nicotinic receptor alpha-10; neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-10; nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha 10; NACHR alpha 10 (CHRNA10, NACHRA10)

Function

• nicotinic receptor alpha for ionotropic receptor with a probable role in the modulation of auditory stimuli
• the channel is permeable to a range of divalent cations including Ca+2, the influx of which may activate a K+ current which hyperpolarizes the cell membrane
• in the ear, this may lead to a reduction in basilar membrane motion, altering the activity of auditory nerve fibers & reducing the range of dynamic hearing
• this may protect against acoustic trauma
• forms hetero-oligomeric channels in conjunction with CHRNA9
• the native outer hair cell receptor may be composed of CHRNA9-CHRNA10 hetero-oligomers
• the hetero-oligomeric receptor composed of CHRNA9 & CHRNA10 has an atypical pharmacological profile, binding several non-nicotinic ligands including:
  • strychnine (glycine receptor antagonist)
  • atropine (muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist)

Structure

• belongs to the ligand-gated ionic channel (TC 1.A.9) family

Compartment

• cell junction, synapse, postsynaptic cell membrane

Expression

• expressed in inner-ear tissue, tonsil, immortalized B-cells, cultured T-cells & peripheral blood lymphocytes

More general terms

• nicotinic receptor alpha

Database

• Kegg: http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?hsa:5705
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/606372
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9GZZ6.html