Metabotropic glutamate receptors Metabotropic glutamate receptors bind glutamate Authored: Jassal, B, 2008-07-14 12:08:56 Edited: Jassal, B, 2008-07-14 12:08:56 Pubmed1329206 Pubmed7476890 Pubmed7617140 Pubmed7620613 Pubmed7623957 Pubmed7908515 Pubmed8887960 Pubmed9131252 Pubmed9144651 Pubmed9473604 Reactome Database ID Release 43373075 Reactome, http://www.reactome.org ReactomeREACT_18380 Reviewed: D'Eustachio, P, 2009-05-29 07:44:22 The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are members of the group C family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) (Pin JP et al, 1995; Conn PJ and Pin JP, 1997). Metabotropic glutamate receptors are characterized by a large N-terminal extracellular domain of approximately 560 amino acids which possesses the glutamate binding domain and confers selectivity for agonists. There are eight mGluRs, 1-8 (Desai MA et al, 1995; Flor PJ et al, 1995; Emile L. et al, 1996; Flor PJ et al, 1995b; Minakami R et al, 1994; Laurie DJ et al, 1997; Wu S et al, 1998 respectively). They can be subdivided into 'groups' according to their sequence homology, signal transduction mechanisms and pharmacological properties. Group I contains mGluR1 and 5; Group II contains mGluR2 and 3; Group III contains mGluR4,6,7 and 8 (Nakanishi S, 1992). Group I receptors activate PLC downstream via coupling to Gq/11. Groups II and III inhibit adenylyl cyclase via coupling to Gi.<br>Like all glutamate receptors, mGluRs bind to glutamate, an amino acid that functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter. Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian nervous system. Metabotropic glutamate receptors:L-Glutamate