Transmembrane transporter that imports choline from the extracellular space to the neuron with high affinity. Choline uptake is the rate-limiting step in acetylcholine synthesis. Sodium ion- and chloride ion-dependent. Homooligomerizes at cell surface. Interacts with SEC14L1; may regulate SLC5A7. Localized at the neuromuscular junction. Found in spinal cord, brain-stem, mid-brain and striatum. Specific for cholinergic neurons. Phosphorylated by PKC and dephosphorylated by PP1/PP2A. Although morphologically normal at birth, knockout mice become immobile, breathe irregularly, appear cyanotic, and die within an hour. Mice had developmental changes in neuromuscular junction morphology reminiscent of changes in mutant mice lacking ACh synthesis. Specifically inhibited by nanomolar concentrations of hemicholinium 3. Belongs to the sodium:solute symporter (SSF) (TC 2.A.21) family.