High impact information on Nmdar1

• In vertebrates, the N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptors (NMDAR) appears to play a role in neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, memory formation, and pituitary activity [1].
• Finally, we used the same primers for DNMDAR1 to demonstrate a fragment of putative NMDA receptor in the corpora allata of Diploptera punctata [1].
• Cockroach corpus allatum (CA) cells, exposed to NMDA in vitro, exhibited elevated cytosolic [Ca(2+)], but not in culture medium nominally free of calcium or containing NMDAR-specific channel blockers: MK-801 and Mg(2+) [1].
• RESULTS: The Drosophila genome encodes two NMDAR homologs, dNR1 and dNR2 [2].
• The deduced amino acid sequence of DNMDAR-I displays 46% amino acid identity to the rat NMDAR1 polypeptide and shows significant homology (16-23%) to other vertebrate and invertebrate glutamate receptor proteins [3].

Biological context of Nmdar1

• The DNMDAR-I gene maps to position 83AB of chromosome 3R and is highly expressed in the head of adult flies [3].
• Having obtained substantive evidence of functioning NMDAR in insect corpora allata, we used reverse transcription PCR to demonstrate two mRNA transcripts, DNMDAR1 and DNMDAR2, in the ring gland and brain of last-instar Drosophila melanogaster [1].

Associations of Nmdar1 with chemical compounds

• Glutamate receptors of Drosophila melanogaster. Primary structure of a putative NMDA receptor protein expressed in the head of the adult fly [3].

References