FEATURES

FAMILY

glutamate-gated ion channel (TC 1.A.10.1) family

DESCRIPTION

Also known as NMDE1_XENLA, grin2a. Component of NMDA receptor complexes that function as heterotetrameric, ligand-gated ion channels with high calcium permeability and voltage-dependent sensitivity to magnesium. Channel activation requires binding of the neurotransmitter glutamate to the epsilon subunit, glycine binding to the zeta subunit, plus membrane depolarization to eliminate channel inhibition by Mg(2+) (PubMed:28232581). Sensitivity to glutamate and channel kinetics depend on the subunit composition (Probable). Plays a role in dendritic branching in brain neurons and in synaptic plasticity (PubMed:18216193). Heterotetramer. Forms heterotetrameric channels composed of two zeta subunits (grin1), and two epsilon subunits (grin2a, grin2b, grin2c or grin2d) (in vitro) (PubMed:28232581). In vivo, the subunit composition may depend on the expression levels of the different subunits (Probable).

EXTERNAL LINKS

grin2a

Glutamate receptor ionotropic, NMDA 2A

grin2a

Molecular Synopsis