NMDA Receptor Function and Physiological Modulation

With key roles in essential brain functions ranging from the basics of excitatory neurotransmission to the complexities of learning and memory, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor can be considered one of the fundamental neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. Named for its most potent exogenous agonist, the NMDA receptor has been thoroughly characterized via electrophysiological and pharmacological techniques, aswell as throughmolecular manipulations and transgenic knockout strategies. The NMDA receptor belongs to a family of ionotropic receptors for the excitatory amino acid glutamate and is characterized by high affinity for glutamate, a high unitary conductance, high calcium permeability, and a voltage-dependent block by magnesium ions. this article focuses on the basic biophysical properties and physiological functions of NMDA receptors and how these are modulated by various signaling molecules and biochemical cascades under physiological conditions.