title: Biogenesis, trafficking and up-regulation of nicotinic ACh receptors.
abstract: Chronic nicotine exposure gives rise to neural adaptations that change whole cell physiology and behaviour mainly by interacting with neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The major nicotine-induced neuroadaptation is the up-regulation of brain nAChRs by means of cell-delimited post-translational mechanisms. We review what is known of the processes regulating nAChR assembly, degradation and trafficking, and how nicotine-induced modulation of these processes leads to nAChR up-regulation and changes in downstream neuronal plasticity at molecular, cellular and circuit level.
authors.affiliation: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara Francesca
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzo
authors.forename: Fancesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pistillo
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic
keywords: ER associated degradation; Nicotine; Nicotinic receptors; Receptor assembly; Receptor trafficking; Receptor up-regulation