High impact information on Grin3b

• Interestingly, mRNA of the NR1 subunit, which is required for functional NMDA receptors, displayed a 'V'-shaped change, decreasing with the early postnatal decline of NR2 mRNAs and increasing with the subsequent appearance of NR3B mRNA [1].
• NR2 to NR3B subunit switchover of NMDA receptors in early postnatal motoneurons [1].
• In the present study, we investigated the effects of co-expression of the NR3B subunit on the anesthetic sensitivities of NMDA receptors for NR1/NR2 channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes [2].
• Although NR3A mRNA expression decreases sharply after the second postnatal weeks, NR3B mRNA expression levels in whole brain were constant during postnatal development and into adult [3].
• Important functional domains of glutamate receptors, such as the ligand-binding domain, the channel pore, and the channel gate, are conserved in NR3B [3].

Anatomical context of Grin3b

• NR3B mRNA was expressed highly in pons, midbrain, medulla, and the spinal cord, but at low levels in the forebrain and the cerebellum [3].
• NR3B shows very restricted expression in somatic motoneurons of the brainstem and spinal cord [4].
• Here we report that our analysis using an antibody specific for NR3B showed that the NR3B protein is selectively expressed in somatic motor neurons in the brainstem of adult mice [5].

Associations of Grin3b with chemical compounds

• In contrast, NR3B was not involved in the excitatory glycine response in neurons under our test conditions [5].

References