GADs

Synthesizing GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system

General Information

The glutamic acid decarboxylases GAD 1, also referred to as GAD 67, and GAD 2 / GAD 65 synthesize γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The hydrophilic GAD 1 can heterodimerize with the membrane achored GAD 2 and part of GAD 1 is targeted to inhibitory nerve terminals by this mechanisms. Although both proteins exhibit significant differences in their N-terminus they share high homology in the rest of the molecule.
GAD is a widely used marker for the GABAergic system. In type 1 diabetis GAD 1 has been identified as a major autoantigen.