title: Cloning and expression of the epsilon 4 subunit of the NMDA receptor channel.
abstract: The primary structure of a novel subunit of the mouse NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor channel, designated epsilon 4, has been revealed by cloning and sequencing the cDNA. The epsilon 4 subunit shares high amino acid sequence identity with the epsilon 1, epsilon 2 and epsilon 3 subunits of the mouse NMDA receptor channel, thus constituting the epsilon subfamily of the glutamate receptor channel. Expression from cloned cDNAs of the epsilon 4 subunit together with the zeta 1 subunit in Xenopus oocytes yields functional NMDA receptor channels. The epsilon 4/zeta 1 heteromeric channel exhibits high apparent affinities for agonists and low sensitivities to competitive antagonists. The epsilon 4 subunit is thus distinct in functional properties from the epsilon 1, epsilon 2 and epsilon 3 subunits, and contributes further diversity of the NMDA receptor channel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropharmacology, Niigata University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakimura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mishina
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA; D015870:Gene Expression; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D004247:DNA