Hidden intermediate states of NMDAR in synapse dynamics

NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are ionotropic glutamate receptors that mediate fast synaptic transmission and the synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory. Disruption of these receptors has been implicated in neurological diseases including epilepsy, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. NMDARs are obligate hetero-tetramers, formed by two GluN1 subunits and typically two glutamate-binding GluN2(A-D) subunits which contribute to neurological disorders differently. A key function of NMDARs is to convert a chemical signal, glutamate, into an electrical signal by opening of the ion channel.