Glutamate Receptors (NMDA, AMPA, Kainate, mGluR5) (NMDA (NMDAR), AMPA, Kainate (KAR), mGluR5)

NMDA, AMPA, and kainate receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors—ligand-gated ion channels—activated primarily by glutamate and differing in their subunit composition, pharmacological profiles, and physiological roles. They mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission and are crucial for synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. The mGluR5 receptor is a metabotropic glutamate receptor (GPCR) modulating slower, second-messenger-driven neuronal responses. Each plays a distinct but overlapping role in central nervous system function, and all are therapeutic targets for various neurological and psychiatric conditions—including epilepsy, neurodegeneration, and pain syndromes. Note: This entry combines four molecular families; for structured databases, they should be split into individual canonical entities.

Other names

NMDARNR1/NR2/NR3 (subunit notation)GluA1-4GRIA1-4GluK1-5GRIK1-5GRM5

NMDA receptor antagonists block excitatory neurotransmission to prevent neurotoxicity; AMPA receptor antagonists inhibit fast synaptic transmission, used in seizure control; Kainate receptor antagonists modulate synaptic transmission and protect against neurotoxicity; mGluR5 antagonists inhibit G-protein-coupled signaling and modulate synaptic plasticity.