extracellular domain of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-like found in protostomia
This subfamily contains the extracellular domain of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-like in organisms that include arthropods, mollusks, annelid worms, and flat worms, and have their cholinergic system limited to the central nervous system. C. elegans genome encodes 29 acetylcholine receptor subunits, of which the levamisole-sensitive receptor (L-AChR) alpha-subunits, UNC-38, UNC-63, and LEV-8, included in this subfamily, form heteromers with the two non-alpha (also known as beta-like) subunits, UNC-29 and LEV-1. This receptor functions as the main excitatory postsynaptic receptor at neuromuscular junctions, indicating that many are expressed in neurons. Also included is the nicotinic alpha subunit MARA1 (Manduca ACh Receptor Alpha 1) which is expressed in Ca2+ responding neurons and contributes to the nicotinic responses in the neurons. In insects, the receptors supply fast synaptic excitatory transmission and represent a major target for several insecticides. In Drosophila, ten exclusively neuronal nAChRs have been identified, Dalpha1-Dalpha7 and Dbeta1-Dbeta3, and various combinations of these subunits and mutations are key to nAChR function. Alpha5 subunit is involved in alpha-bungarotoxin sensitivity while the alpha6 subunit is essential for the insecticidal effect of spinosad. nAChR agonists acetylcholine, nicotine, and neonicotinoids stimulate dopamine release in Drosophila larval ventral nerve cord and mutations in nAChR subunits affect how insecticides stimulate dopamine release.
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",