GABA receptor
GABA receptor
The GABA receptor (pronounced: /ˈɡæbə rɪˈsɛptər/), also known as gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor, is a type of protein that responds to the neurotransmitter GABA, the chief inhibitory compound in the mature vertebrate central nervous system.
Etymology
The term "GABA receptor" is derived from the neurotransmitter that it binds to, GABA, which stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid. The term "receptor" comes from the Latin word "receptus", meaning "received".
Types of GABA receptors
There are two classes of GABA receptors: GABA_A and GABA_B. GABA_A receptors are ligand-gated ion channels (also known as ionotropic receptors), whereas GABA_B receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (also known as metabotropic receptors).
GABA_A receptor
The GABA_A receptor (pronounced: /ˈɡæbə eɪ rɪˈsɛptər/) is a type of GABA receptor that is ligand-gated and allows the flow of ions through the receptor channel to mediate inhibitory effects of GABA.
GABA_B receptor
The GABA_B receptor (pronounced: /ˈɡæbə biː rɪˈsɛptər/) is a type of GABA receptor that is G protein-coupled and mediates the slow and prolonged inhibitory effects of GABA.
Related terms
- Neurotransmitter: A chemical substance that is released at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse and, by diffusing across the synapse or junction, causes the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fiber, a muscle fiber, or some other structure.
- Ionotropic receptor: A type of receptor that forms an ion channel pore.
- Metabotropic receptor: A type of receptor that acts through a second messenger.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on GABA receptor
- Wikipedia's article - GABA receptor
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