Biomaterial Database

Kainate receptors: subunits, synaptic localization and function. 1999

R Chittajallu, and S P Braithwaite, and V R Clarke, and J M Henley

Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Bristol, UK.

Although it is well established that kainate receptors constitute an entirely separate group of proteins from AMPA receptors, their physiological functions remain unclear. The molecular cloning of subunits that form kainate receptors and the ability to study recombinant receptors is leading to an increased understanding of their functional properties. Furthermore, the development of kainate receptor-selective agonists and antagonists over the past few years is now allowing the physiological roles of these receptors and, in some cases, specific subunits to be investigated. As a consequence, the synaptic activation of postsynaptic kainate receptors and the presence of presynaptic kainate receptors that serve to regulate excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission have been described, and will be discussed in this article by Ramesh Chittajallu, Steven Braithwaite, Vernon Clarke and Jeremy Henley.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009435	Synaptic Transmission	The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES.	Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D011994	Recombinant Proteins	Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology.	Biosynthetic Protein,Biosynthetic Proteins,DNA Recombinant Proteins,Recombinant Protein,Proteins, Biosynthetic,Proteins, Recombinant DNA,DNA Proteins, Recombinant,Protein, Biosynthetic,Protein, Recombinant,Proteins, DNA Recombinant,Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant DNA Proteins,Recombinant Proteins, DNA
D003001	Cloning, Molecular	The insertion of recombinant DNA molecules from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic sources into a replicating vehicle, such as a plasmid or virus vector, and the introduction of the resultant hybrid molecules into recipient cells without altering the viability of those cells.	Molecular Cloning
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013569	Synapses	Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions.	Synapse
D018092	Receptors, Kainic Acid	A class of ionotropic glutamate receptors characterized by their affinity for KAINIC ACID.	Kainate Receptors,Kainic Acid Receptors,Receptors, Kainate,Kainate Receptor,Kainic Acid Receptor,Receptor, Kainate,Receptor, Kainic Acid