CHRNA7
Description
The CHRNA7 (cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 7 subunit) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 15.
The CHRNA7 gene encodes the neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-7 (nAChRα7), which is a component of certain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs). nAChRs are ligand-gated ion channels involved in fast signal transmission at synapses. They are typically hetero-pentamers composed of homologous subunits, but nAChRα7 forms a homo-oligomeric channel. The receptor's structure consists of a conserved N-terminal extracellular domain, followed by three transmembrane domains, a variable cytoplasmic loop, a fourth transmembrane domain, and a short C-terminal extracellular region. The CHRNA7 gene is located in a region associated with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and schizophrenia. A duplication event in this region has led to a hybrid gene containing sequences from CHRNA7 and FAM7A. Disruption of alpha-7 nicotinic receptors in schizophrenia is linked to the high prevalence of smoking in individuals with the disease.
CHRNA7 is also known as CHRNA7-2, NACHRA7.
