NOVEL GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID/BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTOR AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING STEROID SITES IN A GBRC

摘要

There is disclosed a gamma-aminobutyric acid/benzodiazepine receptor (GBRC) having a steroid binding site. The receptor constitutes a material of fewer subunits than those present in the naturally occurring receptor. There is also disclosed a method for determining a steroid site in the GBRC by forming an expressed receptor complex by co-expressing cDNA encoding human GABA receptor into cells and determining the ability of a steroid to modulate allosterically benzodiazepine binding to the expressed receptor complex.