The vertebrate glycine receptor protein.

Glycine is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The postsynaptic receptor for this amino acid is a transmembrane ion channel protein which, after affinity purification on an antagonist column, contains three polypeptides of Mr 48,000, 58,000 and 93,000. Biochemical and immunological data show that these polypeptides have different functional properties and topologies with respect to the postsynaptic membrane. A model summarizing the currently available structural data is presented.