Htr2a-Expressing Cells in the Central Amygdala Control the Hierarchy between Innate and Learned Fear

SummaryFear is induced by innate and learned mechanisms involving separate pathways. Here, we used an olfactory-mediated innate-fear versus learned-fear paradigm to investigate how these pathways are integrated. Notably, prior presentation of innate-fear stimuli inhibited learned-freezing response, but not vice versa. Whole-brain mapping and pharmacological screening indicated that serotonin-2A receptor (Htr2a)-expressing cells in the central amygdala (CeA) control both innate and learned freezing, but in opposing directions. In vivo fiber photometry analyses in freely moving mice indicated that innate but not learned-fear stimuli suppressed the activity of Htr2a-expressing CeA cells. Artificial inactivation of these cells upregulated innate-freezing response and downregulated learned-freezing response. Thus, Htr2a-expressing CeA cells serve as a hierarchy generator, prioritizing innate fear over learned fear

Mammalian hairy and Enhancer of Split Homolog 1 Regulates Differentiation of Retinal Neurons and Is Essential for Eye Morphogenesis

AbstractMammalian hairy and Enhancer of split homolog 1 (HES1), a basic helix-loop-helix factor gene, is expressed in retinal progenitor cells, and its expression decreases as differentiation proceeds. Retinal progenitor cells infected with HES1-transducing retrovirus did not differentiate into mature retinal cells, suggesting that persistent expression of HES1 blocks retinal development. In contrast, in the retina of HES1-null mutant mice, differentiation was accelerated, and rod and horizontal cells appeared prematurely and formed abnormal rosette-like structures. Lens and cornea development was also severely disturbed. Furthermore, in the mutant retina, bipolar cells extensively died and finally disappeared. These studies provide evidence that HES1 regulates differentiation of retinal neurons and is essential for eye morphogenesis

