Research Interests   Acetylcholine receptor, synaptic transmission, cellular communication

Primary research goals are to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and axonal conduction in cellular communication of the nervous system. For this, we use tissues highly enriched in the protein molecules responsible for these phenomena, so that a variety of biochemical and biophysical methods can be used to study the structures and functional properties of these entities. Biophysical approaches include rapid kinetic fluorescence spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. The biochemical approaches we use include studies of radioligand binding to and photoaffinity labeling of the relevant membrane proteins. These approaches have been used to delineate novel mechanisms for the activation and inactivation of the receptor protein responsible for synaptic transmission triggered by the neurotransmitter molecule acetylcholine. In addition, our ongoing studies are directed at finding out how binding of ATP to this receptor modulates the action of the neurotransmitter.

Dunn, S.M.J. and Raftery, M.A., "Roles of Agonist-Binding Sites in Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function", Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 279 , 358-362 (2000).

Kawai, H., Cao, L., Dunn, S.M.J., Dryden, W.F. and Raftery, M.A., "Interaction of a Semi-rigid Agonist with Torpedo Acetylcholine Receptor", Biochemistry 39 , 3867-3876 (2000).

Kawai, H., Carlson, B.J., Okita, D.K. and Raftery, M.A., "Eserine and Other Tertiary Amine Interactions with Torpedo Acetylcholine Receptor Postsynaptic Membrane Vesicles", Biochemistry 38 , 134-141 (1999).

Dunn, S.M.J. and Raftery, M.A., "Agonist Binding to the Torpedo Acetylcholine Receptor (II) Complexities Revealed by Association Kinetics". Biochemistry 36 , 3854-3863 (1997).

Dunn, S.M.J. and Raftery, M.A., "Agonist Binding to the Torpedo Acetylcholine Receptor (I) Complexities Revealed by Dissociation Kinetics". Biochemistry 36 , 3846-3853 (1997).

Conti-Tronconi, B.M., McLane, K.E., Raftery, M.A., Grando, S. and Protti, M.P., "The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: Structure, Function and Autoimmune Pathology", In CRC Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, G.D. Fasman, Editor, CRC Press, 29 , 69-123 (1994).