelet storage granules without increased binding of fibrinogen or von Willebrand factor to newly expressed cell surface GPIIb-IIIa.

The functional and conformational activation of cell surface glycoproteins IIb-IIIa (GPIIb-IIIa) was probed in platelets stimulated to secrete by complement proteins C5b-9. Gel-filtered human platelets exposed to the purified human C5b-9 proteins exhibited non-lytic secretory release of both alpha- and dense granule storage pools with only a small increase in total binding of 125I-fibrinogen (less than 3000 molecules/cell) to the cell surface. By contrast to ADP- or thrombin-activated platelets, increased 125I-fibrinogen bound to C5b-9 platelets was not inhibited by Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides, suggesting that the high affinity membrane receptor for fibrinogen is not expressed under these conditions. C5b-9-stimulated platelets also failed to bind 125I-von Willebrand factor (less than 1 ng/10(8) platelets), confirming that the adhesive protein receptor function of cell surface GPIIb-IIIa is not expressed in these cells. Although specific binding of 125I-fibrinogen or 125I-von Willebrand factor did not significantly increase after C5b-9 assembly, these proteins elicited de novo expression of the GPIIb-IIIa activation-associated epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody PAC-1, and binding of this antibody to C5b-9 platelets was fully competed by Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides. These data suggest that the metabolic events which trigger granule secretion after C5b-9 insertion into the plasma membrane cause cell surface GPIIb-IIIa to be expressed in an activation-associated but functionally incompetent conformation.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1987

Complement C5b-9-stimulated platelet secretion is associated with a Ca2+-initiated activation of cellular protein kinases.

Membrane assembly of the C5b-9 proteins on gel-filtered human platelets has been shown to initiate the nonlytic release of alpha-granule contents and expression of membrane prothrombinase sites, suggesting cellular activation by these ostensibly cytolytic plasma proteins (Wiedmer, T., Esmon, C. T., and Sims, P. J. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 14587-14592). We now examine the mechanism of the C5b-9-induced release reaction. The release of alpha-granule contents upon C5b-9 assembly is accompanied by expression of alpha-granule membrane glycoprotein 140 on the platelet surface, confirming that the complement-mediated release reaction occurs by secretory fusion of the alpha-granule with the plasma membrane. C5b-9 binding initiates the phosphorylation of both 40- and 20-kDa platelet proteins, indicative of activation of protein kinase C and myosin light chain kinase, respectively. Activation of cellular protein kinases under these conditions was not accompanied by the formation of inositol phosphates and was found to strictly depend upon extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that the platelet's secretory response to the C5b-9 proteins is triggered directly by the influx of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane. measurement of intracellular Ca2+ confirmed that elevation of this ion in the cytosol was strictly dependent upon increased plasma membrane permeability due to C5b-9 assembly and was not accompanied by mobilization of this ion from internal storage pools. The C5b-9-mediated secretory response was blocked by sphingosine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, but was unaffected by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, suggesting that feedback (receptor-linked) by thromboxane is not required for platelet activation after C5b-9 insertion.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

On the mechanism by which complement proteins C5b-9 increase platelet prothrombinase activity.

Membrane assembly of complement proteins C5b-9 on human platelets results in a dose-dependent increase in the binding of coagulation factors Va and Xa to the plasma membrane, concomitant with a marked increase in platelet prothrombinase activity. Factor Va binding increased by 6-15-fold in platelets treated with the C5b-9 proteins as compared to controls. In the presence of near-saturating concentrations of factor Xa, factor Va binding to C5b-9-treated platelets approximately doubled. In the absence of added factor Va, C5b-9-treated platelets bound 1700 molecules of factor Xa versus 50 molecules/cell bound to controls, suggesting that C5b-9 assembly on the platelet surface initiates the release of platelet factor V from the alpha-granules. The capacity of the C5b-9 proteins to initiate the nonlytic release of the platelet alpha-granule storage pool was confirmed by assay for platelet factor 4. When measured in the presence of exogenous factor Va (2 micrograms/ml), factor Xa uptake by C5b-9 platelets increased to approximately 5500 molecules/cell (versus 330 molecules/cell for controls). Removal of external Ca2+ inhibited the C5b-9-initiated release of the alpha-granule storage pool and reduced by approximately 50% the expression of new factor Va binding sites, suggesting that these two events contributing to increased platelet prothrombinase activity are mediated in part by the influx of Ca2+ across the C5b-9 pore.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Single-channel analysis of the conductance fluctuations induced in lipid bilayer membranes by complement proteins C5b-9.

