AMPA receptor
AMPA re·cep·tor
AMPA receptor
A member of the ionotropic class of glutamate receptors (which includes NMDA and kainate receptors).Functions
Mediate fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the CNS; play a key role in hippocampal synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD).
Structure
GluR1-4 subunits which assemble as homomers or heteromers to form functional AMPA receptors. The subunit composition determines the physiological properties of AMPA receptors: those with a GluR2 subunit have low permeability to Ca2+; those lacking a GluR2 subunit have high Ca2+ permeability.