Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules, i.e., DNA or RNA encoding human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ? and ? subunits, mammalian and amphibian cells containing said DNA, methods for producing ? and ? subunits and recombinant (i.e., isolated or substantially pure) ? subunits and ? subunits are provided. In addition, cells expressing various multimeric combinations of subunits (i.e., ?1, ?2 ?3 ?4 ?5 ?6 and/or ?7 in combination with at least one of an ? and ? subunit are also provided. A recombinant, non-human cell line expressing the human ?7 subunit of nAChR is also disclosed.