Filamin A Organizes γ‑aminobutyric Acid Type B Receptors at the Plasma Membrane

The γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA) receptor is a prototypical family C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that plays a key role in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Although growing evidence suggests that GPCR signaling in neurons might be highly organized in time and space, limited information is available about the mechanisms controlling the nanoscale organization of GABA receptors and other GPCRs on the neuronal plasma membrane. Using a combination of biochemical assays in vitro, single-particle tracking, and super-resolution microscopy, we provide evidence that the spatial organization and diffusion of GABA receptors on the plasma membrane are governed by dynamic interactions with filamin A, which tethers the receptors to sub-cortical actin filaments. We further show that GABA receptors are located together with filamin A in small nanodomains in hippocampal neurons. These interactions are mediated by the first intracellular loop of the GABA subunit and modulate the kinetics of Gα protein activation in response to GABA stimulation.