Ionotropic glutamate receptors in GtoPdb v.2021.3

The ionotropic glutamate receptors comprise members of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid) and kainate receptor classes, named originally according to their preferred, synthetic, agonist [35, 92, 155]. Receptor heterogeneity within each class arises from the homo-oligomeric, or hetero-oligomeric, assembly of distinct subunits into cation-selective tetramers. Each subunit of the tetrameric complex comprises an extracellular amino terminal domain (ATD), an extracellular ligand binding domain (LBD), 3 TM domains (M1, M3 and M4), a channel lining re-entrant 'p-loop' (M2) located between M1 and M3 and an intracellular carboxy- terminal domain (CTD) [99, 68, 107, 155, 82]. The X-ray structure of a homomeric ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluA2- see below) has recently been solved at 3.6Å resolution [143] and although providing the most complete structural information current available may not representative of the subunit arrangement of, for example, the heteromeric NMDA receptors [71]. It is beyond the scope of this supplement to discuss the pharmacology of individual ionotropic glutamate receptor isoforms in detail; such information can be gleaned from [35, 66, 31, 77, 42, 114, 24, 65, 155, 112, 113, 162]. Agents that discriminate between subunit isoforms are, where appropriate, noted in the tables and additional compounds that distinguish between receptor isoforms are indicated in the text below.The classification of glutamate receptor subunits has been re-addressed by NC-IUPHAR [28]. The scheme developed recommends a nomenclature for ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits that is adopted here.NMDA receptorsNMDA receptors assemble as obligate heteromers that may be drawn from GluN1, GluN2A, GluN2B, GluN2C, GluN2D, GluN3A and GluN3B subunits. Alternative splicing can generate eight isoforms of GluN1 with differing pharmacological properties. Various splice variants of GluN2B, 2C, 2D and GluN3A have also been reported. Activation of NMDA receptors containing GluN1 and GluN2 subunits requires the binding of two agonists, glutamate to the S1 and S2 regions of the GluN2 subunit and glycine to S1 and S2 regions of the GluN1 subunit [41, 25]. The minimal requirement for efficient functional expression of NMDA receptors in vitro is a di-heteromeric assembly of GluN1 and at least one GluN2 subunit variant, as a dimer of heterodimers arrangement in the extracellular domain [48, 99, 71]. However, more complex tri-heteromeric assemblies, incorporating multiple subtypes of GluN2 subunit, or GluN3 subunits, can be generated in vitro and occur in vivo. The NMDA receptor channel commonly has a high relative permeability to Ca2+ and is blocked, in a voltage-dependent manner, by Mg2+ such that at resting potentials the response is substantially inhibited.AMPA and Kainate receptorsAMPA receptors assemble as homomers, or heteromers, that may be drawn from GluA1, GluA2, GluA3 and GluA4 subunits. Transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) of class I (i.e. γ2, γ3, γ4 and γ8) act, with variable stoichiometry, as auxiliary subunits to AMPA receptors and influence their trafficking, single channel conductance gating and pharmacology (reviewed in [43, 103, 153, 64]). Functional kainate receptors can be expressed as homomers of GluK1, GluK2 or GluK3 subunits. GluK1-3 subunits are also capable of assembling into heterotetramers (e.g. GluK1/K2; [87, 119, 118]). Two additional kainate receptor subunits, GluK4 and GluK5, when expressed individually, form high affinity binding sites for kainate, but lack function, but can form heteromers when expressed with GluK1-3 subunits (e.g. GluK2/K5; reviewed in [119, 65, 118]). Kainate receptors may also exhibit 'metabotropic' functions [87, 131]. As found for AMPA receptors, kainate receptors are modulated by auxiliary subunits (Neto proteins, [118, 88]). An important function difference between AMPA and kainate receptors is that the latter require extracellular Na+ and Cl- for their activation [11, 120]. RNA encoding the GluA2 subunit undergoes extensive RNA editing in which the codon encoding a p-loop glutamine residue (Q) is converted to one encoding arginine (R). This Q/R site strongly influences the biophysical properties of the receptor. Recombinant AMPA receptors lacking RNA edited GluA2 subunits are: (1) permeable to Ca2+; (2) blocked by intracellular polyamines at depolarized potentials causing inward rectification (the latter being reduced by TARPs); (3) blocked by extracellular argiotoxin and joro spider toxins and (4) demonstrate higher channel conductances than receptors containing the edited form of GluA2 [139, 63]. GluK1 and GluK2, but not other kainate receptor subunits, are similarly edited and broadly similar functional characteristics apply to kainate receptors lacking either an RNA edited GluK1, or GluK2, subunit [87, 118]. Native AMPA and kainate receptors displaying differential channel conductances, Ca2+ permeabilites and sensitivity to block by intracellular polyamines have been identified [30, 63, 91]. GluA1-4 can exist as two variants generated by alternative splicing (termed ‘flip’ and ‘flop’) that differ in their desensitization kinetics and their desensitization in the presence of cyclothiazide which stabilises the nondesensitized state. TARPs also stabilise the non-desensitized conformation of AMPA receptors and facilitate the action of cyclothiazide [103]. Splice variants of GluK1-3 also exist which affects their trafficking [87, 118]

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

The ionotropic glutamate receptors comprise members of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid) and kainate receptor classes, named originally according to their preferred, synthetic, agonist [34, 87, 147]. Receptor heterogeneity within each class arises from the homo-oligomeric, or hetero-oligomeric, assembly of distinct subunits into cation-selective tetramers. Each subunit of the tetrameric complex comprises an extracellular amino terminal domain (ATD), an extracellular ligand binding domain (LBD), three transmembrane domains composed of three membrane spans (M1, M3 and M4), a channel lining re-entrant ‘p-loop’ (M2) located between M1 and M3 and an intracellular carboxy- terminal domain (CTD) [94, 66, 102, 147, 77]. The X-ray structure of a homomeric ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluA2 – see below) has recently been solved at 3.6Å resolution [135] and although providing the most complete structural information current available may not representative of the subunit arrangement of, for example, the heteromeric NMDA receptors [69]. It is beyond the scope of this supplement to discuss the pharmacology of individual ionotropic glutamate receptor isoforms in detail; such information can be gleaned from [34, 65, 30, 73, 41, 108, 23, 64, 147, 106, 107, 152]. Agents that discriminate between subunit isoforms are, where appropriate, noted in the tables and additional compounds that distinguish between receptor isoforms are indicated in the text below.The classification of glutamate receptor subunits has been re-addressed by NC-IUPHAR [27]. The scheme developed recommends a nomenclature for ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits that is adopted here.NMDA receptorsNMDA receptors assemble as obligate heteromers that may be drawn from GluN1, GluN2A, GluN2B, GluN2C, GluN2D, GluN3A and GluN3B subunits. Alternative splicing can generate eight isoforms of GluN1 with differing pharmacological properties. Various splice variants of GluN2B, 2C, 2D and GluN3A have also been reported. Activation of NMDA receptors containing GluN1 and GluN2 subunits requires the binding of two agonists, glutamate to the S1 and S2 regions of the GluN2 subunit and glycine to S1 and S2 regions of the GluN1 subunit [40, 24]. The minimal requirement for efficient functional expression of NMDA receptors in vitro is a di-heteromeric assembly of GluN1 and at least one GluN2 subunit variant, as a dimer of heterodimers arrangement in the extracellular domain [47, 94, 69]. However, more complex tri-heteromeric assemblies, incorporating multiple subtypes of GluN2 subunit, or GluN3 subunits, can be generated in vitro and occur in vivo. The NMDA receptor channel commonly has a high relative permeability to Ca2+ and is blocked, in a voltage-dependent manner, by Mg2+ such that at resting potentials the response is substantially inhibited.AMPA and Kainate receptorsAMPA receptors assemble as homomers, or heteromers, that may be drawn from GluA1, GluA2, GluA3 and GluA4 subunits. Transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) of class I (i.e. γ2, γ3, γ4 and γ8) act, with variable stoichiometry, as auxiliary subunits to AMPA receptors and influence their trafficking, single channel conductance gating and pharmacology (reviewed in [42, 98, 145, 63]). Functional kainate receptors can be expressed as homomers of GluK1, GluK2 or GluK3 subunits. GluK1-3 subunits are also capable of assembling into heterotetramers (e.g. GluK1/K2; [82, 113, 112]). Two additional kainate receptor subunits, GluK4 and GluK5, when expressed individually, form high affinity binding sites for kainate, but lack function, but can form heteromers when expressed with GluK1-3 subunits (e.g. GluK2/K5; reviewed in [113, 64, 112]). Kainate receptors may also exhibit ‘metabotropic’ functions [82, 123]. As found for AMPA receptors, kainate receptors are modulated by auxiliary subunits (Neto proteins, [112, 83]). An important function difference between AMPA and kainate receptors is that the latter require extracellular Na+ and Cl- for their activation [11, 114]. RNA encoding the GluA2 subunit undergoes extensive RNA editing in which the codon encoding a p-loop glutamine residue (Q) is converted to one encoding arginine (R). This Q/R site strongly influences the biophysical properties of the receptor. Recombinant AMPA receptors lacking RNA edited GluA2 subunits are: (1) permeable to Ca2+; (2) blocked by intracellular polyamines at depolarized potentials causing inward rectification (the latter being reduced by TARPs); (3) blocked by extracellular argiotoxin and Joro spider toxins and (4) demonstrate higher channel conductances than receptors containing the edited form of GluA2 [131, 62]. GluK1 and GluK2, but not other kainate receptor subunits, are similarly edited and broadly similar functional characteristics apply to kainate receptors lacking either an RNA edited GluK1, or GluK2, subunit [82, 112]. Native AMPA and kainate receptors displaying differential channel conductances, Ca2+ permeabilites and sensitivity to block by intracellular polyamines have been identified [29, 62, 86]. GluA1-4 can exist as two variants generated by alternative splicing (termed ‘flip’ and ‘flop’) that differ in their desensitization kinetics and their desensitization in the presence of cyclothiazide which stabilises the nondesensitized state. TARPs also stabilise the non-desensitized conformation of AMPA receptors and facilitate the action of cyclothiazide [98]. Splice variants of GluK1-3 also exist which affects their trafficking [82, 112]

