Article date: 1991/5/10
PubMed ID: 1709304
Journal name: Science (New York, N.Y.) (ISSN: 0036-8075)
ABSTRACT
NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors and non-NMDA receptors represent the two major classes of ion channel-linked glutamate receptors. Unlike the NMDA receptor channels, non-NMDA receptor channels have usually been thought to conduct monovalent cations only. Non-NMDA receptor ion channels that can be gated by kainic acid (KA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) are formed by the glutamate receptor subunits GluR1, GluR2, and GluR3. These subunits were expressed in various combinations in Xenopus oocytes so that their permeability to divalent cations could be studied. At physiological resting potentials, KA and AMPA elicited inward calcium currents in oocytes expressing GluR1, GluR3, and GluR1 plus GluR3. In contrast, oocytes expressing GluR1 plus GluR2 or GluR3 plus GluR2 showed no such permeability. Thus, in neurons expressing certain KA-AMPA receptor subunits, glutamate may trigger calcium-dependent intracellular events by activating non-NMDA receptors.
Author List: Hollmann M, Hartley M, Heinemann S
Publication Types: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Substances mentioned in the article: Ion Channels; Receptors, Glutamate; Receptors, Neurotransmitter; Ibotenic Acid; alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; Sodium; Kainic Acid; Calcium;
Mesh terms: Animals; Calcium/pharmacokinetics; Ibotenic Acid/analogs & derivatives; Ion Channel Gating/drug effects; Ion Channels/metabolism; Kainic Acid/pharmacology; Membrane Potentials; Receptors, Glutamate; Receptors, Neurotransmitter/chemistry; Sodium/pharmacokinetics; Xenopus; alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid;