Identification and functional roles of metabotropic glutamate receptor-interacting proteins

Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2004 Jun;15(3):289-98. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2003.12.018.

Abstract

In the mammalian brain, a majority of excitatory synapses use glutamate as a neurotransmitter. Glutamate activates ligand-gated channels (ionotropic receptors) and G protein-coupled (metabotropic) receptors. During the past decade, a number of intracellular proteins have been described to interact with these receptors. These proteins not only scaffold the glutamate receptors at the pre- and post-synaptic membranes, but also regulate their subcellular targeting and intracellular signaling. Thus, identification of these proteins has been essential for further understanding the functions of glutamate receptors. Here we will focus on those proteins that interact with the subgroup of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors, and review the methods used for their identification, as well as their functional roles in neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium Channels / genetics
  • Calcium Channels / metabolism*
  • Calmodulin / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Homer Scaffolding Proteins
  • Humans
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / chemistry
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / genetics
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / metabolism*
  • Synaptic Transmission

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • Calmodulin
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Homer Scaffolding Proteins
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate