中枢ニューロンのグルタミン酸受容体チャネル

概要

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The amino acid glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. It has been proposed that the excitatory actions of this neurotransmitter are mediated mainly by three pharmacologically distinct classes of receptor channels. They are named according to their selective agonists as the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate), and kainate receptors. The NMDA receptor is characterized by voltage-dependent block by Mg2+, high Ca2+ permeability, and potentiation by glycine, being obviously distinct from AM PA and kainate receptors. On the other hand, it has been difficult to distinguish AMPA and kainate receptors. Molecular genetic studies have recently provided evidence that AMPA and kainate activate the same receptor molecules, and that a variety of structurally and functionally different receptor channels can be assembled from multiple KA/AMPA receptor subunits. In line with these studies, we have revealed the presence of two distinct types of KA/AMPA responses which differ in their rectification properties and their permeabilities to Ca2+ in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In this article, I review recent progress in research on glutamate receptor channels in the mammalian central nervous system.
日本膜学会の論文