To test the hypothesis that changing the relative abundance of α2, β2, and γ3 subunit mRNAs would alter the characteristics of the expressed channels, we increased the amount of α2 or γ3 mRNA injected relative to the other subunits. Oocytes were injected with a 1:1:3 ratio or a 1:1:1 ratio or a 3:1:1 ratio of α2, β2, and γ3 subunit mRNAs. The peak current amplitudes elicited by 1 μM GABA (Figure 1B) were significantly greater when subunits were injected in a 3:1:1 ratio (2.44 ± 0.43 μA, n = 17) than when they were injected in a 1:1:1 ratio (0.74 ± 0.16 μA, n = 20). The peak current amplitudes were significantly smaller when subunits were injected in a 1:1:3 ratio (0.06 ± 0.01 μA, n = 18) than when they were injected in a 1:1:1 ratio. Likewise greater currents were induced by 10 μM GABA (Figure 1B) in oocytes injected with the 3:1:1 ratio of subunits (3.77 ± 0.50 μA, n = 48) compared to the 1:1:1 ratio group (2.41 ± 0.22 μA, n = 66). At this higher
