CHRFAM7A Antibody – Goat Polyclonal

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are members of a superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast signal transmission at synapses. The family member CHRNA7, which is located on chromosome 15 in a region associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders, is partially duplicated and forms a hybrid with a novel gene from the family with sequence similarity 7 (FAM7A). Alternative splicing has been observed, and two variants exist, for this hybrid gene. The N-terminally truncated products predicted by the largest open reading frames for each variant would lack the majority of the neurotransmitter-gated ion-channel ligand binding domain but retain the transmembrane region that forms the ion channel. Although current evidence supports transcription of this hybrid gene, translation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-like protein-encoding open reading frames has not been confirmed. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

nAChRA7: After binding acetylcholine, the AChR responds by an extensive change in conformation that affects all subunits and leads to opening of an ion-conducting channel across the plasma membrane. The channel is blocked by alpha-bungarotoxin. Belongs to the ligand-gated ion channel (TC 1.A.9) family. Acetylcholine receptor (TC 1.A.9.1) subfamily. Alpha- 7/CHRNA7 sub-subfamily. 3 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative splicing.

Protein type: Channel, cation; Channel, ligand-gated; Membrane protein, integral; Membrane protein, multi-pass

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 15q13.3

Cellular Component: nicotinic acetylcholine-gated receptor-channel complex; plasma membrane

Molecular Function: acetylcholine binding; acetylcholine receptor activity; acetylcholine-gated cation channel activity; beta-amyloid binding; chloride channel regulator activity; ligand-gated ion channel activity; nicotinic acetylcholine-activated cation-selective channel activity; protein homodimerization activity; toxin binding

Biological Process: activation of MAPK activity; calcium ion transport; cellular calcium ion homeostasis; cognition; negative regulation of tumor necrosis factor production; positive regulation of angiogenesis; positive regulation of cell proliferation; response to hypoxia; response to nicotine; signal transduction; synaptic transmission, cholinergic

Disease: Chromosome 15q13.3 Deletion Syndrome