Glycine receptor
Widely distributed inhibitory receptor in the central nervous system / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The glycine receptor (abbreviated as GlyR or GLR) is the receptor of the amino acid neurotransmitter glycine. GlyR is an ionotropic receptor that produces its effects through chloride currents. It is one of the most widely distributed inhibitory receptors in the central nervous system and has important roles in a variety of physiological processes, especially in mediating inhibitory neurotransmission in the spinal cord and brainstem.[1]
The receptor can be activated by a range of simple amino acids including glycine, β-alanine and taurine, and can be selectively blocked by the high-affinity competitive antagonist strychnine.[2] Caffeine is a competitive antagonist of GlyR.[3] Cannabinoids enhance the function.[4]
The protein Gephyrin has been shown to be necessary for GlyR clustering at inhibitory synapses.[5][6] GlyR is known to colocalize with the GABAA receptor on some hippocampal neurons.[5] Nevertheless, some exceptions can occur in the central nervous system where the GlyR α1 subunit and gephyrin, its anchoring protein, are not found in dorsal root ganglion neurons despite the presence of GABAA receptors.[7]