Dr. Marcel Goldschen-Ohm publishes in Nature Communications
The.Goldschen-Ohm lab published a research article on Nature Communications entitled "A single main-chain hydrogen bond required to keep GABAA receptors closed".
GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are ligand-gated ion channels that form a central chloride-conducting pore through the plasma membrane of the cell. They are the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors throughout the central nervous system. At the molecular level, hydrogen bonds along the amino acid main chain are known to be essential for proper 3-dimensional folding and function of GABAARs. This research by Goldschen-Ohm lab revealed the contribution of specific main-chain hydrogen bonds to the gating (opening/closing) mechanism of the GABAAR pore.
Genetic mutations causing GABAARs dysfunction are related to a broad spectrum of human disorders such as epilepsy, neurodevelopment and intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. GABAARs are important drug targets for anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and anesthetics. Therefore, understanding the factors that determine the molecular basis for channel gating is critical for the development of new drug therapies.
Borghese CM, Galpin JD, Eriksson Lidbrink S, Zhuang Y, Desai NG, Howard RJ, Lindahl E, Ahern CA, Goldschen-Ohm MP. A single main-chain hydrogen bond required to keep GABAA receptors closed. Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 3;16(1):6107. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-61447-0.
