Glutamate Cascade from Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors to Gene Expression in Striatal Neurons

摘要: Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), which regulates variety of neuronal activities through interaction with glutamate receptors. receptors are divided into two families: ionotropic (ligand-gated ion channels) and metabotropic (G-protein coupled) based on their biochemical, pharmacological, molecular profiles (1). Compared to thoroughly investigated roles receptors, functional studies (mGluRs) just emerging recent years. At present, eight subtypes mGluRs (mGluR1–8) have been cloned from rat brain tissues. Like mGluR heterogeneous distribution, pharmacology, connections intracellular effectors. According sequence homology, responses activation expressed Xenopus oocyte system, currently classified three groups (2). Activation group I (mG1uR1/5) increases phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis via stimulation phospholipase C, resulting subsequent Ca2+ release internal stores protein kinase C activation. II (mGluR2/3) III (mGluR4/6/7/8) inhibits adenylyl cyclase cAMP formation an adenylate cyclasedependent fashion. The linkages diverse effectors, such as Ca2+, allow be vigorously involved slower effects intranuclear compartments, DNA transcription (gene expression), opposed rapid signal transmission synapses mediated by