title: Developmental and regional expression pattern of a novel NMDA receptor-like subunit (NMDAR-L) in the rodent brain.
abstract: A novel NMDA receptor-like (NMDAR-L) cDNA was isolated that contained an open reading frame coding for a predicted polypeptide of 1115 amino acids that shares approximately 27% identity with NMDA receptor subunits. In situ hybridization experiments indicated that NMDAR-L mRNA was expressed in the developing rodent CNS. On postnatal day 1 (P1), NMDAR-L mRNA expression was pronounced in the entorhinal cortex, the subiculum and the thalamus, in layer V of the developing neocortex, in the superior and inferior colliculi, and various regions of the hindbrain, excluding the cerebellum. On P5, NMDAR-L mRNA was expressed in layer V of the neocortex, in the entorhinal cortex, in the subiculum, and in the thalamus. On P14, NMDAR-L mRNA was expressed in layers II-VI of the neocortex, in the entorhinal and piriform cortex, in the subiculum and CA1 field, and in the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract. In the adult brain, NMDAR-L mRNA was detected predominately in the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract. Injection of NMDAR-L cRNA into Xenopus oocytes did not lead to the expression of homomeric glutamate-activated channels. However, coinjection of the triple combination of NMDAR-L with NMDAR1 and NMDAR2B cRNAs led to a striking decrease in the current magnitude compared to currents obtained after coexpression of the double combination of NMDAR1 with NMDAR2B. While the function of NMDAR-L remains to be established, its developmental and regional expression pattern suggests that NMDAR-L may influence axonal outgrowth and synaptogenesis during brain development.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018075:RNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: C096392:Grin3a protein, rat; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015335:Molecular Probes; D018075:RNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate