This recombinant protein product features a stable and soluble fragment (residues 23-233) of the human Neuronal Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit Alpha-7 (nAChRα7), encoded by the CHRNA7 gene. It is designed for structural and biochemical studies, offering researchers a reliable tool to investigate the receptor's functional domains without the complexities of the full-length membrane protein.

The full-length Neuronal Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit Alpha-7 (nAChRα7) is a key component of pentameric, ligand-gated cation channels in the nervous system, noted for high calcium permeability and rapid desensitization. It forms homopentameric receptors abundant in the central nervous system and heteropentamers with CHRNB2 in basal forebrain neurons, modulating calcium-dependent signaling and neurotransmitter release (e.g., dopamine, glutamate, and GABA). Beyond neuronal roles, nAChRα7 is expressed in immune cells like T cells, monocytes, and macrophages, where it mediates metabotropic signaling to increase intracellular calcium and suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine release (e.g., TNF) via cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathways, independently of ion channel activity. This involves inhibiting NFKB nuclear translocation and activating JAK2-STAT3, highlighting its importance in neuro-immune crosstalk. The protein localizes to the postsynaptic and cell membranes, with trafficking facilitated by TMEM35A/NACHO and RIC3, making it a multi-pass membrane protein critical for synaptic transmission and inflammatory regulation.