Glutamate receptor

The AMPA receptor bound to a glutamate antagonist showing the amino terminal, ligand binding, and transmembrane domain, PDB 3KG2
Glutamic acid

Glutamate receptors are synaptic and non synaptic receptors located primarily on the membranes of neuronal and glial cells.[1] Glutamate (the conjugate base of glutamic acid) is abundant in the human body, but particularly in the nervous system and especially prominent in the human brain where it is the body's most prominent neurotransmitter, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, and also the precursor for GABA, the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter.[2] Glutamate receptors are responsible for the glutamate-mediated postsynaptic excitation of neural cells, and are important for neural communication, memory formation, learning, and regulation.

Glutamate receptors are implicated in a number of neurological conditions. Their central role in excitotoxicity and prevalence in the central nervous system has been linked or speculated to be linked to many neurodegenerative diseases, and several other conditions have been further linked to glutamate receptor gene mutations or receptor autoantigen/antibody activity.

  1. ^ Brassai A, Suvanjeiev RG, Bán EG, Lakatos M (March 2015). "Role of synaptic and nonsynaptic glutamate receptors in ischaemia induced neurotoxicity". Review. Brain Research Bulletin. 112 (March 2015): 1–6. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2014.12.007. PMID 25540918. S2CID 11292811.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid12467378 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).