Glycine receptors are ligand-gated chloride channels. Channel opening is triggered by extracellular glycine (PubMed:2155780, PubMed:15302677, PubMed:16144831, PubMed:23895467, PubMed:25445488). Channel opening is also triggered by taurine and beta-alanine (PubMed:15302677). Plays a role in the down-regulation of neuronal excitability. Contributes to the generation of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (PubMed:25445488). Plays a role in cellular responses to ethanol (PubMed:23895467). Inhibited by strychnine (PubMed:2155780, PubMed:15302677). Inhibited by picrotoxin (PubMed:15302677). Channel activity is potentiated by 10-100 uM Zn(2+) (PubMed:15302677, PubMed:16144831, PubMed:23895467). Channel activity is marginally increased by 50 mM ethanol; it is strongly increased by a combination of 0.5 uM Zn(2+) and 50 mM ethanol (PubMed:23895467). Channel activity is inhibited by 100-1000 uM Zn(2+) (PubMed:15302677). For isoform Alpha-2* homopentamers, a concentration of about 66 uM glycine results in half-maximal channel conductance. For isoform Alpha-2B homopentamers, a concentration of about 34 uM glycine results in half-maximal channel conductance. Homopentamer (in vitro). Interacts with GLRB (PubMed:16144831). Heteropentamer composed of GLRA2 and GLRB. Both homopentamers and heteropentamers form functional ion channels, but their characteristics are subtly different (PubMed:15302677). The alpha subunit binds strychnine. Belongs to the ligand-gated ion channel (TC 1.A.9) family. Glycine receptor (TC 1.A.9.3) subfamily. GLRA2 sub-subfamily.