Ultrastructure of the 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor.

We have determined the ultrastructure of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) serotonin receptors purified from NG108-15 mouse neuroblastoma x rat glioma cells by electron microscopic examination of receptor particles embedded in uranyl acetate stain and metal replicas of rapidly frozen receptors. The 5-HT3 receptor can be modelled as a cylinder 11 nm in length and 8 nm in diameter with a closed end and a central cavity 3 nm in diameter. Analysis of the rotational symmetry of single receptor particles indicates that the 5-HT3 receptor is composed of five subunits arranged symmetrically around a central cavity. Together with evidence obtained for related proteins in other studies using ultrastructural, biochemical, or electrophysiological methods, our observations suggest that all members of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily may possess a pentameric quaternary structure.