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Characterizing Functional Contributions of Specific GluN2 Subunits to Individual Postsynaptic NMDAR Responses Using Biophysical Parameters

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NMDA Receptors

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2799))

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Abstract

The NMDAR is a heterotetramer composed of two GluN1 subunits and two GluN2 and/or GluN3 subunits, with the GluN2 subunits exhibiting significant diversity in their structure and function. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of characterizing the specific roles of each GluN2 subunit across central nervous system regions and developmental stages, as well as their unique contributions to NMDAR-mediated signaling and plasticity. Understanding the distinct functions of GluN2 subunits is critical for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for NMDAR-related disorders. However, measuring the functional contribution of individual GluN2 subtypes in ex vivo slices is challenging. Conventionally, pharmacological or genetic approaches are used, but, in many cases, this is not possible or is restricted to population-level NMDAR responses. Here, we describe a technique for using biophysical properties of miniature synaptic NMDAR responses as a proxy to measure the functional contribution of specific GluN2-NMDAR subunits to individual synapses within a neuron.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Annemarie Dedek & Michael E. Hildebrand

  2. Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Annemarie Dedek & Michael E. Hildebrand

Authors
  1. Annemarie Dedek
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  2. Michael E. Hildebrand
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael E. Hildebrand .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM, Aix-Marseille University, Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology (INMED), Marseille, France

    Nail Burnashev

  2. INSERM, Aix-Marseille University, Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology (INMED), Marseille, France

    Pierre Szepetowski

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© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

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Dedek, A., Hildebrand, M.E. (2024). Characterizing Functional Contributions of Specific GluN2 Subunits to Individual Postsynaptic NMDAR Responses Using Biophysical Parameters. In: Burnashev, N., Szepetowski, P. (eds) NMDA Receptors. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2799. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3830-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3830-9_14

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-3829-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-3830-9

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