When the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is applied to skeletal muscle cells, it binds the acetylcholine receptor and causes the muscle cells to contract
Succinylcholine, which is a chemical analog of acetylcholine, binds to the acetylcholine receptor on skeletal muscle cells but causes the muscle cells to relax; it is therefore often used by surgeons as a muscle relaxant. Propose a model for why succinylcholine causes muscle relaxation. What might be the mechanism to explain the different activities of acetylcholine and succinylcholine on the acetylcholine receptor?
Although succinylcholine can bind to the acetylcholine receptor, it does not activate the receptor and therefore does not cause the muscle cell to contract. Instead, succinylcholine blocks the ability of acetylcholine to bind to the receptor and thereby prevents acetylcholine from stimulating muscle contraction.
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