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Reaction mechanism determines NMDA receptor response to repetitive stimulation

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriela Popescu

    (University at Buffalo)

  • Antoine Robert

    (Yale University School of Medicine)

  • James R. Howe

    (Yale University School of Medicine)

  • Anthony Auerbach

    (University at Buffalo)

Abstract

At central excitatory synapses, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which have a high affinity for glutamate1, produce a slowly rising synaptic current in response to a single transmitter pulse and an additional current after a second, closely timed stimulus2. Here we show, by examining the kinetics of transmitter binding and channel gating in single-channel currents from recombinant NR1/NR2A receptors, that the synaptic response to trains of impulses is determined by the molecular reaction mechanism of the receptor. The rate constants estimated for the activation reaction predict that, after binding neurotransmitter, receptors hesitate for ∼4 ms in a closed high-affinity conformation before they either proceed towards opening or release neurotransmitter, with about equal probabilities. Because only about half of the initially fully occupied receptors become active, repetitive stimulation elicits currents with distinct waveforms depending on pulse frequency. This high-affinity/low-efficiency activation mechanism might serve as a link between stimulation frequency and the directionality of the ensuing synaptic plasticity.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriela Popescu & Antoine Robert & James R. Howe & Anthony Auerbach, 2004. "Reaction mechanism determines NMDA receptor response to repetitive stimulation," Nature, Nature, vol. 430(7001), pages 790-793, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:430:y:2004:i:7001:d:10.1038_nature02775
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02775
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    Cited by:

    1. David M Santucci & Sridhar Raghavachari, 2008. "The Effects of NR2 Subunit-Dependent NMDA Receptor Kinetics on Synaptic Transmission and CaMKII Activation," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(10), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Guizhen Fan & Mariah R. Baker & Lara E. Terry & Vikas Arige & Muyuan Chen & Alexander B. Seryshev & Matthew L. Baker & Steven J. Ludtke & David I. Yule & Irina I. Serysheva, 2022. "Conformational motions and ligand-binding underlying gating and regulation in IP3R channel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.

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