Glutamate receptor 4 (AMPA subtype) (GRIA4)

Glutamate receptor 4 (GRIA4), also known as GluA4, is a subunit of the AMPA-type ionotropic glutamate receptors. These receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system by responding to the neurotransmitter L-glutamate. AMPA receptors are tetrameric complexes typically formed as heterotetramers from combinations of any of the four subunits (GluA1–GluA4). Each subunit has a large extracellular amino-terminal domain (ATD), a ligand-binding domain (LBD), a transmembrane domain (TMD), and an intracellular C-terminal domain (CTD). GRIA4-containing AMPARs function as ligand-gated cation channels, allowing Na+ influx and K+ efflux upon binding L-glutamate, leading to rapid depolarization in neurons. GRIA4 is highly expressed throughout various regions of the brain including the hippocampal formation, amygdala, basal ganglia, and midbrain. Some haplotypes of GRIA4 have shown positive associations with schizophrenia.

Other names

GluA4GLUR4GLURDGluR-Dglutamate ionotropic receptor AMPA type subunit 4

Ligand-gated ion channel activation