Molecular genetic techniques (DNA isolation from blood, PCR, RFLP, SNP, detection of mutations, identification of promoters, gene walking methods) / Cell culture (HEK cells, primary CNS neurons, NT2 cells, SF9 cells) / Generation of GABAA receptor subunit-specific antibodies / Immunoaffinity chromatography, immunoprecipitation, Western blot, ELISA / Molecular Biology (cloning, sequencing, mutagenesis, qRT-PCR, 5´race, recombinant receptors, fusion proteins, two hybrid system) / Receptor binding techniques, binding pharmacology / Transport activity studies (uptake and release assays) / Transmitter release from cultures and brain slices / Electrophysiology of ionotropic receptors (Xenopus oocytes, HEK cells, primary hippocampal neurons) / Establishing and culturing cell lines stably expressing cloned membrane proteins / Flow cytometry / HPLC with electrochemical or fluorescence detection of neurotransmitters / Electrophysiology (patch-clamp) / Stereotaxic injections / Slice autoradiography / Subregional dissection of the human brain / Immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry, confocal laser microscopy, FRET / Biochemistry (subcellular fractionation, density gradient centrifugation, affinity chromatography) / in silico modeling + docking