Role of kainate receptors in olfactory learning

兴奋性突触释放谷氨酸作用于三种嗜离子性谷氨酸受体亚型：NMDA-， AMPA-和kainate受体。到目前为止，在中枢神经系统中研究的所有快速兴奋性突触后电流都是由AMPA和NMDA受体亚型介导的。令人惊讶的是，尽管对它们的结构、生物物理特性和解剖分布进行了广泛的分析，但它们在大脑中的功能作用尚未确定。在梨状皮质的浅层中发现了大量的3Hkainate结合位点。此外，mRNA定位研究显示，梨状皮质中亚基基因GluK1、GluK2和GluK5的表达水平最高。在本研究中，我们将研究在嗅觉学习中起关键作用的梨状皮质中盐酸盐受体的作用。

Excitatory synapses release glutamate acting on three subtypes of ionotropic glutamate receptors: NMDA-, AMPA- and kainate receptors. Virtually all fast excitatory postsynaptic currents studied so far in the central nervous system are mediated by the AMPA and NMDA subtypes of receptors. Surprisingly, despite extensive analysis of their structure, biophysical properties and anatomical distribution, a functional role for KARs in the brain has not yet been determined. High amounts of 3Hkainate binding sites are found in the superficial layers of the pirifom cortex. In addition, mRNA mapping studies revealed highest expression levels for the subunit genes GluK1, GluK2 and GluK5 within the piriform cortex. In the present proposal we will study the role of kainate receptors within the pirifom cortex, which has a pivotal function in olfactory learning.