Further evidence for clustering of human GABA[sub A] receptor subunit genes: Localization of the [alpha][sub 6]-subunit gene (GABRA6) to distal chromosome 5q by linkage analysis

GABA[sub A] receptors are hetero-oligomeric ion-channel complexes that are composed of combinations of [alpha], [beta], [gamma], and [delta] subunits and play a major role in inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian brain. The authors report here a microsatellite polymorphism within the human [alpha][sub 6]-subunit gene (GABRA6). Mapping of this marker in a human-hamster hybrid cell-line panel and typing of the repeat in the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) reference families enabled the localization of this gene to chromosome 5q and established its linkage to the GABA[sub A] receptor [alpha][sub 1]-subunit gene (GA-BRA1) with a maximum lod score (Z[sub max]) of 39.87 at a [theta] of 0.069 (males) and 0.100 (females). These results reveal the clustering of GABRA6, GABRA1, and the GABA[sub A] receptor [gamma][sub 2]-subunit gene (GABRG2) on distal chromosome 5q. 17 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.