Single-channel analysis of electrical fluctuations induced in planar bilayer membranes by the purified human complement proteins C5b6, C7, C8, and C9 have been analyzed. Reconstitution experiments with lipid bilayer membranes showed that the C5b-9 proteins formed pores only if all proteins were present at one side of the membrane. The complement pores had an average single-channel conductance of 3.1 nS at 0.15 M KCl. The histogram of the complement pores suggested a substantial variation of the size of the single channel. The linear relationship between single-channel conductance at fixed ionic strength and the aqueous mobility of the ions in the bulk aqueous phase indicated that the ions move inside the complement pore in a manner similar to the way they move in the aqueous phase. The minimum diameter of the pores as judged from the conductance data is approximately 3 nm. The complement channels showed no apparent voltage control or regulation up to transmembrane potentials of 100 mV. At neutral pH the pore is three to four times more permeable for alkali ions than for chloride, which may be explained by the existence of fixed negatively charged groups in or near the pore. The significance of these observations to current molecular models of the membrane lesion formed by these cytolytic serum proteins is considered.

Complement Membrane Attack Complex↗
PubMed1986

Complement proteins C5b-9 stimulate procoagulant activity through platelet prothrombinase.

The capacity of platelets treated with nonlytic concentrations of the C5b-9 proteins to catalyze prothrombin activation and thereby trigger clot formation has been investigated. When suspended in the presence of exogenous factors Xa and Va, gel-filtered platelets treated with purified C5b-9 proteins catalyzed prothrombin to thrombin conversion at rates up to tenfold above controls, and exceeded by up to fourfold the prothrombinase activity observed for thrombin-stimulated platelets. In the absence of added factor Va, C5b-9 assembly on the platelet surface significantly shortened the lag period before prothrombinase expression that was observed for untreated platelets and increased the maximum catalytic rate of thrombin formation. A comparison with other platelet stimuli revealed that the C5b-9-induced activation of platelet prothrombinase closely paralleled the effects mediated by calcium ionophore A23187. Our data suggest that the C5b-9 proteins promote the release of platelet factor V and the assembly of the prothrombinase complex, thereby potentiating the effects of thrombin on the activation of prothrombinase. Membrane assembly of the C5b-9 proteins was also observed to markedly accelerate the rate of platelet-catalyzed plasma clotting, suggesting a direct link between C5b-9-mediated prothrombinase activation and procoagulant activity accompanying immunologic damage to the platelet.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed1986

Repolarization of the membrane potential of blood platelets after complement damage: evidence for a Ca++ -dependent exocytotic elimination of C5b-9 pores.

Gel-filtered blood platelets exposed to complement proteins C5b-9 have previously been shown to undergo a reversible depolarization of membrane potential (Em) in the absence of lytic plasma membrane rupture. In this paper, we examine the mechanism by which C5b-9 damaged platelets restore their basal electrochemical state, despite increased ion conductance due to membrane insertion of these cytolytic serum proteins. Repolarization of Em after formation of the C5b-9 membrane pore is shown to be accompanied by a Ca++-dependent vesiculation of the platelet surface, which results in the release of these proteins from the plasma membrane and a restoration of the membrane's functional integrity. This exocytotic elimination of C5b-9 complexes from the plasma membrane is accompanied by a ouabain-inhibitable repolarization of Em, which presumably reflects restoration of transmembrane cation gradients by the plasma membrane Na/K ATPase. The role of external Ca++ in the platelet's response to membrane-insertion of the C5b-9 proteins is discussed both in the context of the known cellular effects of this ion and in the context of recent observations suggesting sublytic changes in platelet function after complement-mediated plasma membrane damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Effect of complement proteins C5b-9 on blood platelets. Evidence for reversible depolarization of membrane potential.

