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GABRA4

Meaning

GABRA4 denotes the gene that encodes the alpha-4 subunit of the Gamma-Aminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptor, a critical inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor in the central nervous system. Receptors containing this specific subunit are often found outside the synapse, mediating a tonic, persistent inhibitory current rather than the rapid, phasic inhibition seen at the synapse. Changes in the expression or function of the GABRA4 subunit are strongly implicated in mood disorders, anxiety, and seizure susceptibility, particularly in relation to fluctuating neurosteroid levels.