Elsevier

Neuropharmacology

Volume 197, 1 October 2021, 108710
Neuropharmacology

Invited Review
AMPA receptor trafficking and LTP: Carboxy-termini, amino-termini and TARPs

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108710Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synapses underlies learning and memory.

  • AMPA receptor (AMPAR) accumulation is essential for LTP at CA3-CA1 synapses.

  • The extracellular AMPAR amino-terminal domain is required for synaptic trafficking.

  • Interactions between TARPs and MAGUK scaffolding proteins dock AMPARs at synapses.

  • Extra- and intracellular mechanisms enable AMPAR trafficking in synaptic plasticity.

Abstract

AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are fundamental elements in excitatory synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity in the CNS. Long term potentiation (LTP), a form of synaptic plasticity which contributes to learning and memory formation, relies on the accumulation of AMPARs at the postsynapse. This phenomenon requires the coordinated recruitment of different elements in the AMPAR complex. Based on recent research reviewed herein, we propose an updated AMPAR trafficking and LTP model which incorporates both extracellular as well as intracellular mechanisms.

This article is part of the special Issue on ‘Glutamate Receptors – AMPA receptors’.

AMPA receptor
Long-term potentiation
LTP
AMPAR amino-terminal domain
TARP
Synaptic plasticity

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