title: The metabotropic glutamate receptors: structure and functions.
abstract: Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. For many years it has been considered to act only on ligand-gated receptor channels--termed NMDA, AMPA and kainate receptors--involved in the fast excitatory synaptic transmission. Recently, glutamate has been shown to regulate ion channels and enzymes producing second messengers via specific receptors coupled to G-proteins. The existence of these receptors, called metabotropic glutamate receptors, is changing our views on the functioning of fast excitatory synapses.
authors.affiliation: UPR-CNRS 9023, Centre CNRS-INSERM de Pharmacologie-Endocrinologie, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duvoisin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D015220:Calcium Channels; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D006152:Cyclic GMP