Chrnb1, the cholinergic receptor nicotinic beta 1 subunit gene, encodes the β subunit of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction [1,2,3]. The AChR is crucial for neuromuscular signal transmission, with its proper function being essential for normal muscle movement. Defects in Chrnb1 can disrupt this process, leading to various neuromuscular disorders [1,2].

Inherited defects in Chrnb1 can result in congenital myasthenia syndrome (CMS), a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders [1,2]. Some patients with biallelic Chrnb1 variants may present with lethal fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS), at the severe end of the CMS spectrum [1]. In Red dairy cattle, a Chrnb1 frameshift mutation was associated with familial arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, suggesting a similar role of Chrnb1-related neuromuscular disorders across species [3].

In conclusion, Chrnb1 is vital for normal neuromuscular function by encoding a key subunit of the AChR. Research on Chrnb1-associated disorders, such as CMS and related phenotypes in animal models like cattle, helps to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying these neuromuscular diseases, potentially guiding diagnosis and treatment development.