Ionotropic glutamate receptors: genetics, behavior and electrophysiology.
Most rapid excitatory synaptic signaling is mediated by glutamatergic neurotransmission. An important challenge in neurobiology is to understand the molecular architecture of functional glutamatergic synapses. By combining the techniques of genetics, molecular biology and electrophysiology in C. elegans we have the potential to identify and characterize the molecules that contribute to the function of glutamatergic synapses. In C. elegans both excitatory and inhibitory ionotropic glutamate receptors are linked to neural circuits and behavior. Genetic analysis has identified genes required for receptor expression, trafficking, localization, stabilization and function at synapses. Significantly, novel proteins required for glutamate receptor function have been discovered in the worm. These advances may also lead to a better understanding of glutamatergic signaling in vertebrates.
Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0840, USA.
Penelope J
PJ
Brockie
Andres V
AV
Maricq
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000502:physiology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D018118:Chloride Channels; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate