Psychology Wiki      GABA A receptor      34,076pages on
this wiki     Revision as of 22:16, October 16, 2006 by
Lifeartist (Talk | contribs)        The GABAA receptor is one of
the three ligand-gated ion channels responsible for mediating
the effects of Gamma-AminoButyric Acid (GABA), the major
inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.      Structure and
function      The receptor is a multimeric transmembrane
receptor that consists of five subunits arranged around a
central pore. The receptor sits in the membrane of its neuron at
a synapse. The ligand GABA is the endogenous compound that
causes this receptor to open; once bound to GABA, the protein
receptor changes conformation within the membrane, opening the
pore in order to allow chloride ions (Cl-) to pass down an
electrochemical gradient. Because the [reversal potential] for
chloride in most neurons is close to the resting membrane
potential, activation of GABAA receptors tends to stabilize the
resting potential, and can make it more difficult for