CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MOUSE GABA(C) RECEPTOR SUBUNITS

RETINAL gamma-aminobutyric acid type C (GABA(C)) receptors are believe d to consist of rho subunits. The pharmacological properties of GABA(C ) receptors appear to vary among different species. Since the mouse is an important model for gene targeting and behavioral studies, this st udy was aimed at cloning rho subunits in the mouse. Here we report the isolation of two full length cDNAs corresponding to mouse rho 1 and r ho 2 subunits. In contrast to the rat, both subunits in mouse are able to form homomeric receptors, but only rho 2 receptors are insensitive to picrotoxinin. Mouse rho 1 and rho 2 also co-assemble to form heter omeric receptors. These findings form the basis for further study on G ABA(C) receptors using the mouse model.