title: Rat GluR7 and a carboxy-terminal splice variant, GluR7b, are functional kainate receptor subunits with a low sensitivity to glutamate.
abstract: Glutamate receptors of the kainate-preferring subtype have recently been shown to mediate synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. The low-affinity kainate receptor subunit GluR7 was found to be nonfunctional in previous studies. We report here that the GluR7 subunit and a novel carboxy-terminal splice variant, GluR7b, are functional glutamate receptors with unique pharmacological properties. In particular, glutamate exhibits a 10-fold lower potency for (non-desensitized) GluR7-mediated currents as compared to other non-NMDA receptor channels. These data will facilitate understanding of the distinct role played by GluR7 receptors in synaptic transmission.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schiffer
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Heinemann
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097808:GluK3 Kainate Receptor
chemical_list: D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors; D000097808:GluK3 Kainate Receptor