Selective activation of calcium permeability by aspartate in Purkinje cells.
Glutamate and aspartate are endogenous excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters widely distributed in the mammalian central nervous system. Aspartate was shown to induce a large membrane current sensitive to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptor antagonists in Purkinje cells from mice lacking functional NMDA receptors (NR1(-/-)). This response was accompanied by high permeability to calcium. In contrast, no current was induced by aspartate in hippocampal neurons and cerebellar granule cells from NR1(-/-) mice. Several other glutamate receptor agonists failed to evoke this response. Thus, in Purkinje cells, aspartate activates a distinct response capable of contributing to synaptic plasticity through calcium permeability.
Yuzaki
M
M
Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 North Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA.
Forrest
D
D
Curran
T
T
Connor
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010539:Permeability; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017459:Receptors, Amino Acid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology
D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D017459:Receptors, Amino Acid; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C031959:aspartic acid receptor; D006710:Homocysteine; C007956:homocysteic acid; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium