Figure 1: Schematic view of a GABAergic synapse.
From: Molecular basis of the alternative recruitment of GABAA versus glycine receptors through gephyrin
Ionotropic γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) are pentameric membrane receptors that are clustered at synaptic sites by direct interactions with the anchoring protein gephyrin. Gephyrin is believed to form higher oligomers at synaptic sites by homotrimerization of its G domain and homodimerization of its E domain. Eleven residues, which are conserved among the synaptic GABAAR α subunits, directly engage with the E domain (PDB entry 4PD0) near the dimer interface (boxes). Gephyrin binding tethers the receptors to the cytoskeleton by direct interaction with profilin and Mena/VASP.
