AUTHOR=Fan Xuelai , Jin Wu Yang , Wang Yu Tian TITLE=The NMDA receptor complex: a multifunctional machine at the glutamatergic synapse JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience VOLUME=8 YEAR=2014 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncel.2014.00160 DOI=10.3389/fncel.2014.00160 ISSN=1662-5102 ABSTRACT=

The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are part of a large multiprotein complex at the glutamatergic synapse. The assembly of NMDARs with synaptic proteins offers a means to regulate NMDAR channel properties and receptor trafficking, and couples NMDAR activation to distinct intracellular signaling pathways, thus contributing to the versatility of NMDAR functions. Receptor-protein interactions at the synapse provide a dynamic and powerful mechanism for regulating synaptic efficacy, but can also contribute to NMDAR overactivation-induced excitotoxicity and cellular damage under pathological conditions. An emerging concept is that by understanding the mechanisms and functions of disease-specific protein-protein interactions in the NMDAR complex, we may be able to develop novel therapies based on protein-NMDAR interactions for the treatment of brain diseases in which NMDAR dysfunction is at the root of their pathogenesis.