Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Gamma Subunit (CHRNG) encodes the gamma (γ) subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), a ligand-gated ion channel essential for neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation and function. CHRNG is primarily expressed during embryonic development and is a critical component of the embryonic/muscle-type nAChR, which also includes alpha (α), beta (β), delta (δ), and epsilon (ε) subunits. While CHRNG expression diminishes after birth in skeletal muscle, research has revealed its presence in certain neuronal populations and emerging associations with neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | CHRNG |
| Full Name | Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Gamma Subunit |
| Chromosome | 2q31.1 |
| GenBank ID | NM_005199 |
| Protein Class | Ligand-Gated Ion Channel (Cys-loop receptor family) |
| Subunit Type | Gamma (γ) non-α subunit |
| Molecular Weight | ~55 kDa |
| Extracellular Domain | 210 amino acids (N-terminal) |
| Transmembrane Domains | 4 |
The muscle-type nAChR is a pentameric assembly typically composed of two α subunits and one each of β, δ, and γ (embryonic) or ε (adult) subunits: (α1)₂β1δ1γ1/ε1. [1] [2]
CHRNG is the predominant γ subunit expressed during:
While primarily studied in muscle, CHRNG has been detected in:
CHRNG and other nAChR subunits are therapeutic targets for:
Sine, S.M. (2012). End-plate acetylcholine receptor: Structure, mechanism, pharmacology, and disease. Physiological Reviews, 92(3), 1189-1234. 2012. ↩︎ ↩︎
Ruegg, M.A. & Bixby, J.L. (1998). Agrin orchestrates synaptic differentiation at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. Trends in Neurosciences, 21(1), 22-27. 1998. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Hajós, M. et al. (2020). Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in Alzheimer's disease: From pathophysiology to therapeutics. Neuropharmacology, 168, 107993. 2020. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Quik, M. & Wonnacott, S. (2011). α6β2* and α4β2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as drug targets for Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 26(10), 1765-1773. 2011. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Michalova, S. et al. (2013). Congenital myasthenic syndromes due to mutations in CHRNA1, CHRNB1, CHRND, and RAPSN. Brain, 136(Pt 3), 944-956. 2013. ↩︎