Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRA1 gene. [5]
GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain where it acts at GABA-A receptors, which are ligand-gated chloride channels. Chloride conductance of these channels can be modulated by agents such as benzodiazepines that bind to the GABA-A receptor. At least 16 distinct subunits of GABA-A receptors have been identified. [6]
The GABRA1 receptor is the specific target of the z-drug class of nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic agents and is responsible for their hypnotic and hallucinogenic effects.
The GABA receptors are a class of receptors that respond to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the chief inhibitory compound in the mature vertebrate central nervous system. There are two classes of GABA receptors: GABAA and GABAB. GABAA receptors are ligand-gated ion channels ; whereas GABAB receptors are G protein-coupled receptors, also called metabotropic receptors.
The GABAA-rho receptor is a subclass of GABAA receptors composed entirely of rho (ρ) subunits. GABAA receptors including those of the ρ-subclass are ligand-gated ion channels responsible for mediating the effects of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. The GABAA-ρ receptor, like other GABAA receptors, is expressed in many areas of the brain, but in contrast to other GABAA receptors, the GABAA-ρ receptor has especially high expression in the retina.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit gamma-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRG2 gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit beta-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRB3 gene. It is located within the 15q12 region in the human genome and spans 250kb. This gene includes 10 exons within its coding region. Due to alternative splicing, the gene codes for many protein isoforms, all being subunits in the GABAA receptor, a ligand-gated ion channel. The beta-3 subunit is expressed at different levels within the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, thalamus, olivary body and piriform cortex of the brain at different points of development and maturity. GABRB3 deficiencies are implicated in many human neurodevelopmental disorders and syndromes such as Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, nonsyndromic orofacial clefts, epilepsy and autism. The effects of methaqualone and etomidate are mediated through GABBR3 positive allosteric modulation.
The GABAA beta-2 subunit is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRB2 gene. It combines with other subunits to form the ionotropic GABAA receptors. GABA system is the major inhibitory system in the brain, and its dominant GABAA receptor subtype is composed of α1, β2, and γ2 subunits with the stoichiometry of 2:2:1, which accounts for 43% of all GABAA receptors. Alternative splicing of the GABRB2 gene leads at least to four isoforms, viz. β2-long (β2L) and β2-short. Alternatively spliced variants displayed similar but non-identical electrophysiological properties. GABRB2 is subjected to positive selection and known to be both an alternative splicing and a recombination hotspot; it is regulated via epigenetic regulation including imprinting and gene and promoter methylation GABRB2 has been associated with a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, and found to display altered expression in cancer.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit beta-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRB1 gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit rho-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRR1 gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRA6 gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRA3 gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-2 is a protein in humans that is encoded by the GABRA2 gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor, alpha 5, also known as GABRA5, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the GABRA5 gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit epsilon is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRE gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRA4 gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit rho-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRR2 gene.
GABAA receptor-γ3, also known as GABRG3, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the GABRG3 gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit delta is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRD gene. In the mammalian brain, the delta (δ) subunit forms specific GABAA receptor subtypes by co-assembly leading to δ subunit containing GABAA receptors.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit pi is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRP gene.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit gamma-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRG1 gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a subunit of the GABAA receptor.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit theta is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRQ gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a subunit of the GABAA receptor.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit rho-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRR3 gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a subunit of the GABAA-ρ receptor.
This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.