NMDA receptor

The NMDA receptor is a glutamate-gated ion channel that conducts calcium and other cations when ligand binding and membrane depolarization coincide. It helps shape synaptic signaling, plasticity, and pain transmission.

Glutamate: Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate central nervous system. It binds NMDA receptors and helps initiate channel opening.
Ion channel: An ion channel is a membrane protein that allows selected ions to cross a cell membrane. The NMDA receptor is a ligand-gated member of this broader protein class.
Long-term potentiation: Long-term potentiation is a persistent increase in synaptic strength after particular patterns of activity. NMDA receptor-dependent calcium entry can induce this form of synaptic strengthening.
Kainate receptor: A kainate receptor is an ionotropic glutamate receptor involved in excitatory transmission and neuronal signaling. It is a glutamate-gated channel subtype that lacks the NMDA receptor’s distinctive voltage-dependent magnesium block.
Glycine: Glycine is an amino acid that also acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. It occupies a co-agonist site required for NMDA receptor activation.
Chemical synapse: A chemical synapse is a junction where one cell communicates with another using released chemical messengers. NMDA receptors receive glutamate at postsynaptic sides of many chemical synapses.
Long-term depression: Long-term depression is a persistent decrease in synaptic strength following particular patterns of activity. NMDA receptor signaling can also initiate synaptic weakening, depending on calcium dynamics.
Metabotropic glutamate receptor: A metabotropic glutamate receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor activated by glutamate. It alters cell activity through intracellular signaling rather than forming an ion-conducting pore.
Magnesium block: Magnesium block is the voltage-dependent obstruction of NMDA receptor channels by magnesium ions. Depolarization relieves this block, making the receptor a coincidence detector.
Postsynaptic density: The postsynaptic density is a protein-rich specialization beneath the membrane at many excitatory synapses. It organizes NMDA receptors with signaling proteins and other synaptic components.

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