Figure 1. Co-expression of the β2 along with the α7 subunit alters the kinetics of desensitization.

In oocytes expressing the α7 subunit alone (A) or with the β2 subunit (B), the rapid application of carbachol (1 mm; indicated by the horizontal bar) induced a rapid inward current response at a holding potential of −60 mV that rapidly desensitized. In A, the fast and slow time constants of decay were 0.088 s (89 % of the fit) and 1.37 s (11 % of the fit), respectively. In B, these values were 0.230 s (84 % of the fit) and 1.25 s (13 % of the fit). These curve fits overlay the data trace in both A and B. The relative time constant values and proportions of fit for all three groups (i.e. α7, α7β2, α7β2(×3) are shown in C and D, respectively. In C and D, the asterisks denote a significant difference (P < 0.05) compared to homomeric α7 channels.