Question

A strain of mouse was developed in which the cytoplasmic C-terminal trails and NMDAR2 subunits severly truncated. What would you predict would be the effect of this mutation on the cellular localization of NMDA receptors? How might this mutation affect excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic potentiation?

Answer 1

NMDA (N-Methyl D-Aspartate) receptors are transmembrane glutamate receptors of nerve cells. The mutations in the Cytoplasmic C-terminal trails and NDMAR2 subunits severely truncated may affect its cellular localization. The receptor may not localize as a transmembrane protein and could be found buried deep in the hydrophobic membrane,

The cytoplasmic C terminal domain of the NMDA receptor function to mobilize the secondary messengers in the cells. Each NMDAR2 has characteristic C-terminal to interact with different secondary signaling proteins. The mutations in NMDAR2 and its cytoplasmic c terminus would arrest the secondary signaling. The NMDAR2 mutation would result in diminished excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic potentiation