THE NEUROTRANSMITTER RECEPTOR TRIAD - NICOTINIC ACETYLCHOLINE-RECEPTOR, GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC-ACID RECEPTOR (TYPE-A) AND INHIBITORY GLYCINE RECEPTOR

Many different neuroactive substances known as neurotransmitters, whic h are involved in signal transduction, bind to specific membrane recep tors in. the vertebrate central nervous system, Of particular interest are the similarities shared by the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor and inhibitory glycine receptor with respect to their pentameric structure, their neurotransmitter binding pockets, and colocalization with gephyrin. All three receptors undergo phosphorylation catalysed by protein kinases A and C, The biochemical defects in relation to these receptors result in the clinical manifes tation of certain human disorders.