CHRNA2
CHRNA2 (cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 2 subunit) is an alpha subunit of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which are pentameric, ligand-gated cation channels. It is widely expressed in the brain and contributes to fast synaptic transmission. Browse Assay Genie's current range of CHRNA2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
CHRNA2 is a component of neuronal acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which function as pentameric, ligand-gated cation channels with high calcium permeability. These receptors are excitatory neurotransmitter receptors that mediate synaptic transmission in the nervous system and at the neuromuscular junction. Each subunit confers distinct channel properties, including activation, deactivation and desensitisation kinetics, pH sensitivity, cation permeability and binding to allosteric modulators. CHRNA2 forms heteropentameric neuronal receptors with CHRNB2 and CHRNB4.
The CHRNA2 gene encodes an alpha subunit that is widely expressed in the brain. Neuronal nAChRs are found throughout the peripheral and central nervous system, where they are involved in fast synaptic transmission. The proposed subunit structure comprises a conserved N-terminal extracellular domain, three conserved transmembrane domains, a variable cytoplasmic loop, a fourth conserved transmembrane domain and a short C-terminal extracellular region. The protein is localised to the synaptic cell membrane and the wider cell membrane, and belongs to the ligand-gated ion channel family, acetylcholine receptor subfamily, alpha-2 sub-subfamily. In HGNC it sits in the group of cholinergic receptor nicotinic subunits.
CHRNA2 has clear disease relevance. Mutations in the gene cause autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy type 4, and single nucleotide polymorphisms have been associated with nicotine dependence; UniProt also notes a role for the protein in nicotine dependence. The gene was previously named cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha polypeptide 2 (neuronal). Mouse and rat orthologs are both called Chrna2.
Mutations in CHRNA2 cause autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy type 4, making it a subject of study in inherited epilepsy.
Polymorphisms in CHRNA2 have been associated with nicotine dependence, and the subunit is reported to play a role in it.
As a subunit of neuronal nAChRs, CHRNA2 contributes to fast synaptic transmission across the central and peripheral nervous system.
Each nAChR subunit shapes kinetics, cation permeability and allosteric modulator binding, so CHRNA2 is relevant to receptor subtype characterisation.
CHRNA2 is an alpha subunit of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which are pentameric, ligand-gated cation channels with high calcium permeability. It forms heteropentamers with CHRNB2 and CHRNB4 and contributes to excitatory synaptic transmission and to nicotine dependence.
The HGNC name is cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 2 subunit, and UniProt lists the protein as neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-2. Earlier gene names included cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha polypeptide 2 (neuronal). No separate alias symbols are recorded.
Mutations in CHRNA2 cause autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy type 4, and SNPs have been associated with nicotine dependence. Orthologs exist in mouse and rat, both named Chrna2; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha subunits and neuronal ion channel targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q15822; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.