The document discusses the role of glutamate as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in glutamatergic synapses, highlighting various receptors including ionotropic and metabotropic types. It also addresses the involvement of glutamatergic synapses in critical neuronal processes such as plasticity, excitability, and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. Key components and mechanisms of glutamate signaling, including synaptic transmission and receptor contributions to neuronal activity, are outlined.

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Glutamatergic
Synapse

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Glutamate:
the major excitatory
neurotransmitter at
almost all synapses

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Glutamate
Synaptic vesicles
Presynaptic
terminals
Postsynaptic
axons
 Neuronal migration
 Excitability
 Plasticity
 Long-term potentiation (LTP)
 Long-term depression (LTD)

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Postsynaptic
axons
Glutamate
receptors
ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs)
metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs)
voltage sensitive
ligand sensitive

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ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs)
NMDA AMPA Kainate (KA)
GluA1/GluA2
GluA2/GluA3
GluN1/GluN2A
GluN1/GluN2B
KA1, KA2,
GluR5, GluR6, GluR7

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Postsynaptic
Glutamate
Na+
Synapse maturation & Plasticity
AMPA

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Postsynaptic
Glutamate
Na+
NMDAAMPA
Depolarization
Ca2+

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Postsynaptic
Glutamate
Na+
NMDAAMPA
Ca2+
KA
Smaller contribution to neuron
depolarization than AMPA receptors.

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Postsynaptic
NMDAAMPA KA
Na+ Ca2+
smaller extent
Synaptic transmission
Fast (<10 ms) Slower (10-100 ms)

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Metabotropic glutamate receptors
(mGluRs)
Glutamate
Second messengers
Gene expression &
Protein synthesis
Postsynaptic axons

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Metabotropic glutamate receptors
(mGluRs)
mGluR1
mGluR5
Group I mGluRs
mGluR2
mGluR3
Group II mGluRs
mGluR4
mGluR6
mGluR7
mGluR8
Group III mGluRs

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Glutamate
Presynaptic
terminals
Synaptic cleft
mGluR1/5
GsGq
PLC IP3
DAG Ca2+
PKC
mGluR2/3
mGluR4/6/7/8
Gi/o Gi/o
cAMP⬇
mGluR2/3
mGluR4/6/7/8
Gi/o
Gi/o
Postsynaptic axons

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Presynaptic
terminals
Postsynaptic axons
EAAT
Glia
Glutamine

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Glutamatergic synapse-linked
Neurodevelopmental
disorders• Autism spectrum disorder
• Intellectual disability
• Down syndrome
• Rett syndrome
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

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CD Creative Diagnostics
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info@creative-diagnostics.com
Glutamatergic
Synapse
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