Structural insights into kainate receptor desensitization.

ABSTRACT: Kainate receptors (KARs) belong to the ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) family and play critical roles in mediating excitatory neurotransmission and regulating neurotransmitter release. Receptor desensitization is a critical factor for regulating the strength of synaptic transmission. Notwithstanding their overall structural similarity to AMPA receptors, KARs exhibit a desensitized conformation that is distinct from that of most other iGluRs. Despite extensive studies on KARs, a fundamental question remains unresolved: why do KARs require large conformational changes upon desensitization? Here we show cryo-electron microscopy structures of GluK2 containing double cysteine mutations, captured in non-active and various desensitized conformations. In the shallow-desensitized conformation

SUBMITTER: Zhou C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12690123 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature