title: Structure and function of glutamate receptors.
abstract: Understanding how glutamate receptors, a group of molecules that mediate information between neurons in the brain, work at the molecular level has been the focus of my research. The key role of glutamate receptors is to mediate excitatory synaptic transmission throughout the brain and spinal cord. To understand the mechanisms by which this occurs requires a molecular understanding of the receptor proteins. Our experimental approach required breaking down the receptor into smaller assemblies that are easier to work with. We ended up, after a few years, with the first molecular model for how ion channel gating occurs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology, Division of Intramural Research, NICHD, NIH, Building 36, Room 2D02 MSC 4066, 36 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. mm18a@nih.gov
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D017354:Point Mutation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017470:Receptors, Glutamate