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Role of AMPA receptors in synaptic plasticity

Cell and Tissue Research volume 326, pages 447–455 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors are the principal molecular units for fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. The glutamate-mediated transmission efficiency of synaptic AMPA receptors is influenced by their subunit composition (GluR-A to GluR-D), post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications, the number of synaptic AMPA receptors, and auxiliary proteins. Functional AMPA receptors are located predominantly in the post-synapse but are also found at extra-synaptic sites and occasionally in the pre-synapse. Thus, many factors influence the tasks of AMPA receptors in neuronal signal transmission. At hippocampal synaptic connections, AMPA receptor functions have been well studied in vitro and in the mouse; however, it is unlikely that these observations can be generalized to all glutamatergic synapses in the brain.

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  1. Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Rolf Sprengel

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  1. Rolf Sprengel
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Sprengel, R. Role of AMPA receptors in synaptic plasticity. Cell Tissue Res 326, 447–455 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-006-0275-4

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Keywords

  • AMPA receptors
  • Long-term potentiation
  • RNA editing
  • Spatial working and reference memory
  • Stargazin