title: Defined criteria for auxiliary subunits of glutamate receptors.
abstract: Pore-forming subunits of ion channels show channel activity in heterologous cells. However, recombinant and native channels often differ in their channel properties. These discrepancies are resolved by the identification of channel auxiliary subunits. In this review article, an auxiliary subunit of ligand-gated ion channels is defined using four criteria: (1) as a Non-pore-forming subunit, (2) direct and stable interaction with a pore-forming subunit, (3) modulation of channel properties and/or trafficking in heterologous cells, (4) necessity in vivo. We focus particularly on three classes of ionotropic glutamate receptors and their transmembrane interactors. Precise identification of auxiliary subunits and reconstruction of native glutamate receptors will open new directions to understanding the brain and its functions.
authors.affiliation: Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D058446:Ligand-Gated Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D058446:Ligand-Gated Ion Channels; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate