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Glra2 glycine receptor, alpha 2 subunit [ Mus musculus (house mouse) ]

Gene ID: 237213, updated on 24-Sep-2025
Official Symbol
Glra2provided by MGI
Official Full Name
glycine receptor, alpha 2 subunitprovided by MGI
Primary source
MGI:MGI:95748
See related
Ensembl:ENSMUSG00000018589 AllianceGenome:MGI:95748
Gene type
protein coding
RefSeq status
VALIDATED
Organism
Mus musculus
Lineage
Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Glires; Rodentia; Myomorpha; Muroidea; Muridae; Murinae; Mus; Mus
Summary
Enables transmitter-gated monoatomic ion channel activity involved in regulation of postsynaptic membrane potential. Involved in modulation of chemical synaptic transmission. Is active in GABA-ergic synapse; glycinergic synapse; and postsynaptic specialization membrane. Is expressed in brain; spinal cord; and vascular element. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in syndromic X-linked intellectual disability Pilorge type. Orthologous to human GLRA2 (glycine receptor alpha 2). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Jul 2025]
Expression
Biased expression in CNS E18 (RPKM 14.3), whole brain E14.5 (RPKM 8.6) and 4 other tissues See more
Orthologs
human all
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See Glra2 in Genome Data Viewer
Location:
X F5; X 76.75 cM
Exon count:
12
Annotation release Status Assembly Chr Location
RS_2024_02 current GRCm39 (GCF_000001635.27) X NC_000086.8 (163912013..164110863, complement)
108.20200622 previous assembly GRCm38.p6 (GCF_000001635.26) X NC_000086.7 (165129017..165327867, complement)

Chromosome X - NC_000086.8Genomic Context describing neighboring genes Neighboring gene macrophage migration inhibitory factor, pseudogene 13 Neighboring gene STARR-seq mESC enhancer starr_48246 Neighboring gene STARR-seq mESC enhancer starr_48247 Neighboring gene S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase pseudogene Neighboring gene STARR-seq mESC enhancer starr_48248 Neighboring gene STARR-seq mESC enhancer starr_48250 Neighboring gene STARR-seq mESC enhancer starr_48251 Neighboring gene SUMO/sentrin specific peptidase 3 pseudogene Neighboring gene predicted gene, 22062

Go to nucleotide: Graphics FASTA GenBank

  • Project title: Mouse ENCODE transcriptome data
  • Description: RNA profiling data sets generated by the Mouse ENCODE project.
  • BioProject: PRJNA66167
  • Publication: PMID 25409824
  • Analysis date: n/a

Related articles in PubMed

  1. The role of tonic glycinergic conductance in cerebellar granule cell signalling and the effect of gain-of-function mutation. McLaughlin C, et al. J Physiol, 2019 May. PMID 30875431, Free PMC Article
  2. Glycine receptor α2 subunit activation promotes cortical interneuron migration. Avila A, et al. Cell Rep, 2013 Aug 29. PMID 23954789, Free PMC Article
  3. Cerebral Cortical Circuitry Formation Requires Functional Glycine Receptors. Morelli G, et al. Cereb Cortex, 2017 Mar 1. PMID 26891984
  4. Prolonged zymosan-induced inflammatory pain hypersensitivity in mice lacking glycine receptor alpha2. Kallenborn-Gerhardt W, et al. Behav Brain Res, 2012 Jan 1. PMID 21924294
  5. α2-glycine receptors modulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial memory. Lin MS, et al. Dev Neurobiol, 2017 Dec. PMID 29057625

See all (61) citations in PubMed

GeneRIFs: Gene References Into Functions

What's a GeneRIF?
  1. GLRA2 gene mutations cause high myopia in humans and mice.
    Title: GLRA2 gene mutations cause high myopia in humans and mice.
  2. T258F gain of function mutation in cerebellar granule cells modifies single-cell and neural network signaling.
    Title: The role of tonic glycinergic conductance in cerebellar granule cell signalling and the effect of gain-of-function mutation.
  3. alpha2 and alpha3 GlyRs are present in various regions of the forebrain and that alpha3 GlyRs specifically participate in tonic inhibition in the striatum and prefrontal cortex.
    Title: Glycine receptor α3 and α2 subunits mediate tonic and exogenous agonist-induced currents in forebrain.
  4. These results, which reveal neurodevelopmental roles for alpha2-GlyRs in the adult brain, may be clinically relevant, given that a mutation in GLAR2, as well as Adult hippocampal neurogenesis impairments.
    Title: α2-glycine receptors modulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial memory.
  5. Findings show that the loss of embryonic GlyRalpha2 ultimately impairs the formation of cortical circuits in the mature brain; results demonstrate a physiological role for alpha2 GlyRs during cortical network formation and homeostasis
    Title: Cerebral Cortical Circuitry Formation Requires Functional Glycine Receptors.
  6. genetic inactivation of Glra2, the gene coding the alpha2 subunit of GlyRs, disrupts dorsal cortical progenitor homeostasis with an impaired capability of apical progenitors to generate basal progenitors.
    Title: Glycine receptors control the generation of projection neurons in the developing cerebral cortex.
  7. Endogenous activation of Glra2 promotes neuronal migration by regulating nucleokinesis.
    Title: Glycine receptor α2 subunit activation promotes cortical interneuron migration.
  8. The distinct developmental regulation of GlyRalpha2 in the murine cochlea advocates a contribution of these chloride channels to efferent olivocochlear innervation.
    Title: Developmental regulation of glycine receptors at efferent synapses of the murine cochlea.
  9. Findings are the first to define GlyR subunit-specific control of visual function and GlyRalpha2 subunit-specific control of crossover inhibition in the retina.
    Title: Selective glycine receptor α2 subunit control of crossover inhibition between the on and off retinal pathways.
  10. Glycine receptors (GlyRs) of group II cells are dominated by the alpha2 subunit; GlyRs of ON-starburst amacrine cells appear to be dominated by the alpha4 subunit.
    Title: Glycinergic input of widefield, displaced amacrine cells of the mouse retina.
Submit: New GeneRIF Correction See all GeneRIFs (12)

Alleles

Alleles of this type are documented at Mouse Genome Informatics  (MGI)
  • Endonuclease-mediated (3) 
  • Targeted (6)  1 citation
Products Interactant Other Gene Complex Source Pubs Description

Markers

Homology

Gene Ontology Provided by MGI

Function Evidence Code Pubs
contributes_to chloride channel activity IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
enables chloride channel activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables excitatory extracellular ligand-gated monoatomic ion channel activity IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
enables extracellular ligand-gated monoatomic ion channel activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables extracellularly glycine-gated chloride channel activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables extracellularly glycine-gated chloride channel activity ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
enables glycine binding IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables glycine binding ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
enables glycine-gated chloride ion channel activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables glycine-gated chloride ion channel activity ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
enables metal ion binding IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables monoatomic ion channel activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables transmembrane signaling receptor activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables transmitter-gated monoatomic ion channel activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables transmitter-gated monoatomic ion channel activity involved in regulation of postsynaptic membrane potential IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
enables transmitter-gated monoatomic ion channel activity involved in regulation of postsynaptic membrane potential IMP
Inferred from Mutant Phenotype
more info
 PubMed 
Process Evidence Code Pubs
involved_in cellular response to amino acid stimulus IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in cellular response to amino acid stimulus ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
involved_in cellular response to ethanol IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in cellular response to ethanol ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
involved_in cellular response to zinc ion IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in cellular response to zinc ion ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
involved_in chloride transmembrane transport IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
involved_in chloride transmembrane transport IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in chloride transmembrane transport ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
involved_in chloride transport IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in excitatory postsynaptic potential IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in modulation of chemical synaptic transmission EXP
Inferred from Experiment
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in modulation of chemical synaptic transmission IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in modulation of chemical synaptic transmission IMP
Inferred from Mutant Phenotype
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in monoatomic ion transmembrane transport IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in monoatomic ion transmembrane transport ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
involved_in monoatomic ion transport IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in neuropeptide signaling pathway IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in neuropeptide signaling pathway ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
involved_in regulation of postsynaptic membrane potential IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
Component Evidence Code Pubs
is_active_in GABA-ergic synapse IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
located_in cell projection IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
part_of chloride channel complex IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
is_active_in glycinergic synapse IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
located_in glycinergic synapse IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
is_active_in glycinergic synapse IMP
Inferred from Mutant Phenotype
more info
 PubMed 
located_in membrane IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in plasma membrane IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in plasma membrane ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
located_in postsynaptic membrane IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
is_active_in postsynaptic specialization membrane IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
located_in synapse IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in synaptic membrane IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
Preferred Names
glycine receptor subunit alpha-2

