Conformational transitions and allosteric modulation in a heteromeric glycine receptor.

Glycine Receptors (GlyRs) provide inhibitory neuronal input in the spinal cord and brainstem, which is critical for muscle coordination and sensory perception. Synaptic GlyRs are a heteromeric assembly of α and β subunits. Here we present cryo-EM structures of full-length zebrafish α1βGlyR in the presence of an antagonist (strychnine), agonist (glycine), or agonist with a positive allosteric modulator (glycine/ivermectin).