title: Inhibitory glycine receptors: an update.
abstract: Strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors (GlyRs) mediate synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord, brainstem, and other regions of the mammalian central nervous system. In this minireview, we summarize our current view of the structure, ligand-binding sites, and chloride channel of these receptors and discuss recently emerging functions of distinct GlyR isoforms. GlyRs not only regulate the excitability of motor and afferent sensory neurons, including pain fibers, but also are involved in the processing of visual and auditory signals. Hence, GlyRs constitute promising targets for the development of therapeutically useful compounds.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dutertre
authors.forename: Cord-Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Betz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D006801:Humans; D018009:Receptors, Glycine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D013331:Strychnine