| 2025 |
Cryo-EM structures of rat GluA4:TARP-γ2 were solved in active, resting, and desensitized states, covering a full gating cycle. GluA4 alone displays a classical Y-shaped conformation. In resting conditions, GluA4:TARP-γ2 adopts two conformations, one resembling the desensitized state. A regulatory site for TARP-γ2 was identified in the ligand-binding domain that modulates gating kinetics. |
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structural determination with functional validation |
Nature structural & molecular biology |
High |
40954371
|
| 2025 |
Cryo-EM structures of GluA4 AMPARs reveal a canonical Y-shaped architecture with domain-swapping between ATD and LBD. All four LBDs can be glutamate-bound yet open the ion channel by asymmetric hinging in all channel helices. Conformational plasticity of the glutamate-saturated LBD tunes the ion channel gate, providing a structural basis for subconductance states. |
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and single-channel bilayer recordings |
bioRxiv (preprint) / Nature communicationspreprint |
High |
40667226 41656278
|
| 2003 |
Surface expression of homomeric GluA4 (GluR-D) AMPA receptors requires a 14-residue cytoplasmic C-terminal segment that mediates binding to 4.1 family proteins. Co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated GluA4 associates with 4.1 protein(s) in both HEK293 cells and rat brain. GST pull-down confirmed the same segment is critical for 4.1 binding. Point mutations within this segment dramatically decreased surface expression with concomitant loss of 4.1 interaction. |
C-terminal deletion analysis, co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down, immunofluorescence/ELISA surface expression assay, point mutagenesis |
The Journal of neuroscience |
High |
12574408
|
| 1999 |
The N-terminal X domain of GluA4 (GluRD) forms dimers in solution (shown by hydrodynamic analysis of recombinant fragments), whereas the S1S2 ligand-binding domain is monomeric. The X domain does not bind AMPA or glutamate, nor affect ligand binding properties of the S1S2 domain. This suggests subunit-subunit interactions in AMPA receptors involve the extracellular N-terminal domain. |
Recombinant protein expression in insect cells, hydrodynamic analysis, [3H]AMPA/glutamate radioligand binding assays |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
Medium |
10506139
|
| 1996 |
The S1-S2 ligand-binding domain of GluA4 (GluR-D) expressed in E. coli as a soluble periplasmic protein bound [3H]AMPA with high affinity (Kd = 60 nM) and pharmacology typical of native AMPA receptors, demonstrating N-linked glycosylation is not required for ligand-binding site formation. The flip and flop splice variants bind [3H]AMPA with equal affinity; deletion of the C-terminal one-third of S2 abolished binding activity. |
Bacterial periplasmic expression, [3H]AMPA radioligand binding assays, deletion mutagenesis |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
8663017
|
| 1998 |
A disulfide bond exists in the ligand-binding domain of GluA4 (GluRD) between conserved cysteines C260 and C315, but is inaccessible to DTT in the intact receptor. Single mutants C260S and C315S show 2-3-fold higher ligand affinity than wild-type. Mutants lacking the native disulfide show non-native oligomerization and dramatically reduced specific activity, indicating the disulfide is required for ligand-binding domain stability. |
Biochemical disulfide analysis, site-directed mutagenesis, [3H]AMPA binding assays |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
9737972
|
| 2002 |
Site-directed mutagenesis of the helix F region of GluA4 (GluR-D) ligand-binding domain showed that L672 and T677 alanine substitutions severely reduced affinity for all agonists, while mutations at D673, S674, G675, S676, and K678 selectively affected specific agonists. Strikingly, antagonist binding affinities (Ro 48-8587, DNQX) were unaffected by all these mutations, demonstrating selective engagement of helix F side chains in agonist but not antagonist binding. |
Site-directed mutagenesis, radioligand binding assays ([3H]AMPA, [3H]Ro 48-8587), ligand docking |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
12167621
|
| 2002 |
R507 in GluA4 (GluR-D) is essential for both agonist and antagonist binding (even conservative R507K abolishes binding). E727 is required for agonist binding via ion-pair interaction; the isosteric E727Q mutation abolished all agonist binding but retained high-affinity antagonist binding, indicating that E727 ion-pair interaction is selectively required for agonist activity. |
Site-directed mutagenesis, [3H]AMPA and [3H]Ro 48-8587 radioligand binding assays, competition binding, ligand docking |
European journal of biochemistry |
High |
12473122
|
| 2010 |
Native GluA4 receptors contain a C-terminal proline that blocks canonical PDZ interactions. Deletion of this proline conferred avid binding to SAP97 in cultured cells by co-immunoprecipitation, whereas wild-type GluA4 did not associate with SAP97. Mass spectrometry confirmed that native GluA4 C-terminus is intact and the single-residue cleavage does not occur to a significant extent in vivo. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, antibody generation against proline-deleted GluA4 C-terminus |
PloS one |
High |
20090852
|
| 2014 |
GluA4 expression in immature CA1 pyramidal neurons is sufficient to alter LTP signaling requirements. At immature synapses, PKA activation leads to synaptic potentiation via GluA4 mobilization. GluA4-deficient mice lack neonatal PKA-dependent LTP. Lentiviral expression of GluA4 in CA1 neurons at any developmental stage confers PKA-dependent synaptic potentiation and LTP, demonstrating GluA4 defines the switch in LTP kinase dependency from PKA to CaMKII during synapse maturation. |
Electrophysiology (LTP recordings), GluA4 knockout mice, lentiviral GluA4 overexpression, PKA pharmacology |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
24599589
|
| 2016 |
PKA activation leads to synaptic insertion of GluA4 at initially weak or silent CA1 synapses. This effect depends on a novel mechanism involving the extreme C-terminal end of GluA4, which interacts with the membrane-proximal region of its own C-terminal domain to control GluA4 trafficking. In the absence of GluA4, functional maturation of glutamatergic synapses during postnatal development was significantly delayed. |
Electrophysiology, C-terminal deletion/mutation constructs, GluA4 knockout mice, PKA pharmacology |
Neuropharmacology |
Medium |
27157711
|
| 2014 |
GluA4-containing AMPARs in the reticular thalamus mediate cortico-nRT synaptic excitation. In Gria4 knockout mice, synaptic excitation of inhibitory reticular thalamic neurons is specifically reduced at the cortico-nRT projection. Absence seizures (spike-wave discharges) can still be initiated via the cortico-TC-nRT-TC pathway, revealing a bypass mode of corticothalamic transmission. |
Electrophysiology in Gria4 knockout mice, optogenetic stimulation of corticothalamic pathways |
PLoS genetics / Nature neuroscience |
High |
18316356 21857658
|
| 2008 |
A hypomorphic retroviral-like insertion in Gria4 causes absence seizures in C3H/HeJ mice. Gria4 knockout mice have frequent spike-wave discharges, and Gria4(-/-) does not complement the spkw1 locus. In contrast, Gria3 null mutants do not have SWD. In Gria4 mutants, synaptic excitation of inhibitory reticular thalamic neurons is enhanced with increased duration of synaptic responses, consistent with reduction of a kinetically fast AMPA receptor subunit. |
EEG recordings, genetic complementation, Gria4 knockout and Gria3 knockout mice, electrophysiology |
Human molecular genetics |
High |
18316356
|
| 2009 |
TARPs stargazin (γ2) and γ4 slow desensitization of homomeric GluA4 (GluR-D) AMPA receptors, increasing steady-state current. Ethanol concentration-dependently accelerates the rate of GluA4 desensitization, and this effect is enhanced by TARP coexpression. Recovery from desensitization was slowed by γ4 but ethanol did not affect this process. |
Whole-cell electrophysiology in HEK293 cells, TARP co-expression, ethanol pharmacology |
Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) |
Medium |
19560629
|
| 2019 |
Both stargazin (γ2, type 1a TARP) and γ4 (type 1b TARP) slow the channel-opening rate (kop) and channel-closing rate (kcl) of GluA4 homomeric AMPA receptor channels each by approximately 4-fold and 3-fold respectively, without appreciable change in channel-opening probability. γ4 has a stronger effect on slowing desensitization rate than γ2, while γ2 causes a larger left-shift of the dose-response curve. |
Laser-pulse photolysis technique for rapid ligand application, single-channel and macroscopic current analysis |
