Upon acetylcholine binding, the AChR responds by an extensive change in conformation that affects all subunits and leads to opening of an ion-conducting channel across the plasma membrane. Non functional acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit which is not integrated into functional acetylcholine-gated cation-selective channels. One of the alpha chains that assemble within the acetylcholine receptor, a pentamer of two alpha chains, a beta, a delta, and a gamma (in immature muscle) or epsilon (in mature muscle) chains. The muscle heteropentamer composed of alpha-1, beta-1, delta, epsilon subunits interacts with the alpha-conotoxin ImII (PubMed:15609996). Is able to interact with other subunits of the acetylcholine receptor but is not assembled into functional acetylcholine-gated cation-selective channels. Isoform 1 is only expressed in skeletal muscle. Isoform 2 is constitutively expressed in skeletal muscle, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung and thymus. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The alpha subunit is the main focus for antibody binding in myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia gravis is characterized by sporadic muscular fatigability and weakness, occurring chiefly in muscles innervated by cranial nerves, and characteristically improved by cholinesterase-inhibiting drugs. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Acetylcholine receptors incorporating that alpha subunit do not bind alpha-bungarotoxin. Belongs to the ligand-gated ion channel (TC 1.A.9) family. Acetylcholine receptor (TC 1.A.9.1) subfamily. Alpha-1/CHRNA1 sub-subfamily.