Protein Details: Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-4

Function

Alpha subunit of the heteropentameric ligand-gated chloride channel gated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA); a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA-gated chloride channels; also named GABA(A) receptors (GABAAR); consist of five subunits arranged around a central pore and contain GABA active binding site(s) located at the alpha and beta subunit interface(s) (By similarity). When activated by GABA; GABAARs selectively allow the flow of chloride anions across the cell membrane down their electrochemical gradient. GABAARs containing alpha-4 are predominantly extrasynaptic; contributing to tonic inhibition in dentate granule cells and thalamic relay neurons (By similarity). Extrasynaptic alpha-4-containing GABAARs control levels of excitability and network activity (By similarity). GABAARs containing alpha-4 are often found with the delta or gamma-2 subunits; in combination with beta subunits (By similarity). GABAAR containing alpha-4-beta-3-delta subunits can simultaneously bind GABA and histamine where histamine binds at the interface of two neighboring beta subunits; which may be involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness (By similarity).

Sequence

PDB Structures

Ligand Binding