Enables acetylcholine-gated monoatomic cation-selective channel activity. Contributes to acetylcholine receptor activity. Involved in presynaptic modulation of chemical synaptic transmission. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including behavioral response to nicotine; neuronal action potential; and synaptic signaling. Located in external side of plasma membrane. Part of acetylcholine-gated channel complex. Is active in dopaminergic synapse and presynaptic membrane. Is expressed in several structures, including alimentary system; genitourinary system; integumental system; nervous system; and sensory organ. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy 1 and nicotine dependence. Orthologous to human CHRNA4 (cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 4 subunit).
MGI Description
PHENOTYPE: Nullizygous mice may show reduced chemically-elicited analgesia, susceptibility to seizures, increased anxiety, and altered behavioral responses to nicotine or a new environment. Homozygotes for any of several knock-in alleles exhibit altered nervous system physiology and/or sensitivity to nicotine. [provided by MGI curators]