Molecular Structure and Physiological Functions of GABABReceptors

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Abstract
GABAB receptors are broadly expressed in the nervous system and have been implicated in a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The cloning of the first GABAB receptor cDNAs in 1997 revived interest in these receptors and their potential as therapeutic targets. With the availability of molecular tools, rapid progress was made in our understanding of the GABAB system. This led to the surprising discovery that GABAB receptors need to assemble from distinct subunits to function and provided exciting new insights into the structure of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in general. As a consequence of this discovery, it is now widely accepted that GPCRs can exist as heterodimers. The cloning of GABAB receptors allowed some important questions in the field to be answered. It is now clear that molecular studies do not support the existence of pharmacologically distinct GABAB receptors, as predicted by work on native receptors. Advances were also made in clarifying the relationship between GABAB receptors and the receptors for γ-hydroxybutyrate, an emerging drug of abuse. There are now the first indications linking GABAB receptor polymorphisms to epilepsy. Significantly, the cloning of GABAB receptors enabled identification of the first allosteric GABAB receptor compounds, which is expected to broaden the spectrum of therapeutic applications. Here we review current concepts on the molecular composition and function of GABAB receptors and discuss ongoing drug-discovery efforts.