Ligand-gated chloride channel which is a component of the heteropentameric receptor for GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain (By similarity). Plays an important role in the formation of functional inhibitory GABAergic synapses in addition to mediating synaptic inhibition as a GABA-gated ion channel (By similarity). The gamma2 subunit is necessary but not sufficient for a rapid formation of active synaptic contacts and the synaptogenic effect of this subunit is influenced by the type of alpha and beta subunits present in the receptor pentamer (By similarity). The alpha1/beta2/gamma2 receptor and the alpha1/beta3/gamma2 receptor exhibit synaptogenic activity (By similarity). GABRA1-mediated plasticity in the orbitofrontal cortex regulates context-dependent action selection (By similarity). Functions also as histamine receptor and mediates cellular responses to histamine (By similarity). Allosterically activated by benzodiazepines, the neuroanesthetic alphaxalone and pentobarbital (By similarity). Inhibited by the antagonist bicuculline (By similarity). Heteropentamer, formed by a combination of alpha, beta, gamma, delta and rho chains (By similarity). Interacts with UBQLN1 (By similarity). Interacts with TRAK1 (By similarity). Interacts with KIF21B (By similarity). Identified in a complex of 720 kDa composed of LHFPL4, NLGN2, GABRA1, GABRB2, GABRG2 and GABRB3 (By similarity). Interacts with LHFPL4 (By similarity). Interacts with NLGN2 (By similarity). Interacts with SHISA7; interaction leads to the regulation of GABA(A) receptor trafficking, channel deactivation kinetics and pharmacology (By similarity). The extracellular domain contributes to synaptic contact formation. Glycosylated. Belongs to the ligand-gated ion channel (TC 1.A.9) family. Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor (TC 1.A.9.5) subfamily. GABRA1 sub-subfamily.