title: Activation of NR1/NR2B NMDA receptors.
abstract: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are highly expressed in the central nervous system and are involved in excitatory synaptic transmission as well as synaptic plasticity. Despite considerable structural and biophysical research, the mechanism behind activation of the NMDA receptor is still poorly understood. By analyzing patch clamp recordings of one channel activated by glutamate, we determined the burst structure and open probability for recombinant rat NR1/NR2B receptors. We used partial agonists at the glutamate and glycine binding sites to show that at least two kinetically distinct subunit-associated conformational changes link co-agonist binding to the opening of the NMDA receptor pore. These data suggest that NR1 and NR2B subunits, respectively, undergo a fast and slow agonist-dependent conformational change that precedes opening of the pore. We propose a new working model of receptor activation that can account for macroscopic as well as microscopic NMDA receptor properties.
authors.affiliation: Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. tbanke@pharm.emory.edu
authors.forename: Tue G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Banke
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Traynelis
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D008024:Ligands; C409466:NR1 NMDA receptor; C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005998:Glycine