Non-ionotropic functions of "ionotropic" glutamate receptor channels.

为了了解离子型谷氨酸受体(IGluRs)的非离子化功能，我们分析了iGluRs成员δ-2受体的功能。有趣的是，δ-2受体的外部N末端和内部C末端分别以通道特性不依赖的方式调节突触的形成和突触的可塑性。这些结果表明，δ-2受体可以作为一个很好的模型来解释iGluRs的全貌。

To understand the non-ionotropic functions of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), we analyzed the functions of the δ2 receptor which is a member of iGluRs. Interestingly, the external N-terminus and the internal C-terminus of the δ2 receptor regulated synapse formation and synaptic plasticity, respectively, in a channel property-independent manner. These results indicate that the δ2 receptors can be a good model to elucidate the whole pictures of iGluRs.