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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Localization of Plasma Membrane and Intracellular Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Using Quantitative Imaging in Mammalian Cells
Published on: December 19, 2025
Cy3-3-acylcholine: a fluorescent analogue of acetylcholine for single molecule detection
Kenzo Fujimoto1, Yoshinaga Yoshimura, Makoto Ihara
1School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1, Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan.
Abstract:
We synthesized a novel fluorescent analogue of acetylcholine, Cy3-3-acylcholine. The molecular weight of the products agreed with structural predictions. Discrete intensity changes of fluorescent spots due to a single ligand binding/unbinding to nAChR were visualized by TIRF microscopy. The agonist effect of the Cy3-3-acylcholine on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) was confirmed electrophysiologically. This newly synthesized fluorescent analogue will enable us to conduct more elaborate studies on single channel interaction processes between nAChR and ligands.
