Glutamate receptor ionotropic NMDA 2B (GRIN2B)

Glutamate receptor ionotropic NMDA 2B (GRIN2B) is a critical subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a ligand-gated ion channel essential for excitatory neurotransmission in the mammalian central nervous system. It plays a fundamental role in synaptic plasticity, which underlies the processes of learning and memory formation by regulating calcium influx into neurons. Dysregulation or mutations in the GRIN2B gene are linked to a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Pharmacologically, GRIN2B is a major therapeutic target; drugs such as memantine and ketamine modulate its activity to treat cognitive decline and treatment-resistant depression, respectively. Selective NR2B antagonists are also being investigated for their potential to provide neuroprotection and analgesic effects with fewer side effects than broad-spectrum NMDA antagonists.

Other names

NMDA receptor subunit 2BN-methyl D-aspartate receptor subtype 2BNR2BGluN2BGlutamate [NMDA] receptor subunit epsilon-2hNR2B

Non-competitive antagonist, Channel blocker, Negative allosteric modulator (NAM)