The glycine receptor / 한양의대학술지

ABSTRACT

The glycine receptor (GlyR), a member of the pentameric ligand gated ion channel family, is best known for mediating inhibitory neurotransmission in motor and sensory circuits of the spinal cord, and is also present in the brain stem, cerebellum and retina When glycine binds to its site on the external receptor surface, the pore opens allowing Cl- to passively diffuse across the membrane. Because molecules that increase GlyR current may have clinical potentials as muscle relaxant and peripheral analgesic drug, it is important to understand and study the physiology and molecular pharmacology of the GlyR. We review the pharmacology and physiologic properties, structures, function and heritable disorders of glycinergic neurotransmission.