Effects of mRNA untranslated regions on translational efficiency of NMDA receptor subunits

Because NMDA receptors play critical roles in both neuronal survival and plasticity, their expression levels need to be carefully controlled. The number of functional NMDA receptors is temporally and spatially regulated at a hierarchy of levels, from gene transcription to protein trafficking. In this review we will focus on mechanisms for controlling functional expression of NMDA receptors that involve altering the efficacy of mRNA translation. One advantage of this level of control is that new receptors can be generated both rapidly and locally in response to appropriate synaptic activity patterns.