(A) Cartoon showing the Gabra1–2 mutation, in which amino acids 360–375 of the α1 subunit of the GABAAR are replaced with that of the α2 subunit.
(B) Representative western blots examining expression of key components of the inhibitory synapse in total hippocampal lysates. GAPDH served as a loading control.
(C) Pooled quantification (n = 5 biological and technical replicates) reveals that the Gabra1–2 mutation leads to a decrease in the total expression of the α1 subunit, a trending decline in total α2 subunit expression (p = 0.077), and an increase in total CB expression.
(D) Representative western blots from biotinylated hippocampal slices examining the surface expression of the α1 and α2 subunits. Total α1/2 subunit was normalized to GAPDH. Surface α1/2 subunit was normalized to pan-cadherin.
(E) Pooled quantification (n = 5 biological and technical replicates) shows no change in the surface:total ratio of the α1 subunit in Gabra1–2 mutants but reveals a significant decrease in the surface expression of the α2 subunit.
Unpaired t tests with Welch’s correction used for statistical analysis. (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01). All data are expressed as the percentage of WT and error bars represent mean ± SEM.