The precise knowledge of the subunit assembly process of NMDA receptors (NMDA-Rs) is essential to understand the receptor architecture and underlying mechanism of channel function. Because NMDA-Rs are obligatory heterotetramers requiring the GluN1 subunit, it is critical to investigate how GluN1 and GluN2 type subunits coassemble into tetramers. By combining approaches in cell biology, biochemi...

NMDA receptor-mediated calcium transients play a critical role in synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and excitotoxicity. NMDA receptors are heteromeric complexes of NR1A combined with NR2A, NR2B, NR2C, and/or NR2D subunits. The NR2 subunits determine a variety of electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of the NMDA receptor complex. In this report, we provide evidence for the first...

Glutamatergic neurotransmission in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and in the output nuclei of the basal ganglia is critical in the expression of basal ganglia function, and increased glutamate transmission in these nuclei has been implicated in the pathology of Parkinson's disease. In order to determine the precise spatial relationship of subunits of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazol...

The C-terminal domain of NMDA receptor 2 (NR2) subunits has been proposed to play a critical role in regulating NMDA receptor localization and function in postsynaptic densities. However, the mechanism of this regulation is not completely understood. In this paper we show that C-terminal truncation of NR2A and NR2C subunits in mice (NR2A/C(DeltaC/DeltaC)) impairs synaptic transmission and plast...

It has been reported that ketamine as an uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist has also non-NMDA receptor antagonist properties. We recently found that ketamine (20 ?M) affected differently induction of NMDA receptor-mediated long-term potentiation (LTP) when administered 30 min prior to tetanic Primed-Bursts (PBs) stimulation. On the other hand, ketamine also influenced...

In the brain, fast, excitatory synaptic transmission occurs primarily through AMPA- and NMDA-type ionotropic glutamate receptors. These receptors are composed of subunit proteins that determine their biophysical properties and trafficking behaviour. Therefore, determining the function of these subunits and receptor subunit composition is essential for understanding the physiological properties ...

Dopamine D1-like receptors, composed of D1 and D5 receptors, have been documented to modulate glutamate-mediated fast excitatory synaptic neurotransmission. Here, we report that dopamine D1 receptors modulate NMDA glutamate receptor-mediated functions through direct protein-protein interactions. Two regions in the D1 receptor carboxyl tail can directly and selectively couple to NMDA glutamate r...

NMDA receptors are important elements in pain signaling in the spinal cord dorsal horn. They are heterotetramers, typically composed of two GluN1 and two of four GluN2 subunits: GluN2A-2D. Mice lacking some of the GluN2 subunits show deficits in pain transmission yet functional synaptic localization of these receptor subtypes in the dorsal horn has not been fully resolved. In this study, we hav...

The function of striatopallidal neurons is regulated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and dopamine D2 receptors. Previous studies show that immediate early gene induction by D2 receptor blockade is suppressed by NMDA receptor antagonists. Because the pharmacology of NMDA receptors depends on the incorporation of different NR2 subunits and NR2 subunits show regional and cellular differences in the...

Ionotropic excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors are divided pharmacologically into three categories termed NMDA, AMPA/kainate, and high affinity kainate receptors. Each of these receptor subtypes is composed of a specific subset of subunits termed GluR1-4 (AMPA/kainate), GluR5-7, KA1-2 (high affinity kainate), and NMDAR1, 2 A-D (NMDA). Although colocalization of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors has...