Residues in the 1st Transmembrane-Spanning Helix Are Important for GABA Receptor Function.

GABA receptors are a subfamily of the GABA receptor family of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs). Each subunit has a common structure, including a transmembrane domain of four α-helices (M1-M4). The aim of this study was to identify important M1 residues in the GABA receptor (GABAR), using mutagenesis and functional assays combined with bioinformatic approaches.