The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels involved in fast synaptic signaling. These receptors are typically hetero-pentamers of homologous subunits, with each subunit containing a conserved extracellular N-terminal domain, three transmembrane domains, a variable cytoplasmic loop, a fourth transmembrane domain, and a short C-terminal extracellular region. The protein encoded by this gene forms a homo-oligomeric channel that is permeable to calcium ions and is a major component of brain nicotinic receptors. This receptor, sensitive to alpha-bungarotoxin, opens upon acetylcholine binding. This gene is linked to juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and schizophrenia. A partial duplication event in this region forms a hybrid gene with the novel FAM7A gene. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants.