Glycine receptors are ligand-gated chloride channels (PubMed:23994010, PubMed:25730860). Channel opening is triggered by extracellular glycine (PubMed:2155780, PubMed:7920629, PubMed:14551753, PubMed:16144831, PubMed:22715885, PubMed:22973015, PubMed:25973519, PubMed:9009272). Channel opening is also triggered by taurine and beta-alanine (PubMed:16144831, PubMed:9009272). Channel characteristics depend on the subunit composition; heteropentameric channels are activated by lower glycine levels and display faster desensitization (PubMed:14551753). Plays an important role in the down-regulation of neuronal excitability (PubMed:8298642, PubMed:9009272). Contributes to the generation of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (PubMed:25445488). Channel activity is potentiated by ethanol (PubMed:25973519). Potentiation of channel activity by intoxicating levels of ethanol contribute to the sedative effects of ethanol (By similarity). Channel activity is potentiated by nanomolar concentrations of Zn(2+); half-maximal activation is observed with 37 nM Zn(2+) (PubMed:16144831). Inhibited by higher Zn(2+) levels; haf-maximal inhibition occurs at 20 uM Zn(2+) (PubMed:16144831). Inhibited by strychnine (PubMed:2155780, PubMed:16144831, PubMed:25445488). Inhibited by lindane (PubMed:25445488). Inhibited by picrotoxin (PubMed:22715885, PubMed:23994010, PubMed:25730860). Strychnine binding locks the channel in a closed conformation and prevents channel opening in response to extracellular glycine (By similarity). A concentration of about 0.02 mM glycine results in half-maximal channel conductance for homopentamers. A concentration of 0.018 mM glycine results in half-maximal channel conductance for homopentamers upon heterologous expression in cultured human embryonic kidney cells (PubMed:9009272). A concentration of 0.027 mM glycine results in half-maximal channel conductance for homopentamers upon heterologous expression in cultured human embryonic kidney cells (PubMed:7920629). Homopentamer (in vitro) (PubMed:22715885, PubMed:22973015, PubMed:23994010, PubMed:25730860). Interacts with GLRB to form heteropentameric channels; this is probably the predominant form in vivo (PubMed:22715885, PubMed:22973015, PubMed:25445488). Heteropentamer composed of two GLRA1 and three GLRB (PubMed:22715885). Heteropentamer composed of three GLRA1 and two GLRB (PubMed:22973015). Both homopentamers and heteropentamers form functional ion channels, but their characteristics are subtly different (PubMed:14551753, PubMed:22715885, PubMed:22973015, PubMed:25445488, PubMed:23994010, PubMed:25730860). The channel pore is formed by pentameric assembly of the second transmembrane domain from all five subunits. In the absence of the extracellular domain, the channel is in a constitutively open conformation (PubMed:23994010). Channel opening is effected by an outward rotation of the transmembrane domains that increases the diameter of the pore (By similarity). The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. 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. GLRA1 sub-subfamily.