Article
Molecular basis of kainate receptor modulation by sodium.
Neuron - 12 Jun 2008
Plested Andrew J R, Vijayan Ranjit, Biggin Philip C, Mayer Mark L
Abstract excerpt
Membrane proteins function in a polarized ionic environment with sodium-rich extracellular and potassium-rich intracellular solutions. Glutamate receptors that mediate excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain show unusual sensitivity to external ions, resulting in an apparent requirement for sodium in order for glutamate to activate kainate receptors. Here, we solve the structure of the Na(+)-binding sites...
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