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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission
Published on: August 16, 2018
Recent advances in positive allosteric modulators of the AMPA receptor
John A Morrow1, John K F Maclean, Craig Jamieson
1Department of Molecular Pharmacology Organon Laboratories Ltd., Newhouse, Lanarkshire, UK. j.morrow@organon.co.uk
Abstract:
The alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propioic acid (AMPA) subtype of glutamate receptors mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission throughout the mammalian nervous system and participate in the forms of synaptic plasticity that are considered to underlie learning and memory. Positive allosteric modulators of these receptors are the subject of much investigation because of their emerging therapeutic potential for a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. This review focuses on the most recent developments in preclinical and clinical research on novel classes of AMPA receptor positive modulators and highlights how the application of biostructural studies has increased our understanding of the biophysical effects produced by these drugs.
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