Name

SLC18A3 Gene

solute carrier family 18 (vesicular acetylcholine transporter), member 3

This gene is a member of the vesicular amine transporter family. The encoded transmembrane protein transports acetylcholine into secretory vesicles for release into the extracellular space. Acetylcholine transport utilizes a proton gradient established by a vacuolar ATPase. This gene is located within the first intron of the choline acetyltransferase gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

BSN Gene

bassoon presynaptic cytomatrix protein

Neurotransmitters are released from a specific site in the axon terminal called the active zone, which is composed of synaptic vesicles and a meshwork of cytoskeleton underlying the plasma membrane. The protein encoded by this gene is thought to be a scaffolding protein involved in organizing the presynaptic cytoskeleton. The gene is expressed primarily in neurons in the brain. A similar gene product in rodents is concentrated in the active zone of axon terminals and tightly associated with cytoskeletal structures, and is essential for regulating neurotransmitter release from a subset of synapses. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

PCLO Gene

piccolo presynaptic cytomatrix protein

The protein encoded by this gene is part of the presynaptic cytoskeletal matrix, which is involved in establishing active synaptic zones and in synaptic vesicle trafficking. Variations in this gene have been associated with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2011]

RIC3 Gene

RIC3 acetylcholine receptor chaperone

This gene encodes a member of the resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase 3-like family which functions as a chaperone of specific 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. The encoded protein influences the folding and assembly of these receptor subunits in the endoplasmic reticulum and expression on the cell surface. This protein contains an N-terminal transmembrane domain, a proline-rich spacer, and a cytosolic C-terminal coiled-coil domain. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2016]

CHRNA4 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 4 (neuronal)

This gene encodes a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, which belongs to a superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels that play a role in fast signal transmission at synapses. These pentameric receptors can bind acetylcholine, which causes an extensive change in conformation that leads to the opening of an ion-conducting channel across the plasma membrane. This protein is an integral membrane receptor subunit that can interact with either nAChR beta-2 or nAChR beta-4 to form a functional receptor. Mutations in this gene cause nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy type 1. Polymorphisms in this gene that provide protection against nicotine addiction have been described. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2012]

CHRNA5 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 5 (neuronal)

The protein encoded by this gene is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit and a member of a superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast signal transmission at synapses. These receptors are thought to be heteropentamers composed of separate but similar subunits. Defects in this gene have been linked to susceptibility to lung cancer type 2 (LNCR2).[provided by RefSeq, Jun 2010]

CHRNA6 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 6 (neuronal)

This gene encodes an alpha subunit of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These receptors consist of five subunits and function as ion channels involved in neurotransmission. The encoded protein is a subunit of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that mediate dopaminergic neurotransmission and are activated by acetylcholine and exogenous nicotine. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been observed for this gene. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in this gene have been associated with both nicotine and alcohol dependence. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2010]

CHRNA7 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 7 (neuronal)

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]

CHRNA1 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 1 (muscle)

The muscle acetylcholine receptor consiststs of 5 subunits of 4 different types: 2 alpha subunits and 1 each of the beta, gamma, and delta subunits. This gene encodes an alpha subunit that plays a role in acetlycholine binding/channel gating. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2012]

CHRNA2 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 2 (neuronal)

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels formed by a pentameric arrangement of alpha and beta subunits to create distinct muscle and neuronal receptors. Neuronal receptors are found throughout the peripheral and central nervous system where they are involved in fast synaptic transmission. This gene encodes an alpha subunit that is widely expressed in the brain. The proposed structure for nAChR subunits 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. Mutations in this gene cause autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy type 4. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this gene have been associated with nicotine dependence. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2009]

CHRNA3 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 3 (neuronal)

This locus encodes a member of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor family of proteins. Members of this family of proteins form pentameric complexes comprised of both alpha and beta subunits. This locus encodes an alpha-type subunit, as it contains characteristic adjacent cysteine residues. The encoded protein is a ligand-gated ion channel that likely plays a role in neurotransmission. Polymorphisms in this gene have been associated with an increased risk of smoking initiation and an increased susceptibility to lung cancer. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2009]

CHRNA9 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 9 (neuronal)

This gene is a member of the ligand-gated ionic channel family and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene superfamily. It encodes a plasma membrane protein that forms homo- or hetero-oligomeric divalent cation channels. This protein is involved in cochlea hair cell development and is also expressed in the outer hair cells (OHCs) of the adult cochlea. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2012]

