After binding acetylcholine, the acetylcholine receptor (CHRNA1) responds by an e, Xenopus/Amphibian,tensive change in conformation that affects all subunits and leads to the opening of an ion-conducting channel across the plasma membrane. CHRNA1 is a pentamer of two alpha chains, and one each of the beta, delta, and gamma (in immature muscle) or epsilon (in mature muscle) chains. The alpha subunit is the main focus for antibody binding in myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia gravis is characterized by sporadic muscular fatigability and weakness, occurring chiefly in muscles innervated by cranial nerves, and characteristically improved by cholinesterase-inhibiting drugs.