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RefSeqs maintained independently of Annotated Genomes

These reference sequences exist independently of genome builds. Explain

These reference sequences are curated independently of the genome annotation cycle, so their versions may not match the RefSeq versions in the current genome build. Identify version mismatches by comparing the version of the RefSeq in this section to the one reported in Genomic regions, transcripts, and products above.

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. NM_001357099.1 → NP_001344028.1  glycine receptor subunit alpha-2 isoform a precursor

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: Variants 1 and 2 encode the same isoform (a). Isoforms a and b are the same length but differ in their sequence.
    Source sequence(s)
    AL672152, AL831734, BX465224
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS41206.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    Q7TNC8
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q3UTL8
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    TIGR00860
    Location:46 → 441
    LIC; Cation transporter family protein

  2. NM_001357100.1 → NP_001344029.1  glycine receptor subunit alpha-2 isoform b precursor

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (3) encodes isoform b. Isoforms a and b are the same length but differ in their sequence.
    Source sequence(s)
    AL672152, AL831734, BX465224
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    TIGR00860
    Location:46 → 441
    LIC; Cation transporter family protein

  3. NM_183427.5 → NP_906272.1  glycine receptor subunit alpha-2 isoform a precursor

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_906272.1

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: Variants 1 and 2 encode the same isoform (a). Isoforms and b are the same length but differ in their sequence.
    Source sequence(s)
    AK139335, BC068987
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS41206.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    Q7TNC8
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q3UTL8
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000060827.9, ENSMUST00000058787.9
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    TIGR00860
    Location:46 → 441
    LIC; Cation transporter family protein

RefSeqs of Annotated Genomes: GCF_000001635.27-RS_2024_02

The following sections contain reference sequences that belong to a specific genome build. Explain

Reference GRCm39 C57BL/6J

Genomic

  1. NC_000086.8 Reference GRCm39 C57BL/6J

    Range
    163912013..164110863 complement
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. XM_030251336.1 → XP_030107196.1  glycine receptor subunit alpha-2 isoform X3

    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    TIGR00860
    Location:11 → 385
    LIC; Cation transporter family protein

  2. XM_006528836.5 → XP_006528899.1  glycine receptor subunit alpha-2 isoform X2

    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    TIGR00860
    Location:6 → 390
    LIC; Cation transporter family protein

  3. XM_006528834.1 → XP_006528897.1  glycine receptor subunit alpha-2 isoform X1

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for XP_006528897.1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    Q7TNC8
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q3UTL8
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    TIGR00860
    Location:46 → 441
    LIC; Cation transporter family protein

  4. XM_036161944.1 → XP_036017837.1  glycine receptor subunit alpha-2 isoform X3

    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    TIGR00860
    Location:11 → 385
    LIC; Cation transporter family protein
Nucleotide Protein Strain
Heading Accession and Version
Protein Accession Links
GenPept Link UniProtKB Link
Q7TNC8.1 GenPept UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot:Q7TNC8

Gene LinkOut

The following LinkOut resources are supplied by external providers. These providers are responsible for maintaining the links.

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