GABA(A) RECEPTOR SUBTYPES - WHICH, WHERE AND WHY

Synaptic inhibition in the vertebrate central nervous system is mediat ed predominantly by subtypes of the GABA(A) receptor; which comprise d ifferent pentameric combinations of the products of 13 genes. In this article, we review the results of recent experiments that are helping to define binding-site determinants, on GABA(A) receptors, for various ligands and some clinically-important modulators. New and sometimes c onflicting data, on the polypeptide compositions of native subtypes, w ill also be discussed. Studies such as those described here should ult imately bad to a molecular understanding of receptor-ligand interactio ns, and the biological basis for the large number of subtypes that app ear to exist in brain.