Ionotropic glutamate receptors in GtoPdb v.2023.1

The ionotropic glutamate receptors comprise members of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid) and kainate receptor classes, named originally according to their preferred, synthetic, agonist [36, 94, 157]. Receptor heterogeneity within each class arises from the homo-oligomeric, or hetero-oligomeric, assembly of distinct subunits into cation-selective tetramers. Each subunit of the tetrameric complex comprises an extracellular amino terminal domain (ATD), an extracellular ligand binding domain (LBD), 3 TM domains (M1, M3 and M4), a channel lining re-entrant 'p-loop' (M2) located between M1 and M3 and an intracellular carboxy- terminal domain (CTD) [101, 70, 109, 157, 84]. The X-ray structure of a homomeric ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluA2- see below) has recently been solved at 3.6Å resolution [145] and although providing the most complete structural information current available may not representative of the subunit arrangement of, for example, the heteromeric NMDA receptors [73]. It is beyond the scope of this supplement to discuss the pharmacology of individual ionotropic glutamate receptor isoforms in detail; such information can be gleaned from [36, 68, 32, 79, 43, 116, 25, 67, 157, 114, 115, 165]. Agents that discriminate between subunit isoforms are, where appropriate, noted in the tables and additional compounds that distinguish between receptor isoforms are indicated in the text below.The classification of glutamate receptor subunits has been re-addressed by NC-IUPHAR [29]. The scheme developed recommends a nomenclature for ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits that is adopted here.NMDA receptorsNMDA receptors assemble as obligate heteromers that may be drawn from GluN1, GluN2A, GluN2B, GluN2C, GluN2D, GluN3A and GluN3B subunits. Alternative splicing can generate eight isoforms of GluN1 with differing pharmacological properties. Various splice variants of GluN2B, 2C, 2D and GluN3A have also been reported. Activation of NMDA receptors containing GluN1 and GluN2 subunits requires the binding of two agonists, glutamate to the S1 and S2 regions of the GluN2 subunit and glycine to S1 and S2 regions of the GluN1 subunit [42, 26]. The minimal requirement for efficient functional expression of NMDA receptors in vitro is a di-heteromeric assembly of GluN1 and at least one GluN2 subunit variant, as a dimer of heterodimers arrangement in the extracellular domain [49, 101, 73]. However, more complex tri-heteromeric assemblies, incorporating multiple subtypes of GluN2 subunit, or GluN3 subunits, can be generated in vitro and occur in vivo. The NMDA receptor channel commonly has a high relative permeability to Ca2+ and is blocked, in a voltage-dependent manner, by Mg2+ such that at resting potentials the response is substantially inhibited.AMPA and Kainate receptorsAMPA receptors assemble as homomers, or heteromers, that may be drawn from GluA1, GluA2, GluA3 and GluA4 subunits. Transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) of class I (i.e. γ2, γ3, γ4 and γ8) act, with variable stoichiometry, as auxiliary subunits to AMPA receptors and influence their trafficking, single channel conductance gating and pharmacology (reviewed in [44, 105, 155, 66]). Functional kainate receptors can be expressed as homomers of GluK1, GluK2 or GluK3 subunits. GluK1-3 subunits are also capable of assembling into heterotetramers (e.g. GluK1/K2; [89, 121, 120]). Two additional kainate receptor subunits, GluK4 and GluK5, when expressed individually, form high affinity binding sites for kainate, but lack function, but can form heteromers when expressed with GluK1-3 subunits (e.g. GluK2/K5; reviewed in [121, 67, 120]). Kainate receptors may also exhibit 'metabotropic' functions [89, 133]. As found for AMPA receptors, kainate receptors are modulated by auxiliary subunits (Neto proteins, [120, 90]). An important function difference between AMPA and kainate receptors is that the latter require extracellular Na+ and Cl- for their activation [12, 122]. RNA encoding the GluA2 subunit undergoes extensive RNA editing in which the codon encoding a p-loop glutamine residue (Q) is converted to one encoding arginine (R). This Q/R site strongly influences the biophysical properties of the receptor. Recombinant AMPA receptors lacking RNA edited GluA2 subunits are: (1) permeable to Ca2+; (2) blocked by intracellular polyamines at depolarized potentials causing inward rectification (the latter being reduced by TARPs); (3) blocked by extracellular argiotoxin and joro spider toxins and (4) demonstrate higher channel conductances than receptors containing the edited form of GluA2 [141, 65]. GluK1 and GluK2, but not other kainate receptor subunits, are similarly edited and broadly similar functional characteristics apply to kainate receptors lacking either an RNA edited GluK1, or GluK2, subunit [89, 120]. Native AMPA and kainate receptors displaying differential channel conductances, Ca2+ permeabilites and sensitivity to block by intracellular polyamines have been identified [31, 65, 93]. GluA1-4 can exist as two variants generated by alternative splicing (termed ‘flip’ and ‘flop’) that differ in their desensitization kinetics and their desensitization in the presence of cyclothiazide which stabilises the nondesensitized state. TARPs also stabilise the non-desensitized conformation of AMPA receptors and facilitate the action of cyclothiazide [105]. Splice variants of GluK1-3 also exist which affects their trafficking [89, 120]

