1. Structure & function of glutamate receptors
Bi/CNS 150 Lecture 7
Monday October 14, 2013
Structure & function of glutamate receptors
Henry Lester
Chapter 10 ( )

2. Superfamilies of ligand-gated ion channels that are synaptic receptors
A. ACh, Serotonin 5-HT3, GABA, (invert. GluCl, dopamine, tyrosine) receptor-channels
Most ^
Modified from Figure 10-7

3. a favorite model system for neuroscience
The Hippocampus:
a favorite model system for neuroscience
The “tri-synaptic pathway”
See also Chapter 67

4. Electron micrograph of hippocampal synapse
“Map” of micrograph to the left

5. A postsynaptic density, with a cartoon of important proteins

6. There are also G protein-coupled glutamate receptors
Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors: 3 transmembrane helices plus a selectivity filter per subunit x 4 subunits
Selectivity Filter
Figure 10-8
There are also G protein-coupled glutamate receptors

7. 3 families of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors are named by their selective synthetic agonists
Family Subunits
AMPA GluR1-4 (Most are GluR1/2 or GluR2/3)
Kainate GluR5-7
NMDA NR1* (*obligatory) NR2A or B or C or D

8. Ion Selectivity of Glutamate Receptor Channels
AMPA and Kainate Receptors:
With GluR2 subunit:
• permeable only to K+ and Na+
Without GluR2 subunit:
• Ca2+-permeable (and K+, Na+)
NMDA Receptors:
• Permeable to K+, Na+, Ca2+

9. RNA Editing Determines Ca2+ Permeability of AMPA Receptors #1Q= R=
Transcribed codon: CAG
Edited codon: CIG
Right: Modified from Zigmond et al. (Eds.) Fundamental Neuroscience, Sinauer (1999)

10. RNA Editing Determines Ca2+ Permeability of AMPA Receptors #2
Fig. 10-9

11. Isolating AMPA-Receptor and NMDA-Receptor Currents With Selective Blockers #1
There is outward NMDA receptor current
Nestler, Hyman, & Malenka, Molecular Neuropharmacology

12. Isolating AMPA-Receptor and NMDA-Receptor Currents With Selective Blockers #2
blocks AMPA receptors
There is **no** inward NMDA receptor current
blocks NMDA receptors
Nestler, Hyman, & Malenka, Molecular Neuropharmacology

13. AMPA response is faster than NMDA response
Figure 10-6

14. NMDA Receptors
Are composed of NR1 subunits and four different NR2 subunits; NR2A, NR2B, NR2C, and NR2D.
They contain two NR1 subunits, and a pair of NR2 subunits, which can be identical or mixed.
NR1 subunits are similar in size to GluR1-4; they are necessary to form the receptor channel, and they bind the co-ligands glycine or d-serine.
NR2 subunits are approximately twice as long as NR1 subunits. They bind glutamate, and their very long cytosolic tails bind signal transduction molecules and link the receptors to the postsynaptic density scaffold.

15. Time required to exchange waters of hydration
From Lecture 1
Time required to exchange waters of hydration
Na+ , K+
1 ns
(~ 109/s)
Na+ , K+, and Ca2+ can flow through single channels at rates > 1000-fold greater than Mg2+
Ca2+
5 ns
(2 x 108/s)
Mg2+
10 ms
(105/s)
As the most charge-dense cation, Mg2+ holds its waters of hydration most tightly.

16. Their channel opens only when two events happen concurrently:
In NMDA receptors, the selectivity filter also serves as a Mg 2+ binding site, producing a “coincidence detector”.
Their channel opens only when two events happen concurrently:
1. Binding of glutamate
2. Strong postsynaptic membrane depolarization
(as by an action potential)
The depolarization relieves block by Mg2+
Modified from Zigmond et al. (Eds.) Fundamental Neuroscience, Sinauer (1999)
Greater detail on learning & memory in a later lecture
The coincidence readout:
NMDA receptors are very permeable to Ca2+

17. Channels are blocked by Mg2+ at negative potentials
Behavior of the NMDA receptor current
Channels are blocked by Mg2+ at negative potentials
Single channels
Macroscopic I-V relations
Figure 10-5

18. Synthetic fluorescent dyes such as Fura-2
Detect intracellular Ca2+ transients
Fura-2
“Ratio Imaging”
From Grynkiewicz, Poenie, and Tsien (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 3440.

19. NMDA Receptors Mediate Synaptic Ca2+ Entry
(repeated glutamate pulses)
Lisman et al. Nature Rev. Neurosci. 3: 175 (2002)

20. In green fluorescent protein (GFP),
the fluorophore is well protected from the environment, by a “can” of β strands.
If we render this protection sensitive to a olecule or condition,
we have a good fluorescent sensor. .

21. Genetically encoded Ca2+ sensors
Circularly permuted enhanced
green fluorescent protein
Calmodulin
Akerboom, (30 other authors), Looger, J Neurosci 2012

22. Control of Synaptic Plasticity by NMDA Receptors
(thought to underlie some aspects of memory and learning)
Greater detail in a later lecture
The central role of Ca2+ in initiation of long-term plastic changes
The “Ca2+ hypothesis” for control of synaptic plasticity
Measurement of cytosolic Ca2+ with fluorescent dyes.
Control of postsynaptic Ca2+ by “spike timing”
Structure and behavior of the NMDA receptor
Subunit composition
Gating (“coincidence detection”)
Ion selectivity (Na+, K+, Ca2+)
Kinetics, NMDA receptors are slower than AMPA receptors
Pharmacology
The NMDA receptor is also a “scaffold.”
The postsynaptic density
LTP and LTD are triggered by Ca2+-sensitive signaling machinery located near the mouth of the NMDA receptor.
Critical components of the postsynaptic density
Biochemical pathways mediating changes in synaptic strength

23. Henry Lester’s office hours
Mon, Fri
1:15 – 2 Red Door
End of Lecture 7