The carbocyanine dye 3,3'-dipropylthiodicarbocyanine iodide has been used to investigate changes in membrane potential (Em) which occur upon binding of complement proteins C5b-9 to the plasma membrane of blood platelets. Gel-filtered platelets exposed to C5b6 and C7 in serum-free medium show no change in Em from that of controls, as indicated by either 3,3,'-dipropylthiodicarbocyanine iodide fluorescence or by the distribution of [14C]tetraphenylphosphonium bromide. Addition of complement proteins C8 and C9 to the C5b67 platelets results in partial depolarization of Em, which spontaneously repolarizes to basal levels within 15-20 min at 37 degrees C. Under these conditions, C5b-9-treated platelets show no increase in lysis over complement-free controls. Isotonic replacement of external sodium by either potassium or choline alters both the rate and extent of membrane depolarization and inhibits the platelets' capacity to repolarize after C5b-9 assembly. Repolarization of Em to basal levels is also completely blocked by addition of ouabain, confirming that this recovery is mediated by the plasma membrane Na+/K+ pump. These results demonstrate that membrane binding of the C5b-9 proteins can induce a transient change in Em when bound to the plasma membrane at a sublytic concentration, providing a mechanism for target cell activation by these potentially cytolytic proteins.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Cyanine dye fluorescence used to measure membrane potential changes due to the assembly of complement proteins C5b-9.

The fluorescent potentiometric indicator diS-C3-(5) has been used to investigate changes in membrane potential due to assembly of the C5b-9 membrane attack complex of the complement system. EAC1-7 human red blood cells and resealed erythrocyte ghosts--bearing membrane-assembled C5b67 complexes--were generated by immune activation in C8-deficient human serum. Studies performed with these cellular intermediates revealed that the membrane potential of EAC1-7 red cells and ghosts is unchanged from control red cells (-7 mV) and ghosts (O mV), respectively. Addition of complement proteins C8 and C9 to EAC1-7 red cells results in a dose-dependent depolarization of membrane potential which precedes hemolysis. This prelytic depolarization of membrane potential--and the consequent onset of hemolysis--is accelerated by raising external [K+], suggesting that the diffusional equilibration of transmembrane cation gradients is rate limiting to the cytolytic event. In the case of EAC1-7 resealed ghosts suspended at either high external [K+] or [Na+], no change in membrane potential (from O mV) could be detected after C8/C9 additions. When the membrane potential of the EAC1-7 ghost was displaced from O mV by selectively increasing the K+ conductance with valinomycin, a dose-dependent depolarization of the membrane was observed upon addition of C8 and C9. In these experiments, lytic breakdown of the ghost membranes was less than 5%. Conclusions derived from this study include: (i) measured prelytic depolarization of the red cell Donnan potential directly confirms the colloid-osmotic theory of immune cytolysis. (ii) The diffusional transmembrane equilibration of Na+ and K+ through the C5b-9 pore results in a dose-dependent depolarization of the membrane potential (Em) which appears to be rate-limiting to cytolytic rupture of the target erythrocyte. (iii) Enhanced immune hemolysis observed in high K+ media cannot be attributed to cation-selective conductance across the C5b-9 pore, and is probably related to the near-equilibrium condition of potassium-containing red cells when suspended at high external K+. These experiments demonstrate that carbocyanine dye fluorescent indicators can be used to monitor electrochemical changes arising from immune damage to the plasma membrane under both cytolytic and noncytolytic conditions. Potential application of this method to the detection of sublytic pathophysiological changes in the plasma membrane of complement-damaged cells are discussed.

Complement Membrane Attack Complex↗
PubMed1985

Characterization of the complement sensitivity of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria erythrocytes.

The affected erythrocytes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH II and PNH III cells) are abnormally sensitive to complement-mediated lysis. Normal human erythrocytes chemically modified by treatment with 2-amino-ethylisothiouronium bromide (AET) have been used as models for PNH cells inasmuch as they also exhibit an enhanced susceptibility to complement. To investigate the bases for the greater sensitivity of these abnormal cells to complement-mediated lysis, we compared binding of C3 and constituents of the membrane attack complex to normal, PNH II, PNH III, and AET-treated cells after classical pathway activation by antibody and fluid-phase activation by cobra venom factor complexes. When whole serum complement was activated by antibody, there was increased binding of C3 and C9 to PNH II, PNH III, and AET-treated cells, although the binding of these complement components to PNH II and PNH III cells was considerably greater than their binding to the AET-treated cells. In addition, all of the abnormal cell types showed a greater degree of lysis per C9 bound than did the normal erythrocytes. PNH III and AET-treated cells were readily lysed by fluid-phase activation of complement, whereas normal and PNH II erythrocytes were not susceptible to bystander lysis. The greater hemolysis of PNH III and AET-treated cells in this reactive lysis system was due to a quantitative increase in binding of constituents of the membrane attack complex. This more efficient binding of the terminal components after fluid-phase activation of whole serum complement was not mediated by cell-bound C3 fragments. These investigations demonstrate that the molecular events that characterize the enhanced susceptibility of PNH II, PNH III, and AET-treated erythrocytes to complement-mediated lysis are heterogeneous.

Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins↗
PubMed1985

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer study of the associative state of membrane-bound complexes of complement proteins C5b-8.

Human complement protein C8 was labeled with the fluorescent chromophores fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC), 3-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)-7-diethylamine-4-methyl coumarin (IPM), eosin-5-isothiocyanate (EOS), or Texas Red (sulforhodamine-101-sulfonyl chloride; TR) with only minor reduction in the specific hemolytic activity of the protein. The distribution of C5b-8 complexes bound to sheep erythrocyte membranes was investigated by monitoring fluorescence resonance energy transfer (RET) between the following RET donor/acceptor pairs of labeled C8: FITC-C8/EOS-C8, IPM-C8/EOS-C8, and FITC-C8/TR-C8. On binding to membranes containing pre-formed C5b67 complexes, specific RET was detected for each of the donor/acceptor pairs of labeled C8 investigated. In contrast, no energy transfer was observed for these RET donor/acceptor pairs of labeled C8 incubated in the presence of control membranes or in membrane-free solution. On the basis of a consideration of the transfer efficiency that would be expected for donor/acceptor pairs of labeled C8 that were uniformly dispersed on the membrane surface, these results suggest that C5b-8 complexes are aggregated into polymeric clusters when membrane-bound. The efficiency of donor-C8 to acceptor-C8 RET--and the hemolytic activity of membrane-bound C5b-8 (in the absence of C9)--are both related to the surface density of membrane-bound C5b67, suggesting that the physical clustering of the membrane-inserted C5b-8 complex may be related to the expression of its cytolytic activity.

Cell Membrane Permeability↗
PubMed1984

Electron spin resonance and steady-state fluorescence polarization studies of lipid bilayers containing integral proteins.

We derive equations that describe changes in the steady-state fluorescence polarization of the probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) or in the spectrum of electron spin resonance (ESR) nitroxide spin-labeled lipid probes as a function of the intrinsic molecule concentration in lipid bilayer membranes. We make use of an assumption used by us in an earlier paper. The equations are independent of any membrane model. They are valid when a DPH probe or a spin-labeled chain is equivalent to an unlabeled lipid hydrocarbon chain only as far as their general space-filling properties are concerned. We consider cases where the bilayer is either in a single homogeneous phase or in a two-phase region. We apply our equations to analyze ESR data from delipidated sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes and from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine bilayers containing Ca2+-ATPase, and DPH data from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers containing Ca2+-ATPase, both for T greater than Tc. The following conclusions were derived: (i) Ca2+-ATPase oligomers are "randomly" distributed, for the concentrations studied, in the fluid phase. (ii) There is no fixed stoichiometric ratio of "boundary" lipids and oligomers. (iii) Between 24k and 28k lipid molecules are able to surround each isolated oligomer composed of k Ca2+-ATPase monomers. Finally, we apply our equations to analyze DPH studies on DPPC bilayers containing Ca2+-ATPase for T less than Tc. We find that the results reported are in accord with the predictions of the model. In the Appendix, we show that an analytical expression for probabilities used by us is in very good agreement with the results of computer simulation.

Calcium-Transporting ATPases↗
PubMed1984

Kinetics of polymerization of a fluoresceinated derivative of complement protein C9 by the membrane-bound complex of complement proteins C5b-8.

The fluorescence self-quenching by energy transfer of FITC-C9, a fluoresceinated derivative of human complement protein C9 [Sims, P.J. (1984) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)], has been used to monitor the kinetics of C9 polymerization induced by the membrane-associated complex of complement proteins C5b-8. Time-based measurements of the fluorescence change observed during incubation of FITC-C9 with C5b-8-treated sheep red blood cell ghost membranes at various temperatures revealed that C9 polymerization induced by the C5b-8 proteins exhibits a temperature dependence similar to that previously reported for the complement-mediated hemolysis of these cells, with an Arrhenius activation energy for FITC-C9 polymerization of 13.3 +/- 3.2 kcal mol-1 (mean +/- 2 SD). Similar measurements obtained with C5b-8-treated unilamellar vesicles composed of either egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (egg PC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), or dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) revealed activation energies of between 20 and 25 kcal mol-1 for FITC-C9 polymerization by C5b-8 bound to these membranes. Temperature-dependent rates of C9 polymerization were observed to be largely unaffected by the phase state of membrane lipid in the target C5b-8 vesicles. The significance of these observations of the mechanism of C9 activation of membrane insertion is considered.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The influence of electrochemical gradients of Na+ and K+ upon the membrane binding and pore forming activity of the terminal complement proteins.

