The human-specific nicotinic receptor subunit CHRFAM7A reduces α7 nAChR
function in human iPSC-derived and transgenic mouse neurons
Abstract
We investigated the impact of the human-specific protein CHRFAM7A (also
referred to as “dupα7”) on the function of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine
receptors (nAChRs) in two different types of neurons: human induced
pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cortical neurons, and superior
cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons, taken from transgenic mice expressing
CHRFAM7A. CHRFAM7A co-assembles with α7 (also referred to as CHRNA7) but
lacks a major part of the extracellular N-terminal ligand-binding
domain. We assessed the function of α7 in these preparations with Fura-2
calcium imaging and three different α7-specific ligands: PNU282987,
choline, and 4BP-TQS. Given the short-lived open state of α7 receptors,
we combined the two orthosteric agonists with the type-2 positive
allosteric modulator (PAM II) PNU120596. In line with different cellular
models used previously we demonstrate in primary human iPS-derived and
in mouse neurons that CHRFAM7A has a major impact on nicotinic α7
receptors by reducing calcium transients in response to all three
agonists.