iGluR 1 Flashcards
What is the structure of iGluRs?
ATD (No effect if deleted)
LBD
TMD
CTD
What iGluRs is glutamate an agonist for?
AMPAR
KAR
GluN1
What iGluRs is glycine/D-serine an agonist for?
GluN1
GluN3
How can we determine the structure of iGluRs using X-ray crystallography?
- Sample crystalized
- Make an electron density map
- Make an atomic crystal structure model
What are the pros and cons of X-ray crystallography?
:) High resolution
:( Uses crystals
How can we determine the structure of iGluRs using cryo-electron microscopy?
- Sample is frozen in an electron microscope
2. Make 2D pics > 3D map > 3D model
What are the pros and cons of cryo-electron microscopy?
:) Can use single particles
:( Difficult to get high resolution
How did we work out that iGluRs are tetramers?
- Electrophoresis and sedimentation used to separate proteins from neurons
- Western blot analysis used to show AMPAR formed tetramers
What are the subunits in AMPAR, KAR and NMDAR tetramers?
AMPAR: GluA2 assembles with 1, 3 and 4
KAR: GluK 4 and 5 assembles with 1, 2 and 3
NAMDAR: 2 GluN1 with 2 GluN2 or with GluN2,3
What did they discover in 1950 and 1970 with regards to glutamate?
1950: injected into brain = convulsion
1970: injected into brain = depolarisations (thought they were ion channel)
What did they discover in 1970 and 1980 with regards to glycine?
1970: NMDAR + conditioned medium = depolarisation
1980: realised it was glycine
How did they discover that NMDA and glycine are co-agonists and when?
1988:
1. Extracted RNA from rat brains
2. Injected into frog oocytes
3. express for few days
4. measure electrophysiology of cells with NMDA and Gycine = large depol
What did they find in 1979 and how?
- Rat brain slices isolated and synaptic membranes washed
- Add kainate and glutamate serum = little radioactivity because they compete for same site
- Add kainate alone = lots of activity
- Add kainate and NMDA = lots of activity because they have different sites
What blocks NMDAR and when did they find this?
- Magnesium
- 1980
Describe ion permeability in iGluRs
- AMPAR: Na, K, Ca (least)
- KAR: Na, K, Ca
- NMDAR: Na, K, Ca (most)