monoclonal antibody to human neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-4 [4E3]: IgG

Neuronal acetylcholine receptor is composed of alpha and beta subunits. The Alpha-4 subunit can be combined to beta-2 or beta-4 to give rise to functional receptors. Upon binding of acetylcholine, the acetylcholine receptor responds by undergoing an extensive change of conformation affecting all its subunits and lead to the opening of an ion-conducting channel across the plasma membrane. Neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-4 is a transmembrane protein that localises to the cell junction, synapse and post synaptic cell membrane. It belongs to the ligand-gated ionic channel family. Abnormalities in the CHRNA4 gene cause autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy type 1. This disease is characterised by clusters of motor seizures during sleep.