The GABA A receptor
The GABA A receptor is a heteropentameric glycoprotein. A total of 5 distinct polypeptide subunits have been cloned to date; a, b, g, d and r, and multiple isoforms of these subunits are reported in the literature. Different confirmations of the GABA-A receptor are found throughout the brain, and the most common mammalian arrangements of sub-units is (a1)2(b2)2(g1). The specific subunits in the GABA-A receptor confer functional diversity on the receptor. For example, the g subunit needs to be co-expressed with the a and b sub-units to observe the potentiation of the GABA A receptor by benzodiazepines.
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References
Paul, SM. GABA and Glycine. The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. http://www.acnp.org/g4/GN401000008/CH008.html. Accessed on 16 September 2002