Cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 6, also known as nAChRα6, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CHRNA6 gene.[5] The CHRNA6 gene codes for the α6 nicotinic receptor subunit that is found in certain types of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors found primarily in the brain. Neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing α6 subunits are expressed on dopamine-releasing neurons in the midbrain,[6][7] and dopamine release following activation of these neurons is thought to be involved in the addictive properties of nicotine.[8][9][10] Due to their selective localisation on dopaminergic neurons, α6-containing nACh receptors have also been suggested as a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.[11][12] In addition to nicotine, research in animals has implicated alpha-6-containing nAChRs in the abusive and addictive properties of ethanol, with mecamylamine demonstrating a potent ability to block these properties.
- ^ a b c GRCh38: Ensembl release 89: ENSG00000147434 – Ensembl, May 2017
- ^ a b c GRCm38: Ensembl release 89: ENSMUSG00000031491 – Ensembl, May 2017
- ^ "Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ^ "Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ^ "Entrez Gene: CHRNA6 cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 6".
- ^ *Le Novère N, Zoli M, Changeux JP (1996). "Neuronal nicotinic receptor alpha 6 subunit mRNA is selectively concentrated in catecholaminergic nuclei of the rat brain". Eur. J. Neurosci. 8 (11): 2428–2439. doi:10.1111/j.1460-9568.1996.tb01206.x. PMID 8950106. S2CID 23102912.
- ^ Meyer EL, Yoshikami D, McIntosh JM (2008). "The Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors α4* and α6* Differentially Modulate Dopamine Release in Mouse Striatal Slices". Journal of Neurochemistry. 105 (5): 1761–1769. doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05266.x. PMC 2527994. PMID 18248619.
- ^ Calabresi P, Massimiliano D (Oct 2008). "ACh/Dopamine Crosstalk in Motor Control and Reward: A Crucial Role for α6-Containing Nicotinic Receptors?". Neuron. 60 (1): 4–7. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2008.09.031. PMID 18940582. S2CID 10537163.
- ^ Drenan RM, Grady SR, Whiteaker P, McClure-Begley T, McKinney S, Miwa JM, Bupp S, Heintz N, et al. (2008). "In vivo activation of midbrain dopamine neurons via sensitized, high-affinity alpha 6 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors". Neuron. 60 (1): 123–136. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2008.09.009. PMC 2632732. PMID 18940593.
- ^ Exley R, Clements MA, Hartung H, McIntosh JM, Cragg SJ (2008). "Alpha6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors dominate the nicotine control of dopamine neurotransmission in nucleus accumbens". Neuropsychopharmacology. 33 (9): 2158–2166. doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301617. PMID 18033235.
- ^ Quik M, McIntosh JM (2006). "Striatal alpha6* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: potential targets for Parkinson's disease therapy". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 316 (2): 481–489. doi:10.1124/jpet.105.094375. PMID 16210393. S2CID 20050682.
- ^ Bordia T, Grady SR, McIntosh JM, Quik M (2007). "Nigrostriatal damage preferentially decreases a subpopulation of alpha6beta2* nAChRs in mouse, monkey, and Parkinson's disease striatum". Molecular Pharmacology. 72 (1): 52–61. doi:10.1124/mol.107.035998. PMID 17409284. S2CID 25281990.