Cell biology

Synaptic plasticity

Neuroscience

Synaptogenesis

Biology

Excitatory postsynaptic potential

Ionotropic effect

Ionotropic glutamate receptor

Receptor

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential

Biochemistry

Kainate receptor

Glutamate receptor

Chemistry

AMPA receptor

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences

Appropriate targeting and clustering of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) is critical for the formation and maintenance of excitatory synapses. Recent studies have demonstrated that the synaptic localization of iGluR subtypes is remarkably heterogeneous and subject to regulation over time scales ranging from minutes to months. These findings, together with the identification of key protein binding partners of iGluRs, have opened a window onto the complex cell biology of iGluR membrane trafficking. In this article, we review recent findings on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in localizing iGluRs at synapses and discuss their implications for synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity.

Localization and stabilization of ionotropic glutamate receptors at synapses