GABA-A R alpha 5: Small Molecules and Peptides

GABA A (γ-aminobutyric acid-type A) receptors are members of the cysteine-loop family of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels. GABA binding to A-type receptors induces anion-selective ion channel opening. These receptors are the principal fast inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the CNS. GABA A receptors are heteropentamer combinations of seven subunit types; α, β, γ, δ, ε, θ, and π. Three subunits, α, β, and γ, have at least three separate gene products in mammals, and typical GABA A receptors have some combination of α, β, and γ subunits.

The rat α5 isoform is a 439 amino acid (aa), 4 transmembrane protein with two terminal extracellular regions. The ligand-binding region is in the N-terminus (aa 25 - 232). The α5 subunit is unusual in that it contains an N-terminal histidine which renders it very sensitive to zinc. It is also associated with extrasynaptic sites and seems to mediate tonic inhibition in hippocampal neurons.