GRIK1

Glutamate receptors are the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the mammalian brain and are activated in a variety of normal neurophysiologic processes. This gene product belongs to the kainate family of glutamate receptors, which are composed of four subunits and function as ligand-activated ion channels. The subunit encoded by this gene is subject to RNA editing (CAG->CGG; Q->R) within the second transmembrane domain, which is thought to alter the properties of ion flow. Alternative splicing, resulting in transcript variants encoding different isoforms, has been noted for this gene.

Full Name

glutamate receptor, ionotropic, kainate 1

Function

Ionotropic glutamate receptor. L-glutamate acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter at many synapses in the central nervous system. Binding of the excitatory neurotransmitter L-glutamate induces a conformation change, leading to the opening of the cation channel, and thereby converts the chemical signal to an electrical impulse. The receptor then desensitizes rapidly and enters a transient inactive state, characterized by the presence of bound agonist. May be involved in the transmission of light information from the retina to the hypothalamus.

Biological Process

Central nervous system development Source: ProtInc
Chemical synaptic transmission Source: ProtInc
Glutamate receptor signaling pathway Source: ProtInc
Modulation of chemical synaptic transmission Source: GO_Central
Nervous system development Source: ProtInc
Regulation of synaptic transmission, glutamatergic Source: UniProtKB
Synaptic transmission, glutamatergic Source: GO_Central

Cellular Location

Cell membrane; Postsynaptic cell membrane

Topology

Extracellular: 31-576
Helical: 577-597
Cytoplasmic: 598-653
Helical: 654-674
Extracellular: 675-834
Helical: 835-855
Cytoplasmic: 856-918