NMDA Receptors

Stuart G Cull‐Candy, University College London, London, UK

Published online: September 2007

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000254.pub2

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are activated during excitatory neurotransmission at most synapses in the central nervous system. Their unique properties allow them to play key roles in synaptic transmission and plasticity; the functional importance of some NMDAR subtypes is becoming clearer.

Keywords: NMDA receptor subunits; NMDA receptor subtypes; glutamate receptors; AMPA receptors; synaptic transmission; plasticity

Figure 1. Schematic drawing of the NMDAR channel-binding sites.
Figure 2. NMDAR subunits making up tetramers, and splice sites on NR1.
Figure 3. NMDAR subunit topology.
Figure 4. An NR1–NR2 heterodimer forms the functional unit of the NMDAR.
Figure 5. NMDAR functional properties.
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Related Sub-Topics:

Ion Channels | Receptors for Neurotransmitters | Synaptic Transmission | Membrane Proteins
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Article Title: NMDA Receptors
 
How to Cite close
Cull‐Candy, Stuart G(Sep 2007) NMDA Receptors. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000254.pub2]