glutamate receptor

See amino acid receptor superfamily. Glutamate receptors are implicated in many important brain functions including long-term potentiation (LTP). At least 4 major glutamate-gated ion channelsubtypes are at present distinguished on pharmacological grounds, named after their most selective agonists: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), implicated in memory and learning, neuronal cell death, ischemia and epilepsy; kainic acid (KA) ; quisqualate/AMPA, and L-2-amino-4-phosphobutyrate (APB). A fifth subtype (APCD), trans-1-amino-cyclopentane 1,3 dicarboxylate, is a G-protein-coupled receptor.