Ligand-gated ion channel

Ionotropic receptors ( or ion channel receptors) consist of membrane-bound protein subunits that possess extracellular binding domains for their respective ligands and form an ion channel.

Ionotropic receptors occurs at both the binding of the ligand as well as the first stage of signal transduction in a macromolecule. The specific binding of the respective natural ligand or agonist changes by opening the channel, the conductivity of the cell membrane, which results in a change in membrane potential by itself.

Examples of ionotropic receptors:

• The acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction, the synapse between motor neurons and skeletal muscle
• Of glutamate receptors in the central nervous system: the AMPA receptor, the kainate receptor and the NMDA receptor.