CHRNA10 (Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Alpha Subunit 10) encodes the alpha-10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit, a member of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily. The alpha-10 subunit combines with other subunits (primarily alpha-9) to form functional nAChRs that mediate cholinergic signaling in various tissues, including the inner ear, sensory neurons, and select brain regions.
| Symbol | CHRNA10 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Alpha Subunit 10 |
| Aliases | ACHR alpha-10, nAChRα10 |
| Chromosomal Location | Chromosome 11p15.5 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 59345 |
| OMIM | 607115 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000147434 |
| UniProt ID | Q9GZZ6 |
| Protein Class | Ion Channel / Ligand-Gated Receptor |
The alpha-10 subunit primarily forms heteromeric receptors with the alpha-9 subunit (CHRNA9). The α9α10 nAChR is a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel that responds to acetylcholine and other cholinergic agonists. [1] This receptor subtype is unique among neuronal nAChRs because it is also expressed in non-neuronal tissues and can form calcium-permeable channels.
The α9α10 nAChR is expressed in:
While CHRNA10 is not traditionally considered a major player in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, emerging evidence suggests roles for cholinergic signaling modulation:
Lipovsek et al. α9α10 nAChR subtypes (2012). 2012. ↩︎
Shen et al. Hair cell nicotinic receptors and hearing (2015). 2015. ↩︎ ↩︎
Ballard et al. Cholinergic therapy in AD (2005). 2005. ↩︎
Rosas-Ballina & Tracey, Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (2009). 2009. ↩︎
Jensen et al. nAChR and dopaminergic neurons (2005). 2005. ↩︎
Mordillo et al. nAChR at the neuromuscular junction (2010). 2010. ↩︎