Metabotropic glutamate receptors in GtoPdb v.2023.1

Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors [351]) are a family of G protein-coupled receptors activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate [140]. The mGlu family is composed of eight members (named mGlu1 to mGlu8) which are divided in three groups based on similarities of agonist pharmacology, primary sequence and G protein coupling to effector: Group-I (mGlu1 and mGlu5), Group-II (mGlu2 and mGlu3) and Group-III (mGlu4, mGlu6, mGlu7 and mGlu8) (see Further reading).Structurally, mGlu are composed of three juxtaposed domains: a core G protein-activating seven-transmembrane domain (TM), common to all GPCRs, is linked via a rigid cysteine-rich domain (CRD) to the Venus Flytrap domain (VFTD), a large bi-lobed extracellular domain where glutamate binds. mGlu form constitutive dimers, cross-linked by a disulfide bridge. The structures of the VFTD of mGlu1, mGlu2, mGlu3, mGlu5 and mGlu7 have been solved [200, 275, 268, 403]. The structure of the 7 transmembrane (TM) domains of both mGlu1 and mGlu5 have been solved, and confirm a general helical organisation similar to that of other GPCRs, although the helices appear more compacted [88, 433, 62]. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy have provided structures of full-length mGlu receptor homodimers [217, 191] and heterodimers [91]. Studies have revealed the possible formation of heterodimers between either group-I receptors, or within and between group-II and -III receptors [89]. First characterised in transfected cells, co-localisation and specific pharmacological properties suggest the existence of such heterodimers in the brain [270, 440, 145, 283, 259, 218]. Beyond heteromerisation with other mGlu receptor subtypes, increasing evidence suggests mGlu receptors form heteromers and larger order complexes with class A GPCRs (reviewed in [140]). The endogenous ligands of mGlu are L-glutamic acid, L-serine-O-phosphate, N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) and L-cysteine sulphinic acid. Group-I mGlu receptors may be activated by 3,5-DHPG and (S)-3HPG [30] and antagonised by (S)-hexylhomoibotenic acid [235]. Group-II mGlu receptors may be activated by LY389795 [269], LY379268 [269], eglumegad [354, 434], DCG-IV and (2R,3R)-APDC [355], and antagonised by eGlu [170] and LY307452 [425, 105]. Group-III mGlu receptors may be activated by L-AP4 and (R,S)-4-PPG [130]. An example of an antagonist selective for mGlu receptors is LY341495, which blocks mGlu2 and mGlu3 at low nanomolar concentrations, mGlu8 at high nanomolar concentrations, and mGlu4, mGlu5, and mGlu7 in the micromolar range [185]. In addition to orthosteric ligands that directly interact with the glutamate recognition site, allosteric modulators that bind within the TM domain have been described. Negative allosteric modulators are listed separately. The positive allosteric modulators most often act as ‘potentiators’ of an orthosteric agonist response, without significantly activating the receptor in the absence of agonist

