Kainate receptors coming of age: Milestones of two decades of research

Anis Contractor*, Christophe Mulle, Geoffrey T. Swanson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

235 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two decades have passed since the first report of the cloning of a kainate-type glutamate receptor (KAR) subunit. The intervening years have seen a rapid growth in our understanding of the biophysical properties and function of KARs in the brain. This research has led to an appreciation that KARs play very distinct roles at synapses relative to other members of the glutamate-gated ion channel receptor family, despite structural and functional commonalities. The surprisingly diverse and complex nature of KAR signaling underlies their unique impact upon neuronal networks through their direct and indirect effects on synaptic transmission, and their prominent role in regulating cell excitability. This review pieces together highlights from the two decades of research subsequent to the cloning of the first subunit, and provides an overview of our current understanding of the role of KARs in the CNS and their potential importance to neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)154-163
Number of pages10
JournalTrends in Neurosciences
Volume34
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011

Funding

Preparation of this review was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS058894 to A.C. and R01NS044322 to G.T.S.) and from the CNRS (to C.M.).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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