Mechanism of Synaptic Transmission
Acetlycholine receptors are multi-subunit membrane spanning protiens.
The protiens consist of five distinct subunits; (a,b,d,g).
Acetylcholine binds to the a subunits, of which there are two on each of the acetylcholine receptor ion channels.
Once bound acetylcholine causes ligand-gated ion channels in the post synaptic membrane to open.
These channels are relatively non-selective so the passage of different
ions, such as Na+, K+ and Li+ occurs
Taken from: www.colorado.edu/MCDB/ MCDB1150/ohd/overhead.html