Use of an α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit concatamer to characterize ganglionic receptor subtypes with specific subunit composition reveals species-specific pharmacologic properties

► A concatamer of human α3 and β4 nAChR subunits was constructed for expression in Xenopus oocytes. ► Insertion of specific subunits was confirmed with selective antagonists and resistant mutants. ► No effects of the α5 D376N SNP were observed on agonist-evoked responses of α3β4α5 receptors. ► Compared to rat, human α3β4 receptors respond more to varenicline and less to cytisine. ► Our data will potentially impact the side-effect liability of agents used for smoking cessation.