Metabotropic glutamate receptors in GtoPdb v.2021.3

Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors [347]) are a family of G protein-coupled receptors activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate [138]. The mGlu family is composed of eight members (named mGlu1 to mGlu8) which are divided in three groups based on similarities of agonist pharmacology, primary sequence and G protein coupling to effector: Group-I (mGlu1 and mGlu5), Group-II (mGlu2 and mGlu3) and Group-III (mGlu4, mGlu6, mGlu7 and mGlu8) (see Further reading).Structurally, mGlu are composed of three juxtaposed domains: a core G protein-activating seven-transmembrane domain (TM), common to all GPCRs, is linked via a rigid cysteine-rich domain (CRD) to the Venus Flytrap domain (VFTD), a large bi-lobed extracellular domain where glutamate binds. mGlu form constitutive dimers, cross-linked by a disulfide bridge. The structures of the VFTD of mGlu1, mGlu2, mGlu3, mGlu5 and mGlu7 have been solved [198, 271, 264, 399]. The structure of the 7 transmembrane (TM) domains of both mGlu1 and mGlu5 have been solved, and confirm a general helical organization similar to that of other GPCRs, although the helices appear more compacted [87, 429, 61]. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy have provided structures of full-length mGlu receptor dimers [189]. Studies have revealed the possible formation of heterodimers between either group-I receptors, or within and between group-II and -III receptors [88]. First well characterized in transfected cells, co-localization and specific pharmacological properties also suggest the existence of such heterodimers in the brain [266].[436, 143, 279]. Beyond heteromerization with other mGlu receptor subtypes, increasing evidence suggests mGlu receptors form heteromers and larger order complexes with class A GPCRs (reviewed in [138]). The endogenous ligands of mGlu are L-glutamic acid, L-serine-O-phosphate, N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) and L-cysteine sulphinic acid. Group-I mGlu receptors may be activated by 3,5-DHPG and (S)-3HPG [30] and antagonized by (S)-hexylhomoibotenic acid [232]. Group-II mGlu receptors may be activated by LY389795 [265], LY379268 [265], eglumegad [350, 430], DCG-IV and (2R,3R)-APDC [351], and antagonised by eGlu [168] and LY307452 [421, 103]. Group-III mGlu receptors may be activated by L-AP4 and (R,S)-4-PPG [128]. An example of an antagonist selective for mGlu receptors is LY341495, which blocks mGlu2 and mGlu3 at low nanomolar concentrations, mGlu8 at high nanomolar concentrations, and mGlu4, mGlu5, and mGlu7 in the micromolar range [183]. In addition to orthosteric ligands that directly interact with the glutamate recognition site, allosteric modulators that bind within the TM domain have been described. Negative allosteric modulators are listed separately. The positive allosteric modulators most often act as ‘potentiators’ of an orthosteric agonist response, without significantly activating the receptor in the absence of agonist

