Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-2 (CHRNA2)

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-2 (CHRNA2) is one of the key neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunits found predominantly in the central and peripheral nervous systems.[4][5][7][8] It assembles with other subunits, such as β2 or β4, to form functional heteropentameric ligand-gated ion channels (nAChRs) that mediate synaptic transmission by permitting cation influx (mainly sodium and calcium ions) upon binding acetylcholine or nicotine.[4][5][8] The diversity in nAChR subunit composition leads to a range of pharmacological profiles and neuronal signaling functions, and the α2 subunit–containing receptors have specific distribution patterns in the brain, implicated in nicotine addiction and some neurological conditions.[3][4][7] Drugs targeting these receptors can act as agonists, antagonists, or partial agonists, altering neuronal excitation with broad clinical implications especially in addiction, anesthesia, and neuropharmacology.[4][7]

Other names

Neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-2nAChR α2 subunitCHRNA2

Ligand-gated channel opening via acetylcholine or drug binding, leading to cation influx and neuronal depolarization[4][5]