Neurexins and neuroligins:new partners for GABAA receptors at synapses

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.As one of several types of endogenous receptors,GABAA receptors have been shown to be essential in most,if not all,aspects of brain functioning,including neural development and information processing.Mutations in genes encoding GABAA receptors and alterations in the function of GABAA receptors are associated with many neurologic diseases,and GABAA receptors have been clinically targeted by many drugs,such as benzodiazepines and general anesthetics.Extensive studies have revealed a number of intracellular chaperons/interactions for GABAA receptors,providing a protein-protein network in regulating the trafficking and location of GABAA receptors in the brain.Recently,neurexins and neuroligins,two families of transmembrane proteins present at neurological synapses,are implicated as new partners to GABAA receptors.These works shed new light on the synaptic regulation of GABAA receptor activity.Here,we summarized the proteins that were implicated in the function of GABAA receptors,including neurexins and neuroligins.National Basic Research Program of China 973 program,"985" Research Foundation of Peking University中国科学引文数据库(CSCD)3251-260