title: Presynaptic AMPA receptors: more than just ion channels?
abstract: AMPA receptor ion channels are of paramount importance for postsynaptic excitation. Several reports demonstrate that AMPA receptors are present in the presynaptic compartment and point to a role of these receptors in the modulation of presynaptic function. We discuss here the possibility that not only ion influx through the receptor, but also biochemical cascades, activated by ligand binding and independent from ion flux, might contribute to AMPA mediated presynaptic modulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology, CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Center of Excellence for Neurodegenerative Diseases, 20129 Milano, Italy. u.schenk@in.cnr.it
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schenk
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matteoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism*; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism*; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D008024:Ligands; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid