| 2012 |
PKC-mediated phosphorylation of GluK2 at serine 868 promotes GluK2 SUMOylation at lysine 886; both modifications are required for internalization of GluK2-containing KARs during long-term depression at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses. Phosphorylation at S868 without SUMOylation instead increases KAR surface expression by facilitating receptor recycling between endosomal compartments and the plasma membrane. |
Phosphomimetic and non-phosphorylatable mutagenesis, SUMO-1 infusion, patch-clamp electrophysiology, surface biotinylation in neurons |
Nature neuroscience |
High |
22089239 22522402
|
| 2011 |
Kainate stimulation causes rapid PKC-dependent phosphorylation of GluK2 at both S846 and S868; only S868 phosphorylation is required to enhance GluK2 SUMOylation and promote endocytosis. SUMO-1 infusion reduces KAR-mediated currents in WT or S846A GluK2 but not in S868A mutant GluK2. |
Phosphomimetic mutagenesis (S846A, S868A), SUMO-1 intracellular infusion, whole-cell patch-clamp in HEK293 cells and neurons, surface biotinylation |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
22089239
|
| 2012 |
Brain ischemia evokes sustained GluK2 SUMOylation in hippocampal CA1; SUMOylated GluK2 promotes its interaction with MLK3, thereby activating the MLK3-JNK3 apoptotic signaling pathway. Inhibiting GluK2 endocytosis decreases MLK3-JNK3 activation and GluK2-MLK3 binding. |
Overexpression of WT vs. SUMOylation-deficient GluK2 mutant, co-immunoprecipitation, kinase activity assay in cultured cortical neurons and rat brain ischemia model |
FEBS letters |
Medium |
22483987
|
| 2014 |
Src family kinases phosphorylate GluK2 at tyrosine 590 (Y590) in response to brain ischemia/reperfusion. GluK2-Y590 phosphorylation increases whole-cell currents and calcium influx in response to kainate, facilitates GluK2 endocytosis, and activates JNK3 and c-Jun downstream proapoptotic signaling. |
Site-directed mutagenesis (Y590), whole-cell patch-clamp, calcium imaging, co-immunoprecipitation of GluK2 with Src, rat ischemia/reperfusion model with biochemical assays |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
25201974
|
| 2014 |
Parkin interacts with the GluK2 subunit of kainate receptors; loss of parkin function causes GluK2 protein accumulation in the plasma membrane, potentiates KAR currents, and increases KAR-dependent excitotoxicity in neurons and in mouse brain. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, surface biotinylation, whole-cell patch-clamp, parkin knockout/loss-of-function in primary cultured neurons and in vivo mouse brain expression |
Nature communications |
High |
25316086
|
| 2012 |
GluK2 and GluK5 assemble as heterotetramers with 2:2 stoichiometry in the plasma membrane of live cells, as directly counted by single-molecule imaging. |
Single-molecule imaging (fluorescence subunit counting) in live cell plasma membranes |
Cell reports |
High |
22509486
|
| 2021 |
Cryo-EM structures of the GluK2/GluK5 heteromeric kainate receptor in apo, antagonist-bound, and desensitized states show the receptor assembles with two copies of each subunit, GluK5 subunits proximal to the channel, and that during desensitization GluK2 (but not GluK5) subunits undergo major structural rearrangements facilitating channel closure. |
Cryo-electron microscopy structural determination in multiple states |
eLife |
High |
33724189
|
| 2023 |
Cryo-EM structures show BPAM344 (positive allosteric modulator) binds at the ligand-binding domain dimer interface (two molecules per dimer) and stabilizes GluK2 in the closed state in the absence of agonist; perampanel (negative allosteric modulator) binds to extracellular collar sites of the ion channel in two out of four GluK2 subunits and also stabilizes the closed state. |
Cryo-electron microscopy structural determination of GluK2 complexes with BPAM344, DNQX, and perampanel |
Cell reports |
High |
36857176
|
| 2025 |
Cryo-EM structures of GluK2 in complex with Neto2 in apo closed and open (agonist kainate + BPAM344) states show that Neto2 binding prevents tightening of the LBD dimer-dimer interface during activation and slows deactivation kinetics, while not changing individual LBD or ion channel behavior. |
Time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy, electrophysiology |
Nature structural & molecular biology |
High |
40846810
|
| 2025 |
Cryo-EM structures of homomeric GluK2 in apo and partial agonist (domoate)-bound states reveal that the apo state is captured in a desensitized conformation, confirming KAR desensitization prior to activation; domoate-bound GluK2 populates intermediate and desensitized states. N-glycans at the ATD-LBD interface modulate receptor gating by interfering with cation binding at the LBD dimer interface. |
Cryo-electron microscopy, electrophysiology (functional validation of N-glycan mutants) |
Nature structural & molecular biology |
High |
40442317
|
| 2019 |
The N-terminal domain (NTD) of GluK2 binds the first CUB domain of Neto1/Neto2 (NTD-CUB1 interaction), and the GluK2 core binds Neto proteins through domains other than CUB1. The NTD-CUB1 interaction mediates Neto1/Neto2 differential regulation of GluK2 gating kinetics and recovery from desensitization; the NTD itself stabilizes the GluK2 desensitized state. |
Electrophysiology in HEK293T cells with deletion mutants, chimeric constructs, and charge-neutralization mutagenesis |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
31628192
|
| 2010 |
Cysteine mutant cross-linking experiments in full-length GluK2 established that the ATD and LBD extracellular domains assemble as a dimer of dimers with subunit partner-swapping between ATD and LBD layers, and that cross-linking either the ATD or LBD inhibits GluK2 activation. |
Cysteine mutant cross-linking in full-length GluK2, non-reducing SDS-PAGE, electrophysiology |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
20404149
|
| 1998 |
The kainate-binding site of GluR-6 (GluK2) is formed exclusively by two discontinuous extracellular segments S1 and S2 homologous to bacterial amino-acid-binding proteins; both S1 and S2 contribute to agonist selectivity. |
Expression of recombinant GluR-6 fragments in insect cells, deletion analysis, S1-S2 chimeras between GluR-6 and GluR-D, [3H]kainate binding assays |
The Biochemical journal |
High |
9494120
|
| 2018 |
ADAR2-dependent Q/R editing of GluK2 mRNA (converting glutamine to arginine) regulates KAR surface expression. Suppression of synaptic activity induces proteasomal degradation of ADAR2, which reduces GluK2 Q/R editing; because GluK2(Q)-containing KARs assemble and exit the ER more efficiently, this leads to KAR upscaling. Partial ADAR2 knockdown phenocopies and occludes KAR upscaling. |
Proteasome inhibition, ADAR2 knockdown (siRNA), surface biotinylation, activity suppression (TTX treatment) in hippocampal neurons |
Journal of cell science |
High |
30559217
|
| 2010 |
Scanning mutagenesis of the pore-loop, M1, and M3 helices identified three abutting surfaces along M1-M2-M3 where substitutions render GluK2(Q) channels susceptible to fatty acid inhibition. Arginine substitutions at M3 positions F611, L614, S618, and T621 increase chloride permeability and eliminate polyamine block, demonstrating the importance of the central cavity in ionic selectivity. |
Scanning mutagenesis of GluK2, whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, fatty acid application, polyamine block assays |
The Journal of general physiology |
High |
20805577
|
| 2020 |
Seizure protein 6 (SEZ6) interacts with GluK2 through its ectodomain and promotes post-ER transport of GluK2 in the secretory pathway; loss of SEZ6 reduces GluK2/3 surface levels, reduces kainate-evoked currents, and prevents HNK-1 glycosylation modification of GluK2/3. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, surface biotinylation in neurons, electrophysiology in hippocampal slices, in vitro and in vivo glycan analysis (HNK-1), SEZ6 knockout |
The EMBO journal |
High |
32567721
|
| 2020 |
GluK2 interacts with the K-Cl cotransporter KCC2 to regulate structural maturation of dendritic spines. GluK2 silencing in CA3 hippocampal neurons alters dendritic spine morphology and reduces mEPSC frequency; this is associated with redistribution of KCC2, reduction of 4.1N and cofilin expression, and increased F-actin stability (measured by FRAP). Overexpression of KCC2 rescues the aberrant spine morphology caused by GluK2 deficiency. |
In vivo lentiviral knockdown of GluK2, co-immunoprecipitation, FRAP of β-actin, mEPSC recordings, KCC2 rescue overexpression |
Frontiers in cellular neuroscience |
Medium |
33005130
|
| 2016 |
TTBK2 (tau tubulin kinase 2) downregulates GluK2 activity by decreasing receptor protein abundance at the cell membrane via RAB5-dependent endocytosis; this effect requires TTBK2 kinase activity and is absent with truncated TTBK2(450), which lacks the C-terminal region mutated in SCA11 patients. |
Xenopus oocyte expression, dual-electrode voltage clamp, confocal microscopy of EGFP-tagged GluK2, overexpression of dominant-negative RAB5(N133I) |
Cellular physiology and biochemistry |
Medium |
27607061
|
| 2013 |
Double mutant cycle analysis of GluK2 demonstrated strong energetic coupling between the Q/R site residue in the pore loop (M2) and L614 in the M3 helix at the central cavity; replacement of L614 with smaller side chains reverses fatty acid effects on edited GluK2(R) channels from inhibition to potentiation. |
Double mutant cycle analysis, whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, scanning mutagenesis in GluK2 |
The Journal of general physiology |
High |
23940260
|
| 2011 |
Crystal structures of GluK1 and GluK2 ligand-binding domains bound to dysiherbaine analogues identified three amino acids (Thr503, Ser706, Ser726 in GluK1 vs. Ala487, Asn690, Thr710 in GluK2) generating differences in binding mode and receptor selectivity. All ligands induced full domain closure regardless of agonist efficacy. |
X-ray crystallography of ligand-binding domains with multiple bound ligands |
Journal of molecular biology |
High |
21893069
|
| 2018 |
Cysteine substitutions at A657C (within SYTANLAAF motif) and adjacent L659C in the GluK2 M3 bundle-crossing gate allow direct channel activation by Cd2+; activation by Cd2+ requires substitution at only two of four subunits in the tetramer, and occurs similarly for either the A/C or B/D conformations. This demonstrates rapid and reversible channel activation independent of agonist-site occupancy. |
Cysteine mutagenesis, Cd2+ application, whole-cell patch-clamp, MTSEA modification, heteromeric and chimeric receptor analysis |
The Journal of general physiology |
High |
30498132
|
| 2024 |
GluK2 is expressed in dorsal root ganglion somatosensory neurons and functions as a cold-temperature sensor in the periphery; GluK2 knockout mice exhibit a specific deficit in sensing cold (but not cool, hot, or mechanical) temperatures in behavioral assays. This identifies a role for GluK2 as a thermoreceptor co-opted from its function as a glutamate chemoreceptor. |
GluK2 knockout mouse behavioral analysis (cold/heat/mechanical sensitivity tests), DRG neuron analysis |
Nature neuroscience |
High |
38467901
|
| 2023 |
GluK2 functions as a metabotropic receptor coupled to phospholipase D (PLD) in primary mechanosensory spindle terminals, independent of its ionotropic function. Immunofluorescence and western blotting showed GluK2 is the only glutamate receptor subunit present in these terminals; in a mouse model with ionotropic function ablated in GluK2, spindle glutamatergic responses were still present, confirming purely metabotropic signaling. |
Immunofluorescence, western blotting, far-western blotting, electrophysiology in spindle mechanosensory terminals, ionotropic function-ablated mouse model |
Experimental physiology |
Medium |
37656490
|
| 2021 |
Autoantibodies against GluK2 in patients with autoimmune encephalitis internalize GluK2 in HEK293 cells and neurons, causing a significant reduction of GluK2-mediated currents; this antibody-mediated internalization is reversible in neurons. |
Cell-based assay, immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy in neurons, electrophysiology in GluK2-expressing HEK293 cells |
Annals of neurology |
High |
33949707
|
| 2023 |
GluK2 Q/R editing status (edited GluK2(R) vs. unedited GluK2(Q)) controls the balance between ionotropic and metabotropic KAR signaling at mossy fiber-CA3 synapses. GluK2(Q) editing-deficient mice show increased postsynaptic KAR ionotropic function and presynaptic facilitation but reduced metabotropic KAR function; they also display fewer GluA1/GluA3-containing AMPARs and reduced LTP at CA1-Schaffer collateral synapses. |
GluK2 editing-deficient knock-in mice, electrophysiology (postsynaptic KAR currents, ISAHP, LTP), western blotting for AMPAR subunits |
iScience |
Medium |
37720087
|
| 2015 |
Neto1 and Neto2 have distinct subunit-dependent effects on GluK2 gating: co-expression of Neto2 with GluK2 homomers increases recovery from desensitization and slows desensitization onset at all glutamate concentrations; chimeric analysis showed the extracellular N-terminal CUB domain region is largely responsible for the distinct regulatory effects. |
Patch-clamp electrophysiology in HEK-293T cells, Neto1/Neto2 chimeric subunit analysis |
Neuropharmacology |
Medium |
26277340
|
| 2013 |
Agonist binding to the GluK5 subunit, but not GluK2, is both necessary and sufficient for surface expression of heteromeric GluK2/GluK5 receptors; occupancy of the GluK2 agonist site alone is not sufficient for surface trafficking of the heteromer. |
Point mutations reducing agonist affinity in GluK2 or GluK5 subunits, surface expression assays in heterologous cells, rescue with competitive antagonist or WT partner subunit |
Cellular and molecular neurobiology |
Medium |
23975096
|
| 2013 |
Mutations K531A and R775A in the GluK2 LBD dimer interface attenuate desensitization; K531A also switches relative efficacies of glutamate and kainate. Crystal structures reveal new dimer contacts with K531 truncation and show that absence of chloride at the dimer-interface anion binding site (R775A) is sufficient to attenuate desensitization, suggesting charge balance at the dimer interface maintains instability required for rapid desensitization. |
Site-directed mutagenesis, X-ray crystallography of LBD, patch-clamp electrophysiology |
Open biology |
High |
23720540
|
| 2017 |
A de novo gain-of-function point mutation A657T in GluK2 causes constitutive channel activity in nominally glutamate-free media, profoundly altered channel gating, and neurodevelopmental deficits (ataxia, motor and speech delay, intellectual disability) in a human patient. |
Whole-exome sequencing to identify de novo variant, whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings of mutant KARs in heterologous expression system |
Neurology. Genetics |
Medium |
28180184
|
| 2021 |
Mutations in the M3 transmembrane domain of GluK2 (p.Ala657Thr, p.Thr660Lys, p.Thr660Arg) and the M3-S2 linker (p.Ile668Thr) cause complex alterations in channel gating kinetics of homomeric and heteromeric KARs. p.Thr660Lys and p.Thr660Arg mutations produce markedly slowed gating kinetics similar to p.Ala657Thr, and p.Thr660Lys is associated with severe epilepsy while both p.Thr660Lys and p.Thr660Arg cause hypomyelination. |
Whole-exome sequencing, whole-cell voltage-clamp electrophysiology in heterologous expression system, membrane localization assays |
American journal of human genetics |
High |
34375587
|
| 2025 |
Cryo-EM structures of GluK2 ion channel pore in complex with polyamine channel blockers (spermine, Kukoamine A, NpTx-8, PhTx-74) reveal that blockers reside inside the pore intracellular to the closed M3 helix bundle-crossing gate, with hydrophobic heads in the central cavity and positively charged polyamine tails spanning the selectivity filter, establishing the trapping mechanism of KAR channel block. |
Cryo-electron microscopy structural determination, molecular dynamics simulations |
Nature communications |
High |
39592599
|
| 2010 |
The M867I mutation in the C-terminus of human GluK2 (associated with autism) slows the channel desensitization rate by ~1.6-fold at saturating glutamate but does not affect channel-opening or channel-closing rate constants. Wild-type human GluK2 has a ~3-fold smaller channel-opening rate constant than rat GluK2 but an identical channel-closing rate and ~2-fold lower EC50. |
Laser-pulse photolysis with whole-cell patch-clamp recording, detailed kinetic mechanism analysis of WT and M867I mutant GluK2 |
Biochemistry |
Medium |
20863077
|
| 2021 |
GluK2 Q/R editing of the calcium permeability gate regulates synapse morphology: overexpression of calcium-permeable GluK2(Q) increases spine length and head area in hippocampal neurons compared to calcium-impermeable GluK2(R); the N-terminal domain (NTD) is responsible for this morphogenic effect, as shown by NTD-swap chimeras between GluK2 and GluK1. |
Overexpression of GluK2(Q) vs. GluK2(R) in primary cultured hippocampal neurons, GluK1-GluK2 domain-swap chimeras, confocal imaging of spine morphology |
Synapse |
Medium |
36121930
|
| 2017 |
SUMOylation of PKC (not of GluK2 itself) inhibits the binding of 14-3-3τ to GluK2a by decreasing PKC-mediated phosphorylation of GluK2a, establishing a pathway by which PKC SUMOylation regulates the 14-3-3τ–GluK2a complex and may contribute to KAR-EPSC decay kinetics. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, overexpression of SUMO-modified PKC, western blotting for GluK2 phosphorylation levels |
Channels |
Low |
28837400
|
| 2021 |
Postoperative pain (plantar incision) induces synaptic delivery of GluK2 in ipsilateral spinal dorsal horns and increases GluK2-GRIP interaction; knockdown of GRIP with intrathecal siRNA reduces synaptic GluK2 abundance and attenuates postoperative pain hypersensitivity. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, synaptic fractionation, intrathecal GRIP siRNA, behavioral pain assays in rats |
Neurochemical research |
Medium |
33847855
|
| 2025 |
NETO2 slows GluK2 channel-opening rate (~7-fold) and channel-closing rate (~3-fold), while NETO1 slows both rates by ~2-fold; this establishes differential kinetic regulation of GluK2 channel gating by the two Neto auxiliary subunits. |
Laser-pulse photolysis combined with whole-cell patch-clamp recording in HEK293 cells expressing GluK2 with NETO1 or NETO2 |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
Medium |
41197725
|
| 2020 |
GluK2 internalization during kainate excitotoxicity occurs through a clathrin-independent but dynamin-dependent mechanism regulated by intracellular Ca2+/calcineurin signaling; PICK1-GluK2 interaction is regulated by Ca2+/calcineurin, and calcineurin activation is linked to dynamin function. |
Surface biotinylation, co-immunoprecipitation, inhibitors of clathrin-independent endocytosis, Ca2+ chelators, calcineurin inhibitors in cultured neurons |
Journal of integrative neuroscience |
Medium |
33070524
|
| 2025 |
De novo gain-of-function Grik2 knock-in mouse models (orthologous to human p.Ala657Thr and p.Thr660Lys) exhibit developmental, motor, cognitive, and behavioral impairments; GluK2(T660K) mice additionally show interictal EEG abnormalities and handling-induced seizures, establishing in vivo pathogenicity of these gain-of-function mutations. |
CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in mouse generation, behavioral analysis battery, EEG recording |
Neurobiology of disease |
Medium |
41391686
|
| 2024 |
GluK2 is selectively expressed on dermal mast cells; GluK2 agonism (SYM2081) inhibits mast cell degranulation in response to MrgprB2 agonism, suppresses expression of Mrgprb2 and mast cell proliferation genes, and reduces skin inflammation in murine dermatitis and rosacea models. |
In vitro mast cell degranulation assays, in vivo intradermal and topical administration, transcriptomic analysis, Ki-67 and BrdU incorporation assays, mouse inflammatory models |
Science translational medicine |
Medium |
39661706
|
| 2007 |
A homozygous complex mutation in GRIK2 causing loss of the first ligand-binding domain, adjacent transmembrane domain, and pore loop results in complete loss of GLuK6 (GluK2) function and segregates with moderate-to-severe autosomal recessive intellectual disability in a consanguineous Iranian family, establishing that GluK2 is indispensable for higher brain function. |
Genetic linkage analysis, mutation identification, electrophysiological characterization of mutant protein (loss of function) |
American journal of human genetics |
High |
17847003
|