title: Glutamatergic receptors at developing synapses: the role of GluN3A-containing NMDA receptors and GluA2-lacking AMPA receptors.
abstract: During brain development excitatory synapses exhibit significant changes in their postsynaptic receptors and activated signaling pathways. Calcium represents the most crucial signaling factor in synaptic transmission and plasticity. Therefore developmental changes in calcium-permeable channels on the membrane contribute significantly to the modulation of neurotransmission at excitatory synapses. The present review focuses on two types of "non-canonical" glutamate receptors in terms of calcium permeability: GluN3A-containing NMDA receptors (calcium-impermeable) and GluA2-lacking AMPA receptors (calcium permeable). The involvement of these receptors during development and their potential function in synaptic plasticity are discussed. The synaptic incorporation of these receptors would alter calcium permeability, and therefore the threshold/direction of further plastic changes. We believe that characterizing the dynamics of non-canonical glutamate receptors during development could provide insight into how these receptors are recruited or removed in pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Neuroscience, University of Geneva (Switzerland), 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva (CH), Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tifei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Neuroscience, University of Geneva (Switzerland), 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva (CH), Switzerland. Electronic address: camilla.bellone@unige.ch.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism*; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D018698:Glutamic Acid
keywords: AMPA receptor; NMDA receptor; Postnatal development; Synaptic plasticity