CHRFAM7A Gene

CHRNA7 (cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 7, exons 5-10) and FAM7A (family with sequence similarity 7A, exons A-E) fusion

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]

CHRNA10 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 10 (neuronal)

Predicted to enable acetylcholine-gated monoatomic cation-selective channel activity. Acts upstream of or within positive regulation of cytosolic calcium ion concentration. Predicted to be located in membrane. Predicted to be part of transmembrane transporter complex. Predicted to be active in cholinergic synapse; neuron projection; and postsynaptic specialization membrane. [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Mar 2025]

CHRNB1 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, beta 1 (muscle)

The muscle acetylcholine receptor is composed of five subunits: two alpha subunits and one beta, one gamma, and one delta subunit. This gene encodes the beta subunit of the acetylcholine receptor. The acetylcholine receptor changes conformation upon acetylcholine binding leading to the opening of an ion-conducting channel across the plasma membrane. Mutations in this gene are associated with slow-channel congenital myasthenic syndrome. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

CHRNB3 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, beta 3 (neuronal)

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 (hetero)pentamers composed of homologous subunits. The subunits that make up the muscle and neuronal forms of nAChRs are encoded by separate genes and have different primary structure. There are several subtypes of neuronal nAChRs that vary based on which homologous subunits are arranged around the central channel. They are classified as alpha-subunits if, like muscle alpha-1 (MIM 100690), they have a pair of adjacent cysteines as part of the presumed acetylcholine binding site. Subunits lacking these cysteine residues are classified as beta-subunits (Groot Kormelink and Luyten, 1997 [PubMed 9009220]). Elliott et al. (1996) [PubMed 8906617] stated that the proposed structure for each subunit is a conserved N-terminal extracellular domain followed by 3 conserved transmembrane domains, a variable cytoplasmic loop, a fourth conserved transmembrane domain, and a short C-terminal extracellular region.[supplied by OMIM, Apr 2010]

CHRNB2 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, beta 2 (neuronal)

Neuronal acetylcholine receptors are homo- or heteropentameric complexes composed of homologous alpha and beta subunits. They belong to a superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels which allow the flow of sodium and potassium across the plasma membrane in response to ligands such as acetylcholine and nicotine. This gene encodes one of several beta subunits. Mutations in this gene are associated with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

CHRNB4 Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, beta 4 (neuronal)

This gene is found within a conserved gene cluster and encodes one of the beta subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) superfamily which form ligand-gated ion channels with a central pore that forms a cation channel. Neuronal nAChRs are pentameric structures that can be either homomeric or heteromeric, with heteromeric structures containing both alpha and beta subunits. Each subunit contains an extracellular amino terminus and four transmembrane domains. Nicotine is one of the agonists that binds to the receptor. Variants in this gene have been associated with nicotine dependence and lung cancer. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2017]

CHRNG Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, gamma (muscle)

The mammalian muscle-type acetylcholine receptor is a transmembrane pentameric glycoprotein with two alpha subunits, one beta, one delta, and one epsilon (in adult skeletal muscle) or gamma (in fetal and denervated muscle) subunit. This gene, which encodes the gamma subunit, is expressed prior to the thirty-third week of gestation in humans. The gamma subunit of the acetylcholine receptor plays a role in neuromuscular organogenesis and ligand binding and disruption of gamma subunit expression prevents the correct localization of the receptor in cell membranes. Mutations in this gene cause Escobar syndrome and a lethal form of multiple pterygium syndrome. Muscle-type acetylcholine receptor is the major antigen in the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis.[provided by RefSeq, Sep 2009]

CHRND Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, delta (muscle)

The acetylcholine receptor of muscle has 5 subunits of 4 different types: 2 alpha and 1 each of beta, gamma and delta subunits. After acetylcholine binding, the receptor undergoes an extensive conformation change that affects all subunits and leads to opening of an ion-conducting channel across the plasma membrane. Defects in this gene are a cause of multiple pterygium syndrome lethal type (MUPSL), congenital myasthenic syndrome slow-channel type (SCCMS), and congenital myasthenic syndrome fast-channel type (FCCMS). Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2015]

CHRNE Gene

cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, epsilon (muscle)

Acetylcholine receptors at mature mammalian neuromuscular junctions are pentameric protein complexes composed of four subunits in the ratio of two alpha subunits to one beta, one epsilon, and one delta subunit. The acetylcholine receptor changes subunit composition shortly after birth when the epsilon subunit replaces the gamma subunit seen in embryonic receptors. Mutations in the epsilon subunit are associated with congenital myasthenic syndrome. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2009]