Fig. 5.
GABA ionotropic receptors (GABAA and GABAC) can be formed via combinations of α(1–6), β(1–4), γ(1–3), δ(1), ε(1), π(1), θ(1) and ρ(1–3) subunits (Sieghart and Sperk 2002). Predominately GABAA receptors are of the 2α12β21γ2 isoform, as shown above (McKernan and Whiting 1996; Johnston et al. 1999). Resulting in a Cl− specific ion channel that is gated by GABA, shown above as G. Benzodiazepines modulate GABAA receptors via a different binding location, represented as B. Anaesthetics show preference for the β2 subunit (Campagna-Slater and Weaver 2007)