Structure
Like other ligand-gated ion channels, the GABAA-ρ chloride channel is formed by oligomerization of five subunits arranged about a fivefold symmetry axis to form a central ion conducting pore. To date, three GABAA-ρ receptor subunits have been identified in humans:
- ρ1 (GABRR1)
- ρ2 (GABRR2)
- ρ3 (GABRR3)
The above three subunits coassemble either to form functional homo-pentamers (ρ15, ρ25, ρ35) or hetero-pentamers (ρ1mρ2n, ρ2mρ3n where m + n = 5).
There is also evidence that ρ1 subunits can form hetero-pentameric complexes with GABAA receptor γ2 subunits.
Read more about this topic: GABAA-rho Receptor
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