The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) requires both NR1 and NR2 subunits to form a functional ion channel. Despite the recent advances in our understanding of the contributions of these different subunits to both the function and pharmacology of the NMDAR, the precise subunit stoichiometry of the receptor and the regions of the subunits governing subunit interactions remain unclear. Since N...

Micromolar concentrations of extracellular Zn2+ are known to antagonize native NMDA receptors via a dual mechanism involving both a voltage-independent and a voltage-dependent inhibition. We have tried to evaluate the relative importance of these two effects and their subunit specificity on recombinant NMDA receptors expressed in HEK 293 cells and Xenopus oocytes. The comparison of NR1a-NR2A an...

BACKGROUND NMDA receptors expressed by spinal cord neurons in the superficial dorsal horn are involved in the development of chronic pain associated with inflammation and nerve injury. The superficial dorsal horn has a complex and still poorly understood circuitry that is mainly populated by inhibitory and excitatory interneurons. Little is known about how NMDA receptor subunit composition, and...

The effect of 5-HT and related indolealkylamines on heteromeric recombinant NMDA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes was investigated using the two-electrode voltage-clamp recording technique. In the absence of external Mg(2+) ions, 5-HT inhibited NMDA receptor-mediated currents in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of 5-HT was independent of the NR1a and NR2 subunit com...

The design of polymers with repeating [C(NR2)2CH2CH2] units which may simultaneously provide conformational control and contain repeating electroactive centres is discussed; (NR2)2 groups would be ideally provided by ortho-phenylenediamine derivatives, with 1,8-diaminonaphthalenes as alternatives. Oligomers containing 1,8-bis(methylamino)naphthalenes, up to the hexamer, were obtained by condens...

Heterosigma akashiwo is an excellent candidate for growth on industrial emissions since this alga has the ability to metabolize gaseous nitric oxide (NO) into cellular nitrogen via a novel chimeric protein (NR2-2/2HbN) and also tolerates wide fluctuations in temperature, salinity, and nutrient conditions. Here, we evaluated biomass productivity and composition, photosynthetic efficiency, and ex...

NMDA receptor antagonists can induce a schizophrenia-like psychosis, but the role of NMDA receptors in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia remains unclear. Expression patterns of mRNAs for five NMDA receptor subunits (NR1/NR2A-D) were determined by in situ hybridization in prefrontal, parieto-temporal, and cerebellar cortex of brains from schizophrenics and from neuroleptic-treated and nonmedi...

The different expressions of NR2 and synaptic-associated proteins have been studied by protein and mRNA level with immunoblotting, in situ hybridization, or immunogold analysis. But the relationship between NR2 subunits and PSD-95 family proteins is still controversial. In this study, we used immunofluorescent staining to assess NR2B and PSD-95 expressions and the relationship between them in C...

The NR3A subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor has been shown to form glutamatergic receptor complexes with NR1 and NR2 subunits and excitatory glycinergic receptor complexes with NR1 alone. We developed an antibody to NR3A and, using quantitative immunoblotting techniques, determined the degree of association between the NR3A subunit and the NR1 and NR2 subunits as well as changes in th...

The hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activity plays important roles in cognition and is a major substrate for ethanol-induced memory dysfunction. This receptor is a glutamate-gated ion channel, which is composed of NR1 and NR2 subunits in various brain areas. Although homomeric NR1 subunits form an active ion channel that conducts Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ currents, the incorporation of NR2...