Glutamate ionotropic receptor AMPA type subunit 4 (GluA4) (GluA4)

Glutamate ionotropic receptor AMPA type subunit 4 (GluA4) is a protein encoded by the GRIA4 gene that functions as a subunit of the tetrameric AMPA receptor, a ligand-gated ion channel essential for fast excitatory neurotransmission in the mammalian central nervous system [1][2]. GluA4 is characterized by its rapid kinetics and high expression during early brain development, where it facilitates the recruitment of other AMPA subunits to nascent synapses, thereby driving synaptic maturation [3]. In the adult brain, GluA4 expression is particularly prominent in specific cell populations, such as cerebellar granular cells and fast-spiking interneurons, contributing to the temporal precision of neuronal firing [4]. Dysfunction or genetic mutations in GRIA4 are linked to several neurological conditions, most notably childhood-onset epilepsy, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia [5][6]. Therapeutic strategies involving GluA4 include the use of non-competitive antagonists like perampanel to treat seizures by reducing over-excitation, as well as the investigation of positive allosteric modulators (AMPAkines) to enhance cognitive performance and synaptic plasticity [7][8].

Other names

GRIA4GluR4GluR-DGlutamate receptor 4AMPA-selective glutamate receptor 4

Non-competitive antagonism, competitive antagonism, and positive allosteric modulation of the ion channel pore to regulate sodium and potassium conductance.