The hemolytic activity of the terminal complement proteins (C5b-9) towards erythrocytes containing high potassium concentration has been reported to be dramatically increased when extracellular Na+ is substituted isotonically by K+ (Dalmasso, A.P., et al., 1975, J. Immunol. 115:63-68). This phenomenon was now further investigated using resealed human erythrocyte ghosts (ghosts), which can be maintained at a nonlytic osmotic steady state subsequent to C5b-9 binding: (1) The functional state of C5b-9-treated ghosts was studied from their ability to retain trapped [14C]-sucrose or [3H]-inulin when suspended either in the presence of Na+ or K+. A dramatic increase in the permeability of the ghost membrane to both nonelectrolytes - in the absence of significant hemoglobin release - was observed for C5b-9 assembly in the presence of external K+. (2) The physical binding of the individual 125I-labeled terminal complement proteins to ghost membranes was directly measured as a function of intra- and extracellular K+ and Na+. The uptake of 125I-C7, 125I-C8, and 125I-C9 into membrane C5b-9 was unaltered by substitution of Na+ by K+. (3) The binding of the terminal complement proteins to ghosts subjected to a transient membrane potential generated by the K+-ionophore valinomycin (in the presence of K+ concentration gradients) was measured. No significant change in membrane binding of any of the C5b-9 proteins was detected under the influence of both depolarizing and hyperpolarizing membrane potentials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Membrane Permeability↗
PubMed1981

Properties of the M antigen solubilized from genetically high potassium sheep red cells.

The M antigen genetically associated with the high potassium (HK) status of sheep red cells was solubilized in 0.5% Triton X-100. This procedure did not impair M-antibody binding in the presence of detergent because solubilized membranes bound M-antibody in units equivalent to control membranes. As judged by M-antibody binding, the antigen was found to be stable in 0.5% Triton X-100 at 4 degree C but lost its activity rapidly at 37 degree C or when diluted to low detergent concentrations. However, the formation of the M antigen-antibody complex prior to dilution or exposure to elevated temperature protected the M antigen from inactivation. Brief exposure to alkaline pH released the extrinsic membrane proteins from red cell membranes without solubilizing the M antigen. The intrinsic membrane proteins were further separated by ion exchange chromatography on Affi-Gel 102. M antigenic activity copurified with the sheep specific protein band 2.2 band 6, and the glycoproteins and appeared to be separate from the main portion of band 3 protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Effects of amphiphiles on structure and activity of human erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase.

Detergents above their critical micellar concentration dissociate the aggregated forms of pure acetylcholinesterase from human erythrocyte membranes to a 6.5-S form, the protomer. This form is active only in presence of amphiphiles. 1. Uncharged (Triton X-100, Tweens, beta-D-octylglycoside), anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and zwitterionic (lysophosphatidylcholine) detergents or bile salts (sodium cholate, deoxycholate) stabilize the 6.5-S enzyme at concentrations well below their critical micellar concentration. 2. Total erythrocyte lipids fully sustain catalytic activity of the 6.5-S form. 3. Protein-protein interactions stabilize the activity of the 6.5-S form of acetylcholinesterase. Above a critical acetylcholinesterase concentration (2.5 microgram/ml) enzyme activity no longer depends on the presence of an amphiphile as reaggregation to multiple molecular forms occurs. It is concluded that human erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase is fully active only if the enzyme can undergo hydrophobic interactions with amphiphiles such as detergents, lipids or proteins.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1978

Interactions of acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase with lipid monolayers.

The interaction of acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase with lipid monolayers was followed by measuring changes in surface pressure. When injected into the subphase of a lipid monolayer, the proteins caused increases in surface pressure from 5 to 10 dynes/cm, indicating a penetration of protein into the monolayer. At pH values below the isoelectric point of the proteins the incorporation was improved. The same was observed when Ca2+ (2mM) was added. The presence of the enzyme in the mixed film could be demonstrated by using diiso [3H] propyl fluorophosphate-labelled acetylcholinesterase as well as by measuring enzyme activity. Acetylcholine receptor was shown to be present in the mixed film by using a complex made of the receptor and alpha-[3H]neurotoxin.

Acetylcholine↗