CHRNA6

Cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 6, also known as nAChRα6, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CHRNA6 gene.^[5] The CHRNA6 gene codes for the α6 nicotinic receptor subunit that is found in certain types of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors found primarily in the brain.

CHRNA6
Identifiers
Aliases	CHRNA6, CHNRA6, cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 6 subunit
External IDs	OMIM: 606888; MGI: 106213; HomoloGene: 20888; GeneCards: CHRNA6; OMA:CHRNA6 - orthologs
Gene location (Human) Chr. Chromosome 8 (human)[1] Band 8p11.21 Start 42,752,620 bp[1] End 42,796,392 bp[1]
Gene location (Mouse) Chr. Chromosome 8 (mouse)[2] Band 8|8 A2 Start 27,893,240 bp[2] End 27,903,972 bp[2]
RNA expression pattern Bgee Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed in testicle tibialis anterior muscle mucosa of ileum gonad cerebellar cortex deltoid muscle cerebellar hemisphere prefrontal cortex right hemisphere of cerebellum substantia nigra Top expressed in lumbar spinal ganglion neural layer of retina substantia nigra ventral tegmental area blastocyst central gray substance of midbrain Ileal epithelium superior colliculus pituitary gland embryo More reference expression data BioGPS More reference expression data
Gene ontology Molecular function acetylcholine binding acetylcholine receptor activity ion channel activity extracellular ligand-gated ion channel activity ligand-gated ion channel activity protein binding acetylcholine-gated cation-selective channel activity transmembrane signaling receptor activity Cellular component integral component of membrane postsynaptic membrane membrane synapse cell junction plasma membrane acetylcholine-gated channel complex dopaminergic synapse integral component of postsynaptic membrane integral component of presynaptic membrane integral component of plasma membrane neuron projection Biological process regulation of dopamine secretion response to nicotine membrane depolarization synaptic transmission, cholinergic ion transport neuromuscular synaptic transmission signal transduction chemical synaptic transmission regulation of postsynaptic membrane potential excitatory postsynaptic potential cation transmembrane transport ion transmembrane transport regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis regulation of membrane potential nervous system process Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 8973 11440 Ensembl ENSG00000147434 ENSMUSG00000031491 UniProt Q15825 Q9R0W9 RefSeq (mRNA) NM_004198 NM_001199279 NM_021369 RefSeq (protein) NP_001186208 NP_004189 NP_067344 Location (UCSC) Chr 8: 42.75 – 42.8 Mb Chr 8: 27.89 – 27.9 Mb PubMed search [3] [4]
Wikidata
View/Edit Human View/Edit Mouse

Tissue distribution

α6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) show a restricted expression pattern in the brain. Neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing α6 subunits are expressed on dopamine-releasing neurons in the midbrain.^[6][7]

Function

These receptors play a key role in regulating dopaminergic neurotransmission. Dopamine release following activation of these neurons is thought to be involved in the addictive properties of nicotine.^[8][9][10] In addition to nicotine, research in animals has implicated α6-containing nAChRs in the abusive and addictive properties of ethanol, with mecamylamine demonstrating a potent ability to block these properties.

Clinical significance

Because of their selective distribution and role in dopamine regulation, α6-containing receptors have been investigated as therapeutic targets. Due to their selective localisation on dopaminergic neurons, α6-containing nACh receptors have also been suggested as a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.^[11][12]

Interactive pathway map

Click on genes, proteins and metabolites below to link to respective articles.^{[§ 1]}

[[File:

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

[[

]]

|alt=Nicotine Activity on Dopaminergic Neurons edit]]

Nicotine Activity on Dopaminergic Neurons edit

1. The interactive pathway map can be edited at WikiPathways: "NicotineDopaminergic_WP1602".

See also

• Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor