Nicotinic Receptor, Alpha 4 (CHRNA7) Antibody – Rabbit Polyclonal

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are members of a superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast signal transmission at synapses. The nAChRs are thought to be hetero-pentamers composed of homologous subunits. The proposed structure for each subunit is a conserved N-terminal extracellular domain followed by three conserved transmembrane domains, a variable cytoplasmic loop, a fourth conserved transmembrane domain, and a short C-terminal extracellular region. The protein encoded by this gene forms a homo-oligomeric channel, displays marked permeability to calcium ions and is a major component of brain nicotinic receptors that are blocked by, and highly sensitive to, alpha-bungarotoxin. Once this receptor binds acetylcholine, it undergoes an extensive change in conformation that affects all subunits and leads to opening of an ion-conducting channel across the plasma membrane. This gene is located in a region identified as a major susceptibility locus for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and a chromosomal location involved in the genetic transmission of schizophrenia. An evolutionarily recent partial duplication event in this region results in a hybrid containing sequence from this gene and a novel FAM7A gene. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2012]

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

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 15q14

Cellular Component: nicotinic acetylcholine-gated receptor-channel complex; postsynaptic membrane; plasma membrane; integral to membrane; cell junction

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

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

Disease: Chromosome 15q13.3 Deletion Syndrome