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Cloning and characterization of mouse GABA(C) receptor subunits
A Greka1, J A Koolen, S A Lipton
1Cerebrovascular and Neuroscience Research Institute, Brigham and Woman's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Abstract:
Retinal gamma-aminobutyric acid type C (GABA[C]) receptors are believed to consist of rho subunits. The pharmacological properties of GABA(C) receptors appear to vary among different species. Since the mouse is an important model for gene targeting and behavioral studies, this study was aimed at cloning rho subunits in the mouse. Here we report the isolation of two full length cDNAs corresponding to mouse rho1 and rho2 subunits. In contrast to the rat, both subunits in mouse are able to form homomeric receptors, but only rho2 receptors are insensitive to picrotoxinin. Mouse rho1 and rho2 also co-assemble to form heteromeric receptors. These findings form the basis for further study on GABA(C) receptors using the mouse model.