Glycine Receptor Beta (GLRb)

The inhibitory glycine receptor mediates postsynaptic inhibition in the spinal cord and other regions of the central nervous system. It is a pentameric receptor composed of alpha (GLRA1, GLRA2,) and beta subunits.By fluorescence in situ hybridization, Handford et al. localized the GLRB gene to 4q32, a position showing syntenic homology with mouse chromosome 3. Milani et al. refined the assignment of GLRB to 4q31.3 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.Mice homozygous for the 'spastic' (spa) mutation display a complex motor disorder resulting from reduced levels of the adult glycine receptor isoform GlyRA. Affected mice show muscle rigidity, tremors, myoclonic jerking, and a pronounced startle reaction at about 2 weeks of age, coinciding with the developmental switch from the isoform of the glycine receptor.