title: GABA(A) receptors: structure and function in the basal ganglia.
abstract: gamma-Aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptors, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors responsible for fast inhibition in the basal ganglia, belong to the superfamily of "cys-cys loop" ligand-gated ion channels. GABA(A) receptors form as pentameric assemblies of subunits, with a central Cl(-) permeable pore. On binding of two GABA molecules to the extracellular receptor domain, a conformational change is induced in the oligomer and Cl(-), in most adult neurons, moves into the cell leading to an inhibitory hyperpolarization. Nineteen mammalian subunit genes have been identified, each showing distinct regional and cell-type-specific expression. The combinatorial assembly of the subunits generates considerable functional diversity. Here we place the focus on GABA(A) receptor expression in the basal ganglia: striatum, globus pallidus, substantia nigra and subthalamic nucleus, where, in addition to the standard alpha1beta2/3gamma2 receptor subtype, significant levels of other subunits (alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, gamma1, gamma3 and delta) are expressed in some nuclei.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurobiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wisden
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wulff
mesh_terms: D000494:Allosteric Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A