What is glutamate?

Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter, which means it increases a neuron’s likelihood of firing an action potential. An action potential is an electrical signal that facilitates communication between neurons. Glutamate is the conjugate base of glutamic acid.

What is a glutamate receptor?

Glutamic acid is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. Glutamate receptors are involved in excitatory synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity.

There are two types of Glutamate Receptors:

1. Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors

• Glutamate NMDA receptors
• Glutamate AMPA receptors
• Glutamate Kainate receptors

2. Metabotropic Glutamate receptors

• Glutamate receptors mGluR (3 Groups)

The Ionotropic glutamate receptors are ligand- gated cation channels allowing the passage of Na⁺, K⁺, and sometimes Ca²⁺   when glutamate binds to the receptor. Three classes of ionotropic glutamate receptors have been identified which are named after their agonists: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and kainate receptors.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors are members of the G-protein coupled receptors family that activate signaling pathways and are divided into three groups. The mGluRs modulate synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability throughout the central nervous system.

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