Scientific reports |
Medium |
31267004
|
| 2021 |
GluA4 knockout in mice reduces mossy fiber to granule cell synaptic transmission by ~80%. Despite compensatory changes (attenuated tonic inhibition, increased NMDAR transmission), granule cell spike output fidelity was markedly decreased. GluA4 knockout mice failed to form associative memories in delay eyeblink conditioning, while locomotor coordination was generally spared. |
Electrophysiology in GluA4 knockout mice, computational network modeling, behavioral conditioning |
eLife |
High |
34219651
|
| 2013 |
Repeated morphine administration leads to synaptic insertion of GluA4-containing Ca2+-permeable AMPARs in spinal cord dorsal horn laminae III-V. Co-immunoprecipitation suggested increase in GluA4 homomers. EPSC rectification index increased in morphine-treated mice, and infusion of GluA4 antibody through the patch pipette reversed the enhanced Ca2+-permeable AMPAR-mediated EPSCs. Intrathecal Ca2+-permeable AMPAR blocker disrupted morphine-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology (whole-cell patch clamp, rectification index), intrathecal pharmacology, GluA4 antibody infusion via patch pipette |
Neuropsychopharmacology |
High |
23403695
|
| 2014 |
Sequential synaptic delivery of GluA4-containing AMPARs during classical conditioning involves SAP97 scaffold. Conditioning induces formation of a SAP97-KSR1/PKC-GluA4 protein complex that delivers GluA4 to the PSD via SAP97-PSD95 interaction. This occurs after an initial PKA-dependent SAP97-AKAP/PKA-GluA1 complex delivers GluA1-containing AMPARs. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro eyeblink classical conditioning model, pharmacological inhibitors |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
Medium |
24567325
|
| 2015 |
Loss of GluA4 at corticothalamic L5B-POm synapses almost abolished EPSC amplitude and strongly delayed onset of action potential generation, demonstrating GluA4 is required to produce an EPSC sufficiently large to trigger postsynaptic action potentials within a defined time window after presynaptic input. |
Virus-mediated genetic knockdown, whole-cell electrophysiology, direct stimulation of single corticothalamic terminals |
The European journal of neuroscience |
Medium |
26390982
|
| 2016 |
Acoustic trauma decreases GluA4 mRNA and increases GluA1 mRNA in the lateral superior olive (LSO), slowing AMPAR-EPSC decay times. These changes are reversible within two months. Computational modeling confirmed that longer-lasting EPSCs after GluA4 reduction compensate to maintain binaural function with raised auditory thresholds. |
Voltage-clamp electrophysiology, mRNA quantification, auditory brainstem responses, computational modeling |
The Journal of physiology |
Medium |
27104476
|
| 2017 |
Quantitative freeze-fracture replica immunogold labeling of auditory nerve synapses showed higher number and density of GluA4 subunits at auditory nerve to fusiform cell (AN-FC) synapses compared to bushy cell (AN-BC) synapses, while GluA3 is enriched at AN-BC synapses. GluA4 gold labeling was homogeneously distributed along both synapse types, contrasting with the central distribution of GluA3 at AN-BC synapses. |
Quantitative freeze-fracture replica immunogold labeling (FRIL), GluA3 knockout mice |
Brain structure & function |
Medium |
28397107
|
| 2017 |
De novo heterozygous variants in the SYTANLAAF motif of GRIA4 transmembrane domain M3 (a conserved gating motif) cause intellectual disability with or without seizures. Molecular modeling showed that three variants orient toward the pore center and are predicted to disturb the gating mechanism; a fourth variant in the same motif likely reduces permeability; a fifth extracellular domain variant potentially interferes with monomer binding. |
Trio whole-exome sequencing, molecular modeling of gating mechanism |
American journal of human genetics |
Low |
29220673
|
| 2004 |
Human GluR4c is an alternative splicing isoform of GluA4 with a 113-bp insert containing a stop codon resulting in a short C terminus. Its expression is widespread in the adult human brain and upregulated with development in cerebellum and cerebral cortex, reaching ~30% of total GluA4 mRNA in adults. |
cDNA cloning, RT-PCR expression profiling |
Brain research. Molecular brain research |
Low |
15306133
|