Fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the mammalian central nervous system is mediated by glutamate-activated α-amino-5-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptors. Glutamate binding to AMPA receptors leads rapid activation and desensitization. Synaptically released Zn2+ works as a neuromodulator many brain regions. Here, we show that inhibits GluA2(Q) homomeric an activity- vol...

AP-4 is a member of the adaptor protein complexes, which control vesicular trafficking of membrane proteins. Although AP-4 has been suggested to contribute to basolateral sorting in epithelial cells, its function in neurons is unknown. Here, we show that disruption of the gene encoding the beta subunit of AP-4 resulted in increased accumulation of axonal autophagosomes, which contained AMPA rec...

The extracellular acidity that accompanies brain hypoxia-ischemia is known to reduce both NMDA and AMPA-kainate receptor-mediated currents and NMDA receptor-mediated neurotoxicity. Although a protective effect of acidic pH on AMPA-kainate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity has been assumed, such has not been demonstrated. Paradoxically, we found that lowering extracellular pH selectively increase...

It is generally claimed that glyphosate kills undesired plants by affecting the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) enzyme, disturbing the shikimate pathway. However, the mechanisms leading to plant death may also be related to secondary or indirect effects of glyphosate on plant physiology. Moreover, some plants can metabolize glyphosate to aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) or ...

A recently described form of synaptic plasticity results in dynamic changes in the calcium permeability of synaptic AMPA receptors. Since the AMPA receptor GluR2 subunit confers calcium permeability, this plasticity is thought to occur through the dynamic exchange of synaptic GluR2-lacking and GluR2-containing receptors. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying this calcium-permeable ...

Transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) are auxiliary AMPA receptor subunits that regulate both the trafficking and gating properties of AMPA receptors, and different TARP isoforms display distinct expression patterns in brain. Here, we compared the effects of four TARP isoforms on the kinetics of AMPA receptor currents. Each isoform slowed the deactivation of GluR1 currents, bu...

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory transmission in the hippocampus likely contributes to learning and memory. The mechanisms underlying LTP at these synapses are not well understood, although phosphorylation and redistribution of AMPA receptors may be responsible for this form of synaptic plasticity. We show here that miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in cultured hippo...

In mature neurons AMPA receptors cluster at excitatory synapses primarily on dendritic spines, whereas GABAA receptors cluster at inhibitory synapses mainly on the soma and dendritic shafts. The molecular mechanisms underlying the precise sorting of these receptors remain unclear. By directly studying the constitutive exocytic vesicles of AMPA and GABAA receptors in vitro and in vivo, we demons...

We generated a polyclonal antibody, 12P3, specifically recognizing rat AMPA-type glutamate receptor (GluR) subunits phosphorylated at Ser-696 of GluR2 or at the homologous sites in GluR1, GluR3, and GluR4. Using 12P3, we demonstrate that a brief exposure of a rat cerebellar slice to AMPA leads to transient phosphorylation of the GluR subunits in Purkinje cell dendrites. Persistent phosphorylati...

Dynamic regulation of AMPA-type glutamate receptors represents a primary mechanism for controlling synaptic strength, though mechanisms for this process are poorly understood. The palmitoylated postsynaptic density protein, PSD-95, regulates synaptic plasticity and associates with the AMPA receptor trafficking protein, stargazin. Here, we identify palmitate cycling on PSD-95 at the synapse and ...