This gene encodes an alpha subunit of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These receptors consist of five subunits and function as ion channels involved in neurotransmission. The encoded protein is a subunit of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that mediate dopaminergic neurotransmission and are activated by acetylcholine and exogenous nicotine. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been observed for this gene. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in this gene have been associated with both nicotine and alcohol dependence. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2010]
Forensic Context
A study in humans identified the CHRNA6 as an element in a robust gene coexpression network associated with cocaine use disorder, specifically involved in nicotinic acetylcholine signaling [Huggett et al. DOI:10.1523/Jneurosci.2879-19.2020]. In a separate study in mice, spinal nerve ligation induced a significant downregulation of the CHRNA6 in injured dorsal root ganglia, indicating its dysregulation in a neuropathic pain model [Wu et al. DOI:10.1177/1744806916629048].