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“Bulk and annular lipid composition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the Torpedo californica electric organ” The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) it’s a transmembrane protein that has been used as a model for studying the processes regulated by lipid-protein interactions. The alteration in the receptor structure or kinetic cause a decreasing activity that has been implicated in a multiple pathologies including memory loss and depression like Alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive disorders. Because the X-ray structure of AChR has not yet been solved since its hydrophobic character hampers its successful crystallization, it’s important to understand the mechanism of the receptor in order to develop new drug therapies. The nAChRs is in intimate contact with the annular lipids in its native membrane and its stability and functionally depend on the lipid environments. In order to obtain a functional nAChR for future X-ray studies, a detergent that mimic the native environment of the receptor it’s essential. Previously work in our lab had determined the bulk lipid composition of the Torpedo californica (Tc) electric organ, a rich source of muscle-type nAChR. Based on these results we choose a family of lipid-like-detergents for the solubilization of the Tc electric organ. We will perform lipid analysis on each of the detergent-solubilized nAChR preparations that yield functional receptors using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to determine the cholesterol, phospholipid head group, and acyl composition in the detergent-solubilized nAChR. These experiments will provide the information required for a comprehensive lipid-based study based on correlations with the functional activity.