Nicotinic Acetylcholine R alpha 4/CHRNA4: Proteins and Enzymes

CHRNA4 is 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. CHRNA4 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 CHRNA4 cause nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy type 1. Polymorphisms in CHRNA4 that provide protection against nicotine addiction have been described.