Molecular diversity of the NMDA receptor channel.
Two novel subunits of the mouse NMDA receptor channel, the epsilon 2 and epsilon 3 subunits, have been identified by cloning and expression of complementary DNAs. The heteromeric epsilon 1/zeta 1, epsilon 2/zeta 1 and epsilon 3/zeta 1 NMDA receptor channels exhibit distinct functional properties in affinities for agonists and sensitivities to competitive antagonists and Mg2+ block. In contrast to the wide distribution of the epsilon 1 and zeta 1 subunit messenger RNAs in the brain, the epsilon 2 subunit mRNA is expressed only in the forebrain and the epsilon 3 subunit mRNA is found predominantly in the cerebellum. The epsilon 1/zeta 1 and epsilon 2/zeta 1 channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes, but not the epsilon 3/zeta 1 channel, are activated by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. These findings suggest that the molecular diversity of the epsilon subunit family underlies the functional heterogeneity of the NMDA receptor channel.
Kutsuwada
T
T
Department of Neuropharmacology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Japan.
Kashiwabuchi
N
N
Mori
H
H
Sakimura
K
K
Kushiya
E
E
Araki
K
K
Meguro
H
H
Masaki
H
H
Kumanishi
T
T
Arakawa
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D007473:Ion Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004247:DNA; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate