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Publication Abstract from PubMed

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are Hebbian-like coincidence detectors, requiring binding of glycine and glutamate in combination with the relief of voltage-dependent magnesium block to open an ion conductive pore across the membrane bilayer. Despite the importance of the NMDA receptor in the development and function of the brain, a molecular structure of an intact receptor has remained elusive. Here we present X-ray crystal structures of the Xenopus laevis GluN1-GluN2B NMDA receptor with the allosteric inhibitor, Ro25-6981, partial agonists and the ion channel blocker, MK-801. Receptor subunits are arranged in a 1-2-1-2 fashion, demonstrating extensive interactions between the amino-terminal and ligand-binding domains. The transmembrane domains harbour a closed-blocked ion channel, a pyramidal central vestibule lined by residues implicated in binding ion channel blockers and magnesium, and a approximately twofold symmetric arrangement of ion channel pore loops. These structures provide new insights into the architecture, allosteric coupling and ion channel function of NMDA receptors.

NMDA receptor structures reveal subunit arrangement and pore architecture.,Lee CH, Lu W, Michel JC, Goehring A, Du J, Song X, Gouaux E Nature. 2014 Jul 10;511(7508):191-7. doi: 10.1038/nature13548. Epub 2014 Jun 22. PMID:25008524^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.