Location, location, location: contrasting roles of synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors in Huntington's disease.
Abnormally enhanced N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor function is implicated in Huntington's disease (HD). In this issue of Neuron and a recent issue of Nature Medicine, an abnormal balance between the activity of NMDA receptors at synaptic (prosurvival) and extrasynaptic (proapoptotic) sites has been uncovered in a cellular and a mouse model of HD.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. mlevine@mednet.ucla.edu
Michael S
MS
Levine
Carlos
C
Cepeda
Véronique M
VM
André
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate