title: The balancing act of GABAergic synapse organizers.
abstract: GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) is the main neurotransmitter at inhibitory synapses in the mammalian brain. It is essential for maintaining the excitation and inhibition (E/I) ratio, whose imbalance underlies various brain diseases. Emerging information about inhibitory synapse organizers provides a novel molecular framework for understanding E/I balance at the synapse, circuit, and systems levels. This review highlights recent advances in deciphering these components of the inhibitory synapse and their roles in the development, transmission, and circuit properties of inhibitory synapses. We also discuss how their dysfunction may lead to a variety of brain disorders, suggesting new therapeutic strategies based on balancing the E/I ratio.
authors.forename: Jaewon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Gayoung
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Choii
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Um
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018682:GABA Agents; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid