Chrna7 - cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 7 subunit

Enables several functions, including acetylcholine binding activity; acetylcholine-gated cation-selective channel activity; and enzyme binding activity. Involved in several processes, including dopamine biosynthetic process; neuronal action potential; and regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascade. Acts upstream of or within calcium ion transport and regulation of membrane potential. Located in several cellular components, including dendrite; plasma membrane raft; and postsynaptic density. Part of acetylcholine-gated channel complex. Is active in cholinergic synapse and glycinergic synapse. Is integral component of postsynaptic specialization membrane; integral component of presynaptic membrane; and integral component of spine apparatus membrane. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in schizophrenia. Orthologous to several human genes including CHRFAM7A (CHRNA7 (exons 5-10) and FAM7A (exons A-E) fusion). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]