The Yin and Yang of NMDA receptor signalling.
Ca(2+) entry through the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptors has the power to determine whether neurons survive or die. Too much NMDA receptor activity is harmful to neurons - but so is too little. Is it a case of too much or too little Ca(2+) influx causing cell death or do other factors, such as receptor location or receptor-associated proteins, play a role? Understanding the mechanisms behind this dichotomous signalling is an important area of molecular neuroscience with direct clinical implications.
Hardingham
Giles E
GE
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh University, Summerhall, UK. giles.h@ed.ac.uk
Bading
Hilmar
H
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D002118:Calcium