Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2025

A High-throughput Calcium-flux Assay to Study NMDA-receptors with Sensitivity to Glycine/D-serine and Glutamate
Published on: July 10, 2018
Targeting NMDA receptor signaling for therapeutic intervention in brain disorders
He Chen1, Yuanping Dong1, Yun Wu1
1Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China.
Abstract:
N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hyperfunction plays a key role in the pathological processes of depression and neurodegenerative diseases, whereas NMDA receptor hypofunction is implicated in schizophrenia. Considerable efforts have been made to target NMDA receptor function for the therapeutic intervention in those brain disorders. In this mini-review, we first discuss ion flux-dependent NMDA receptor signaling and ion flux-independent NMDA receptor signaling that result from structural rearrangement upon binding of endogenous agonists. Then, we review current strategies for exploring druggable targets of the NMDA receptor signaling and promising future directions, which are poised to result in new therapeutic agents for several brain disorders.
Related Concept Videos
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that...
Long-term Depression
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...

