Kainate receptor physiology

9 páginas, 2 figuras.Glutamate receptors constitute a complex signalling system at most of the excitatory synapses in the brain. Of the known ionotropic glutamate receptors, kainate receptors are ubiquitous in the central nervous system, and a considerable amount of data indicates that this class of receptors is present at both sides of the synapse. Pre- and postsynaptic kainate receptors are able to regulate both transmission of information and excitability in a synapse-specific manner. Proteins interacting with kainate receptor subunits are being identified and functional studies have provided evidence of the existence of a dual signalling system. It has become clear that these receptors have a role in synaptic plasticity and that they might also have a fundamental role in epilepsy through the strategic control of network excitability. However, the role of kainate receptors in other brain pathologies remains obscure.Work in the author’s laboratory was supported by grants from the MCYT (BFI2003-00161) and the European Union (QLG3-CT2001-00929).Peer reviewe