Stoichiometry-selective modulation of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by divalent cations.

Modulation of the α4β2 nAChR by divalent cations depends on the ACh concentration, the type of cation, and the subunit stoichiometry. The functional consequences of modulation are expected to depend on the regional distributions of the stoichiometric forms and synaptic versus extra-synaptic locations of the receptors.