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors [334]) are a family of G protein-coupled receptors activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate. The mGlu family is composed of eight members (named mGlu1 to mGlu8) which are divided in three groups based on similarities of agonist pharmacology, primary sequence and G protein coupling to effector: Group-I (mGlu1 and mGlu5), Group-II (mGlu2 and mGlu3) and Group-III (mGlu4, mGlu6, mGlu7 and mGlu8) (see Further reading).Structurally, mGlu are composed of three juxtaposed domains: a core G protein-activating seven-transmembrane domain (TM), common to all GPCRs, is linked via a rigid cysteine-rich domain (CRD) to the Venus Flytrap domain (VFTD), a large bi-lobed extracellular domain where glutamate binds. The structures of the VFTD of mGlu1, mGlu2, mGlu3, mGlu5 and mGlu7 have been solved [190, 262, 255, 386]. The structure of the 7 transmembrane (TM) domains of both mGlu1 and mGlu5 have been solved, and confirm a general helical organization similar to that of other GPCRs, although the helices appear more compacted [85, 415, 59]. mGlu form constitutive dimers crosslinked by a disulfide bridge. Recent studies revealed the possible formation of heterodimers between either group-I receptors, or within and between group-II and -III receptors [86]. Although well characterized in transfected cells, co-localization and specific pharmacological properties also suggest the existence of such heterodimers in the brain [422, 257]. The endogenous ligands of mGlu are L-glutamic acid, L-serine-O-phosphate, N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) and L-cysteine sulphinic acid. Group-I mGlu receptors may be activated by 3,5-DHPG and (S)-3HPG [29] and antagonized by (S)-hexylhomoibotenic acid [223]. Group-II mGlu receptors may be activated by LY389795 [256], LY379268 [256], eglumegad [337, 416], DCG-IV and (2R,3R)-APDC [338], and antagonised by eGlu [161] and LY307452 [408, 100]. Group-III mGlu receptors may be activated by L-AP4 and (R,S)-4-PPG [125]. An example of an antagonist selective for mGlu receptors is LY341495, which blocks mGlu2 and mGlu3 at low nanomolar concentrations, mGlu8 at high nanomolar concentrations, and mGlu4, mGlu5, and mGlu7 in the micromolar range [176]. In addition to orthosteric ligands that directly interact with the glutamate recognition site, allosteric modulators that bind within the TM domain have been described. Negative allosteric modulators are listed separately. The positive allosteric modulators most often act as 'potentiators' of an orthosteric agonist response, without significantly activating the receptor in the absence of agonist

Ectopic synaptic ribbons in dendrites of mouse retinal ON- and OFF-bipolar cells

The ectopic distribution of synaptic ribbons in dendrites of mouse retinal bipolar cells was examined by using genetic ablation of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 6 (mGluR6), electron microscopy, and immunocytochemistry. Ectopic ribbons were observed in dendrites of rod and ON-cone bipolar cells in the mGluR6-deficient mouse but not in those of wild-type mice. The number of rod spherules facing the ectopic ribbons in mGluR6-deficient rod bipolar dendrites increased gradually during early growth and reached a plateau level of about 20% at 12 weeks. These ectopic ribbons were immunopositive for RIBEYE, a ribbon-specific protein, but the associated vesicles were immunonegative for synaptophysin, a synaptic-vesicle-specific protein. The presence of ectopic ribbons was correlated with an increase in the roundness of the invaginating dendrites of the rod bipolar cells. We further confirmed ectopic ribbons in dendrites of OFF-cone bipolar cells in wild-type retinas. Of the four types of OFF-cone bipolar cells (T1–T4), only the T2-type, which had a greater number of synaptic ribbons at the axon terminal and a thicker axon cylinder than the other types, had ectopic ribbons. Light-adapted experiments revealed that, in wild-type mice under enhanced-light adaptation (considered similar to the mGluR6-deficient state), the roundness in the invaginating dendrites and axon terminals of rod bipolar cells increased, but no ectopic ribbons were detected. Based on these findings and known mechanisms for neurotransmitter release and protein trafficking, the possible mechanisms underlying the ectopic ribbons are discussed on the basis of intracellular transport for the replenishment of synaptic proteins