Quisqualic acid

Quisqualic acid is a naturally occurring amino acid and potent agonist of several glutamate receptor subtypes. It acts as an agonist at ionotropic glutamate receptors—specifically AMPA and kainate receptors—as well as group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1 and mGluR5). By binding to these receptors in the central nervous system, quisqualic acid induces excitatory neurotransmission through increased sodium and calcium influx into neurons. Overactivation can lead to excitotoxicity and neuronal damage. The compound is derived from the seeds and fruit of *Quisqualis chinensis* and is primarily used experimentally in neuroscience research to study excitatory amino acid receptor function[1][2][3][6].

Other names

QuisqualateL-Quisqualic acid(+)-Quisqualic acidQuisqualinic acid(2S)-2-amino-3-(3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-oxadiazolidin-2-yl)propanoic acid1,2,4-Oxadiazolidine-2-propanoic acid, alpha-amino-3,5-dioxo-, (S)-